Desco Europe ESD - Questions And Answers

Our company is a magnetic heads manufacturer. What should be the proper material to be used in a work area; dissipative type or conductive surface? When we manufacture MR heads (Magnetoresistive heads) our work surface area is made of stainless steel grounded to a common ground. Now that we're shifting to GMR (Giant MR heads) we're shifting to dissipative mattings on top of stainless steel table. - Jun Balaoeg, Philippines

GMR heads are very sensitive to ESD. To minimize the possibility of ESD Events, changing your work surfaces from metal (highly conductive) to dissipative is recommended. This is mainly due to controlling the discharge times which can eliminate ESD Events. Extreme "ESD Control" caution is necessary when handling GMRs for a potential difference of a few volts can be detrimental to the head.

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