Anti-Static ESD Gloves

Anti-Static ESD GlovesAnti-Static ESD Gloves: Everything You Need to Know

Anti-Static ESD Gloves are specialized gloves that protect workers from causing static electrical discharges called ESD. They are made with special materials that prevents the build-up of static electricity, which can cause damage to sensitive equipment. In this guide, you will learn:

  • What are Anti-Static ESD Gloves?
  • Why Use Anti-Static ESD Gloves?
  • What Problems do Anti-Static ESD Gloves Solve?
  • List the types of Anti-Static ESD Gloves
  • How to Test Anti-Static ESD Gloves
  • What Standards do Anti-Static ESD Gloves Comply to?
  • What Industries should Use Anti-Static ESD Gloves?
  • Who Makes Anti-Static ESD Gloves?

What are Anti-Static ESD Gloves?

ESD stands for electro-static discharge, and is a major concern in electronics because ESD can destroy components and cause failures. Calling a glove “ESD” means that it is a specialized glove that can reduce or eliminate the static charge that builds up on the surface of the gloves that causes ESD damage to components. ESD gloves are designed to have conductive or dissipative properties and are typically made of synthetic fibers such as nylon, polyester, rayon, or spandex, which have low electrical conductivity. Some ESD gloves also have carbon fibers or metal threads woven into the fabric to enhance the anti-static properties.

ESD gloves are designed to protect workers and products from the harmful effects of static electricity and ESD, such as damage to electronic components. ESD gloves are also used to prevent contamination of products by dust, dirt, and oils that can be transferred by human hands.

Why Use ESD Gloves?

Anti-Static ESD Gloves are essential for workers who handle sensitive electronic equipment, such as circuit boards, microchips, computer parts, and medical devices. Static electricity can damage and cause these products to malfunction, degrade, or fail, resulting in costly losses, increased warranty claims and safety hazards. ESD gloves can prevent static build-up and discharge, ensuring the quality and performance of the products. ESD gloves are also beneficial for workers who work in industries where static electricity can pose a risk to electronics or can ignite flammable or explosive materials, causing fires or explosions that can harm workers and damage property.

What Problems do Anti-Static ESD Gloves Solve?

ESD gloves solve the following problems:

  • Electrostatic attraction: Electrostatic attraction is the phenomenon of where objects with electric charges attracting each other. Electrostatic attraction can cause dust, dirt, and other particles to stick to the surface, contaminating the products or interfering with the work process. This is a major problem with glass and plastics such as headlights, screens in the automotive industry.  ESD gloves can prevent electrostatic attraction by neutralizing the electric charge on the gloves.
  • Electrostatic discharge: Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is the sudden flow of electricity between two objects with different electric potentials. ESD can cause sparks, arcs, or currents that can damage or destroy electronic components, such as transistors, diodes, resistors, and capacitors.
  • Electromagnetic Interference: ESD can also cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) that can affect the performance of other electronic devices. ESD gloves can prevent ESD by dissipating the static charge through the gloves or grounding the person.
  • Static shocks: Static shocks are unpleasant and painful sensations that occur when a person touches a conductive object that has a different electric potential. Static shocks can cause discomfort, injury, or even death to workers, depending on the voltage and current of the discharge. ESD gloves can prevent static shocks by equalizing the electric potential between the person and the object.

List the Types of ESD Gloves

There are different types of ESD gloves available in the market, depending on the material, coating, size, and design. Some of the common types are:

  • Nylon ESD gloves: Nylon ESD gloves are made of nylon fibers that have low electrical conductivity and high durability. Nylon ESD gloves are suitable for general-purpose work and electronic assembly, as they offer good dexterity, breathability, and comfort. Nylon ESD gloves can be coated with polyurethane, nitrile, or latex to provide additional grip, abrasion resistance, or chemical resistance.
  • Polyester ESD gloves: Polyester ESD gloves are made of polyester fibers that have low electrical conductivity and high strength. Polyester ESD gloves are ideal for cleanroom applications, as they offer low linting, low particulate generation, and high cleanliness. Polyester ESD gloves can be coated with polyurethane, nitrile, or latex to provide additional grip, abrasion resistance, or chemical resistance.
  • Heat Resistant ESD Gloves: Heat resistant gloves are designed for printed circuit board, hybrid circuit, semiconductor and other processes that require handling objects at elevated temperatures without compromising cleanliness or potential damage to static discharge. Material include polyester and high temperature Nomex gloves.
  • Spandex ESD gloves: Spandex ESD gloves are made of spandex fibers that have low electrical conductivity and high elasticity. Spandex ESD gloves are ideal for precision work, as they offer excellent fit, stretch, and sensitivity. Spandex ESD gloves can be coated with polyurethane, nitrile, or latex to provide additional grip, abrasion resistance, or chemical resistance.
  • Cut Resistant ESD gloves: Cut Resistant ESD gloves are made of materials that are suitable for low-to-medium cut risk work, such as handling circuit boards, glass or automotive components. Cut Resistant ESD gloves can be coated with polyurethane, nitrile, or latex to provide additional grip, abrasion resistance, or chemical resistance.
  • Nitrile ESD Gloves: Nitrile ESD Gloves safeguard against damage caused by static discharge and contamination in EPAs where cleanliness is a concern. The inherent anti-static, low tribocharging nature of nitrile gives natural static protection without additives or carbon shedding. As a homogeneous material, nitrile gloves offer resistance through the material and not just on the surface.

