Electrostatic discharge: a review

The advent of practical problems associated with electrostatic discharge (ESD) has reawakened a wider interest in static electricity and again brought it to the fore. One of the main practical problems has been as a consequence of electronic circuits getting smaller, since it takes less energy to destroy them. While this paper mainly addresses ESD with respect to electronics, it must not be forgotten that ESD can affect most modern production facilities in one way or another. It can attract dust to surfaces that must be kept clean. It can also be a source of discomfort to personnel and more importantly it can create a fire hazard in combustible environments