Static electricity on diodes, ICs, transistors?

[asfastasdark]

I just bought a couple of diodes, transistors, and an IC, and on the bags (Mouser, btw) it says some static electricity warning. Now I already touched about half of the diodes without any "precautions." Are they most likely screwed now?

[brett]

Hi
the devices that are most sensitive are CMOS.  These have a very, very thin layer of a glass-like substance between different parts, and this is easily melted and destroyed by static electricity.  CMOS devices are a few discrete types (BS170, 2n7000), the CD4000 series, and some others (e.g. op-amps with CMOS input sections).

I'm unaware of any sensitive types of diodes.  Similarly, bipolar junction transistors are all ok, and most if not all FETs will be ok too.
have a good day!
Brett

[MikeH]

Regardless- it's always best to keep your workplace as static-free as possible.  In other words, no soldering in your fluffy robe and bunny slippers in a room with shag carpet and a dehumidifier working overtime  . The tech guys here at my work use a lot of sensitive components and one has a piece of copper wire stapled across the lip of his workstation with one end connected to a ground point (I think probably a plate screw on a power outlet) so he can "de-static" himself while working with sensitive components.

[Steben]

You can always touch some lighting decorations, or even the earth connection on a power connector.

I've never blown anything up till now. MOSfets, MOS ic's (like the rail to rail ones),...

[demonstar]

no soldering in your fluffy robe and bunny slippers in a room with shag carpet

I work with components on my breadboard in a fluffy robe and sit on a fake sheep skin rug while doing it    Guess I should maybe change as it can be quite a regular occurrence for me to do so.

Just as a note on static precautions... I have recently been sorting a lot of components I have just been given. When I got them they were in plastic containers but needed sorting so I put them in little bags then they'll go into the little drawers. I usually keep my ICs etc as they came packaged but these were naked (no packaging) as someone kindly gave them to me. I have loads of pink foam farnell use for packaging diodes and other ICs so I stook their legs in that. Was that a bad move? The foam reads as a open circuit on a voltmeter but I can't imagine Farnell using normal (not antistatic) foam. The foam ICs often come in reads as a very small resistance. I'm lost... is it safe to or is it not?

I always thought antistatic foam should be neither conducive or insulative so that static charges can discharge steadily as to prevent build up but with causing high discharge currents. That's what I've found reading around over the last week or so.

If I shouldn't be using the foam I am I do have the option to purchase some conductive foam tonight.

If you feel this question is going to derail this topic please say and I'll start a new topic.

I just bought a couple of diodes, transistors, and an IC, and on the bags (Mouser, btw) it says some static electricity warning.

I think these warnings are common place in the industry.

[earthtonesaudio]

That pink foam is probably* conductive.  Set your meter to the highest ohms setting, and put the pins as close together as you can without them touching.  It's something outrageous like gigohms per inch, but still conductive.
*probably, but don't take my word for it.

[demonstar]

That pink foam is probably* conductive.  Set your meter to the highest ohms setting, and put the pins as close together as you can without them touching.  It's something outrageous like gigohms per inch, but still conductive.
*probably, but don't take my word for it.

Thanks. That's what I had been doing but only read as open loop. I assumed the same thing that still is conductive but only just.