Antistatic: Term is often used generically to describe the full range of static control materials and products. This term can be misused resulting in confusion between suppliers and end users. A new term, "low charging," is now being used in the industry.

Degradation: Type of static electricity damage that weakens an electronic device. The device can still continue to operate within normal parameters; however the device may later fail catastrophically.

Dissipative material: An ESD protective material having a surface resistivity greater than 105 ohms/cm2, but less than 1012 ohms/cm2.

Electrostatic discharge (ESD): The sudden transfer of voltage between bodies at different voltages or electrical potentials.

Foot strap: A special device that relies on electrical contact between the user's shoe and a conductive flooring system to limit electrostatic buildup on the wearer.

Grounding: The process of establishing a connection between an electrical circuit or equipment and an earth ground or electrical ground.

Low charging: Refers to the low static charge generation between surfaces that contact and separate. This term has replaced the word "antistatic."

Shielding: An electrostatic field radiates in the area surrounding most charged objects. This field can produce an ESD event or inductively charge other objects nearby and produce undesirable results. A conductive, grounded enclosure that completely surrounds an object will shield the contents within from the effects of an external electrostatic field. A metallized bag is an example of shielding.

Static dissipative material: A material that allows electrons to flow across its surface or through its mass. It is more resistive than conductive material and less resistive than insulative or nonconductive material.

Static electricity: An electrical charge caused by an imbalance of electrons on the surface of a material.