How to Test ESD Gloves

ESD gloves can be tested using various methods and instruments, such as:

  • Surface resistance meter: A surface resistance meter is a device that measures the resistance of a material to the flow of electric current. A surface resistance meter can be used to test the anti-static performance of ESD gloves by applying a voltage across the surface of the gloves and measuring the resulting current. The lower the surface resistance, the better the anti-static performance.  A special probe is available that is designed to test gloves.
  • Static Field Meter: A static field meter is a device that locates and measures the amount of charge on a surface. A static field meter can be used to test the anti-static performance of ESD gloves by applying a high voltage to the gloves and measuring the time it takes for the voltage to drop to a certain level. The shorter the static decay time, the better the anti-static performance.
  • ESD Combo Tester: An ESD combo tester is a device that measures the resistance to the ground of a person while wearing an ESD device. An ESD combo tester can be used to test the anti-static performance of ESD gloves by having the person wear the gloves and touch a metal plate connected to the tester. The lower the resistance to the ground, the better the anti-static performance.

What Standards do ESD Gloves Comply to?

ESD gloves comply to various standards and regulations, such as:

  • ANSI/ESD S20.20: ANSI/ESD S20.20 is a standard that specifies the requirements for an ESD control program for organizations that handle, process, or assemble electrostatic-sensitive devices. ANSI/ESD S20.20 covers the design, implementation, and maintenance of an ESD control program, including the selection, use, and testing of ESD protective equipment, such as ESD gloves.
  • EN 16350: EN 16350 is a standard that specifies the test methods and performance requirements for protective gloves against electrostatic risks. EN 16350 covers the measurement of the surface resistance, the static decay time, and the resistance to the ground of protective gloves, as well as the classification of the gloves according to their anti-static performance.
  • IEC 61340: IEC 61340 is a series of standards that specify the general requirements and test methods for the protection of electronic devices from electrostatic phenomena. IEC 61340 covers the principles, definitions, and terminology of electrostatics, as well as the measurement techniques, evaluation methods, and control procedures for electrostatic discharge, electrostatic fields, and triboelectric charging.

What Industries should Use ESD Gloves?

ESD gloves are widely used in various industries that involve the handling of sensitive electronic equipment or flammable or explosive materials, such as:

  • Electronics: Electronics industry includes the manufacturing, assembly, testing, and repair of electronic devices, such as computers, smartphones, tablets, laptops, cameras, TVs, printers, scanners, and more. ESD gloves are used to protect the electronic components from static damage and ensure the quality and reliability of the products.
  • Medical: Medical industry includes the production, distribution, and use of medical devices, such as pacemakers, defibrillators, monitors, pumps, sensors, implants, and more. ESD gloves are used to protect the medical devices from static damage and ensure the safety and performance of the devices.
  • Automotive: Automotive industry includes the design, development, manufacturing, and maintenance of vehicles, such as cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, and more. ESD gloves are used to protect the electronic systems and components of the vehicles from static damage and ensure the functionality and efficiency of the vehicles.
  • Paint line: Paint line industry includes the application of paint or coating to various surfaces, such as metal, wood, plastic, and more. ESD gloves are used to prevent static sparks that can ignite the paint or coating and

Conclusion

Choosing the right cut resistant glove can offer a dual benefit of safety and efficiency for a manufacturing company that works with electronics. Transforming Technologies has a variety of ESD Gloves and two types of  Cut Resistant Gloves to consider.  Call us at 419-841-9552 for more information on our ESD Gloves or visit our Contact Us page.  You can request samples and testing data to help make your gloves decision.

We supply the following ESD Gloves for Static Protection: