The Dangers of Electrostatic Discharge

Electrostatic discharge is a brief electric current that flows between two objects with different electrical charges. The phenomenon is especially relevant to sensitive electric devices and other materials vulnerable to static electricity or its side effects. Most static charges in everyday life are very low and harmless; however, in certain situations, charges can become massive and damage equipment and cause physical harm to you or people in the vicinity.

Consumer Electronics

• Electrostatic discharge only poses a danger to electronics with circuit boards and other sensitive electronic equipment. This is especially true of computers. This danger can occur when working on the computer or handling internal computer components. If a static charge has built up in a component such as a memory card, graphics accelerator card or hard drive or in your body, the charge can be released into the component, effectively burning it out and ruining it beyond repair. Static shock can occur without your knowledge because the charge contains a very low voltage.

Fuel Pumps

• The motion of flammable fluids such as gasoline, diesel and kerosene inside pipes can build up strong electrostatic charges within the fluid itself. When transferring fuel from one container to another, such as from a pump to your gas tank, the charge can move into the vapor given off by the fuel. If the charge is high enough, it can ignite when the vapor mixes with air or in the presence of a spark such as from a cigarette lighter.

Extraterrestrial Operations

• Because static charges build up more easily in dry conditions, the environments of extraterrestrial regions such as the moon and Mars are especially conducive to the collection of electrostatic discharge. This environmental condition creates a potential major hazard for space exploration. Astronauts walking over the dry ground of the moon or other extraterrestrial locations can cause the accumulations of a large static charge. Touching a piece of metal equipment or a door could cause a massive static discharge that could cripple nearby electronics and potentially put lives in danger.

Ozone Creation

• Static discharges in the presence of oxygen create ozone as a by-product. Ozone is corrosive and can eat through rubber and other materials such as fuel lines. These problems are especially apparent in automobiles where tires are susceptible to ozone cracking. Cracked fuel lines can lead to fires in the engine compartment due to the large amount of static produced in this area. Sensitive electronic engine components can also be affected by this static buildup and discharge.