Cortec designs self-seal shipping bags for electronic protection and waste reduction

08 Nov 2022 --- Cortec Advanced Films has designed its new EcoSonic Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Self-Seal Bubble Bags powered by Nano Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors (VpCI) to protect electronics in transit. 

The bag combines VpCI, cushioning and ESD protection to safeguard sensitive electronics from triboelectric charge generation, corrosion and physical damage. Electronics can often become damaged in the shipping process, harming the product or rendering it useless to the consumer.  

The EcoSonic ESD Self-Seal Bubble Bags seeks to eliminate the largest hazards to electronic shipment, therefore reducing waste from manufacturers having to dispose of damaged goods from the shipping process, while pleasing consumers with mint condition products arriving at the door. 

 Cortec Advanced Films innovates an electronic shipment bag to reduce physical damage leading to less product wasted. Problems with electronic shipment
When electronics are exported worldwide, they encounter unpredictable and extreme environments of fluctuating temperatures and humidity that could easily cause condensation and corrosion within the electronics package. 

Good storage options can be expensive and difficult to find in hot and humid climates. It is not uncommon for large computer companies to require climate-controlled warehousing for electronics, explains Cortec 

The triboelectric charge generation, corrosion and physical damage that the bags combat are commonplace within electronic and electronic vehicle shipments. Electronics are highly complex, sensitive components that may contain multiple metal types in one unit, which generates more possibilities for complications. 

When an electronic becomes corroded, it is usually no longer serviceable as it has been broken down. A triboelectric charge occurs when an object becomes electrically changed after being removed from contact with another electronic item. 

Bag’s three-function protection
However, the EcoSonic ESD Self-Seal Bubble Bags provide corrosion protection to metal components by saturating the enclosed airspace with VpCI. These form a protective molecular layer on all packaged metals without leaving a noticeable film or residue behind them. 

The corrosion inhibitors have no adverse effects on plastic, optics, elastomers and other non-metallics and do not interfere with subsequent processing – welding, cleaning and soldering.  Nano Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors in the EcoSonic ESD Self-Seal Bubble Bag keep electronic equipment from corroding during temperamental global shipment.  

Another threat is electrostatic discharge, which harms the integrity of electronic components during manufacturing, shipping and storage. The bag has standard ESD protection, typically a must-have in the electronics industry. 

Cortec states that all forms of protection in the bag are needed since consumer quality standards are high. Any discoloration, let alone corrosion, on a component, may cause the end user to reject it due to the possibility of failure. 

Lastly, the bubble wrapping serves as cushioning, dunnage and void-fill material. The wrapping also helps separate the electronics to avoid the triboelectric charge. 

Customers can recycle the bag at facilities that accept low-density PE plastic. 

Metal recommendations
Cortec says its bag is suitable for carbon steel, aluminum, copper, silver, brass and stainless steel. 

The electronic components that may benefit from the ESD and corrosion protection include hard drives, processors, video graphics cards/boards, memory sticks/modules, networking cards/boards and other circuit boards. 

By Sabine Waldeck 

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