I have chips that have been stuck in the black anti-static foam for years and 
the legs are still nice and shiny. (Just checked). Perhaps it is a particular 
brand of foam?

 

Jeff Birt

 

 

From: M100 <m100-boun...@lists.bitchin100.com> On Behalf Of Peter Noeth
Sent: Monday, October 30, 2023 6:16 PM
To: Model 100 Discussion <m100@lists.bitchin100.com>
Subject: Re: [M100] Anti-static foam types

 

I would NOT recommend the black carbonized foam for storage. We used to use 
that type where I worked as a Component Level computer tech for our "Component 
Inventory" many decades ago. It will turn the legs of I.C.s and transistors 
black after a few months if you stick them into the foam, requiring cleaning 
with a mild abrasive before soldering (risking static damage). It may be a 
solution for shipment only.

 

The other foam looks like High Density Styrofoam, as used in the building 
trades for wall insulation. I have seen it both light blue and pink, used for 
the purposes you mention, and have never trusted it as styrofoam is inherently 
very staticy, even with anti-static additives. I have seen some people wrap 
that foam in aluminum foil first before poking any leaded components into it. 
This may be a shipment only solution.

 

I have always used the plastic anti static tubes (rails) that the manufacturers 
sell their components in, or the anti-static poly and mylar bags that DigiKey 
and other distributors use. With "through hole" components not being as popular 
as they once were, and "surface mount" components now the "norm", your best 
solution would be the anti-static poly and mylar bags easily found with an 
Internet search.

 

Regards,

 

PeterN

 

On Mon, Oct 30, 2023 at 2:42 PM <m100-requ...@lists.bitchin100.com 
<mailto:m100-requ...@lists.bitchin100.com> > wrote:


Message: 1
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2023 14:25:24 -0700
From: Gary Weber <g...@web8201.com <mailto:g...@web8201.com> >
To: M100 <m100@lists.bitchin100.com <mailto:m100@lists.bitchin100.com> >
Subject: [M100] Anti-static foam types
Message-ID:
        <caajazkoqdyapx1godpsvutedor+x1npum1isuhrv+udoman...@mail.gmail.com 
<mailto:caajazkoqdyapx1godpsvutedor%2bx1npum1isuhrv%2budomane%...@mail.gmail.com>
 >
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Question for anyone out there familiar --

There's a few kinds of antistatic foams out there that I've come across
which have had DIP chips stuck into them for storage, and the ones I
currently have on hand is the black stuff which is very porous, and this
other very stiff stuff that almost has the feeling of styrofoam.  (Not
bendable.)

Here's the two I have on hand:
[image: image.png]

Is anyone else familiar with the light colored antistatic "hard" foam
that's in the right of this photo?  What's it called and where would you
obtain more of it?  It seems to protect a DIP chip's pins much better for
long term storage or shipping and I'd like to have some on hand.

Thanks,

-- 
Gary Weber
g...@web8201.com <mailto:g...@web8201.com> 
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