CMOS chips, small field-effect transistors and many other semiconductor components (e.g. high-power LEDs) are particularly sensitive to ElectroStatic Discharge (ESD). For this reason, electronics assemblers and service technicians, as well as electronics technicians involved in commissioning and measuring exposed electronics, should always pay special attention to ESD protection. It is important to know that it is not enough to use antistatic mats, grounding bands and appropriate footwear and clothing. The tools used are also important, for example cleaning tools. In this category you will find ESD brushes and brushes for vacuuming and cleaning delicate electronic circuits.
ESD brushes
See also
Electrostatic discharge - the silent killer of electronics
Electrification of various materials, especially clothes, is an inherent problem of every electronics technician. The main cause of static electricity is friction - inevitable in case of clothing - and the potentials of static charges can reach several thousand volts. While the energy built up by naturally occurring static charges is usually too small to be perceptible to humans, it can be lethal to delicate integrated circuit circuits (mainly inputs). Although integrated circuits have built-in basic protection, but even they can not completely protect microscopic silicon structures from voltages at the level of kilovolts. ICs soldered on circuit boards are much safer, yet they still need to be handled with care when assembling or cleaning them. So it's worth having ESD brushes and brushes on hand to ensure that cleaning or vacuuming PCBs doesn't end tragically.
ESD plastic brushes
ESD cleaning tools are made of a special type of plastic. Appropriately selected chemical composition makes them not only electrically resistant but also allows for safe discharge (elimination) of charges that could arise during friction with the surface of the cleaned PCB. We offer ESD plastic brushes of various sizes (from the smallest, with bristles placed on the surface of 10 x 40 mm, to quite large 67 x 32 mm) and brushes (round and flat). All of them have relatively stiff bristles, which, with a moderate, gentle scrubbing, will thoroughly remove operating dirt or flux residues, without damaging the circuit board or elements placed on it.
ESD wooden brushes
An excellent choice for delicate work (e.g. vacuuming computer motherboards and other equipment) are fine ESD brushes on a wooden handle. Our range includes flat brushes in various sizes, from 11mm (for cleaning nooks and crannies, such as between tall capacitors and connectors), to 80mm. In addition to cleaning, the brushes can also be used to coat PCBs with protective varnish or to manually apply soldermasks.