What Are the Precautions for PCBA Packaging?

During transportation, the packaging of printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) may be subject to
crushing, vibration, shaking, dropping, and other forms of physical damage. These damages are not always
obvious but can be fatal. If the PCBA is prepared for installation before transportation, its packaging
is particularly susceptible to static damage or moisture penetration. After investing a lot of effort in
designing the PCB and turning it into a physical product, the last thing you want is damage during
transportation.

When we are at the shipping end of logistics, it is always frustrating to learn that customers receive
damaged goods. Highqualitypcb Company is always looking to improve its services, including packaging, to
ensure that the state of the PCB is consistent with the customer's expectations when it leaves the
production line. Therefore, it is crucial to complete some basic PCB packaging requirements before the
manufacturer manufactures any products to ensure that the circuit board is fully protected during
transportation.

Anti-static Packaging

Regarding anti-static packaging, electrostatic discharge (ESD) refers to the rapid transfer of charge
when objects with different electrical potentials come into contact. Static electricity is one of the
main causes of the failure of electronic components. Although some components may be strong enough to
withstand static damage, parts such as integrated circuits and semiconductors can be permanently damaged
by tiny current fluctuations. As the size of integrated circuits continues to shrink, the vulnerability
of devices to ESD increases.

Examples of components that are sensitive to static electricity include MOSFETs, as they have very high
impedance, which makes it more difficult to dissipate the charge. Even if the component does not fail
immediately, static electricity may gradually impair the functionality of the device. Therefore, if you
have compositions exceedingly sensitive to ESD, you can rest assured that the packaging will not cause
any damage to them.

One of the basic ways to prevent static electricity during transportation is to use anti-static bubble
wrap. In addition to acting as a cushion for all shocks during transportation, it does not generate
static charge like regular bubble wrap and helps dissipate static electricity. Anti-static bubble wrap
can be recognized by its unique pink color due to the anti-static coating used.

Antistatic bubble wrap is a typical choice for storing PCBAs during transportation.

Antistatic bags, or pink Poly bags, are designed for storing electronic components that are susceptible
to static damage and function similarly to antistatic bubble wrap. These bags are made of polyethylene
material that prevents static electricity and may contain bubble wrap material to provide additional
cushioning protection against physical impact. Pink foam is also widely used for this purpose.

Another more advanced form of static protection is to use conductive antistatic bags.They differ from ordinary or dissipative antistatic bags in that conductive antistatic bags
have a shiny metal layer and are usually equipped with a Ziploc-like sealing mechanism. Due to their
excellent static shielding ability, these bags are particularly suitable for long-term storage,
transportation, and handling, and are also called shielding bags. They effectively protect the contents
from external charges and are essential for preserving exposed components susceptible to static
electricity, such as MOSFETs.

Moisture-proof packaging

In terms of moisture-proof packaging, one of the main causes of PCB degradation in outdoor applications
is moisture. Even if the circuit board is enclosed in a suitable waterproof enclosure in the field, it
may still be exposed to moisture during transportation. Bare PCBs can also be adversely affected by
humidity. Therefore, if the PCBs need to be shipped by sea or through humid climates, special attention
should be paid to the moisture-proof performance of the packaging during long journeys.

It is recommended that the PCBs be in a sealed moisture-proof bag with a small packet of
desiccant. Desiccant is usually packed in a porous bag so that moisture can pass through
the bag and be absorbed by the desiccant. Its purpose is to absorb moisture from the residual air in the
sealed bag and absorb moisture that penetrates the bag. Even when fully saturated, the desiccant can
remain dry.

Small Bag of Silica Gel Desiccant

For moisture-sensitive boards, vacuum-sealed packaging can be used to extract moisture from the package
along with the air. For added protection, vacuum-sealed ESD packages can also incorporate antistatic
properties.

Shockproof Packaging

Given the severe jolts that may occur during transportation, printed circuit boards (PCBs) are at high
risk of being damaged by shock or bending if not properly shockproofed. To avoid this, sufficient
padding material must limit movement within the package and ensure adequate protection for vulnerable
areas, such as exposed pins.

A piece of antistatic foam for cushioning

Highqualitypcb SMT Processing: Proper printed circuit board (PCB) packaging is
essential to protect your hard work and help increase the life of the equipment in the field. Currently,
when your circuit boards are shipped by mail, you can verify that they are adequately protected and
ensure that they have not been damaged during transportation. This is exactly what we currently provide.
Please share your insights in the comments section below!