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4 Reasons why you should be using Protektive Pak - Material

Last week we talked about what to look out for when using containers to transport or store ESD sensitive items. Have you implemented our 3 tips yet? Today we thought we'd cover a topic that ties in nicely with last week's post: Protektive Pak® Impregnated Corrugated Material. Never heard of it? Don't panic - we're here to help! Protektive Pak® Material is made from static dissipative impregnated corrugated material with a buried shielding layer - it provides static shielding to protect ESD sensitive items from ElectroStatic charges, and ElectroStatic Discharges [ESD].

Introduction to Protektive Pak® Material

So now you're probably wondering what's different about this type of material - loads of companies out there offer similar products, right? That's true - BUT what makes Protektive Pak® Material so unique is that its ESD properties are manufactured into the liners of the material itself. Many other materials have a coating or paint applied that gives them their ESD properties. This in itself is not a problem. However, it becomes an issue if the outer layer of your ESD container is damaged.

PinkBlackPPK

 


Protektive Pak® Circuit Board Shippers - for more information click here

Have you ever removed tape from your ESD container or accidently pierced the surface with a sharp object? If you have, chances are you've found the black coat give way to a lighter brown material. That's your ESD properties gone potentially damaging your ESD sensitive devices inside the ESD container. This will not happen with Protektive Pak® Material - even if the outer layer is damaged, your ESD sensitive items are still protected. Not convinced? Check-out this video:

 

4 Reasons why you should be using Protektive Pak® Material

Independent ESD tests have proven that Protektive Pak® Impregnated Corrugated Material is superior! Click here to see the full test report.

The bottom line is:

  • Protektive Pak® impregnated corrugated material has a buried shielding layer.
  • Protektive Pak® impregnated corrugated material equals or exceeds the discharge shielding capabilities of a coated box.
  • Protektive Pak® impregnated corrugated material has discharge shielding capabilities equal to a metal-out shielding bag.
  • Protektive Pak® impregnated corrugated material meets the ANSI/ESD S541 recommendation, avoiding rapid discharge when contacting ESD sensitive items - coated boxes DO NOT.

Comparing Impregnated Corrugated Protektive Pak® and Coated Materials

Now that we have talked about the advantages of Protektive Pak® Material - how exactly does it compare to the more common coated materials out there on the market? The below table provides a summary:

  Impregnated vs. Coated Material
1 CONSISTENT QUALITY
Manufactured by one paper mill with computerized control, resulting in consistent high quality.
Manufactured without computer controls and applied at various geographical locations, resulting in quality variations.
2 STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY
Carbon is added during the paper making process. The paper is a 6-layer process. The top surface layer is static dissipative, measuring 107 to 109 ohms. The conductive layer is in the 5th layer from the surface measuring <104 ohms.
Material is coated or printed with carbon loaded black ink which is then coated with a clear sealer to help coating stay on. Shielding layer is very close to surface and high carbon content can bleed through. Result is very poor and inconsistent static dissipative effectiveness.
3 LOWER SULPHUR CONTENT
Manufactured from 100% recycled paper with consistently low sulphur content.
Manufactured from either recycled or virgin paper or a combination of both. sulphur content may be low or high which can cause corrosion to leads and circuits.
4 GREATER DURABILITY
1,000 Times Thicker: Abrasion tests have shown no loss in particles at 100 cycles, only 1% loss for 200 cycles and 60% loss for 500 cycles.
Tests have shown a 50% loss in particles in only 10 cycles and a 100% loss in 100 cycles.
5 SLOWS RAPID DISCHARGE
Burying the conductive layer under a dissipative surface reduces the potential for a rapid discharge when contacted by a charged device.
A very conductive surface that may pose a charged device model (CDM) ESD danger to components stored in open bin boxes, in-plant handlers, shippers, totes, nesting trays, etc.
6 BETTER SHIELDING EFFECTIVENESS
Shielding effectiveness is equal to or greater than coated conductive materials.
Some coated products shield poorly due to inconsistent application procedures by some manufacturers.
7 BETTER VALUE
More durable structure, 1,000 times thicker, which consistently shields your product from ESD, is also safer and better for the environment.
Simple structure which can lack consistency of ESD shielding, durability and safety.
  PPK Material

 

Carbon Coated Material

 

    Graphite Printed Material

 

 

All microscopic photos are approximately the same scale. A PDF version of the above table is available here.

Desco Europe is the newest brand in the Desco Industries family, consolidating our two previous UK-based brands, Charleswater and Vermason. Desco Europe sells the full range of DII products, manufactured in our facilities in the USA and UK, servicing the European market via trained distributors who will sell the Desco Europe value package and complete ESD solution to all ESD users in their territory, leading with hi-end solutions that mark us out from the competition.
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