Flexible circuit boards are manufactured using very sensitive components. Therefore, if the flex PCB is not handled carefully, the circuit board will be damaged. Putting pressure on any small part of a flex PCB can cause serious damage, and a small amount of static electricity can completely damage the board. To prevent such damage, you need to keep static electricity generation to a minimum, discharge static electricity that has built up, and handle flexible printed circuit boards with care.

Here are some important precautions to take when handling and storing flexible circuit boards:

Properly grounded

Before handling the flex circuit board, it is recommended that you wear rubber-soled shoes to help ground yourself. This will help prevent static buildup that can seriously damage the board.

You should also wear a grounded wrist strap whenever you handle board assemblies.

Touch a piece of metal

It is recommended that you touch the metal piece for at least two seconds to help you discharge any remaining charge that may have remained in your body.

Maintain high humidity

You should create and maintain high humidity in your workstation. This will limit the static buildup that is prevalent in dry atmospheres.

Keep away from static-generating materials

Unless absolutely necessary (and most likely never), any static-generating material should be removed from the immediate vicinity of the flex PCB. Materials such as plastics, fabrics, vinyl, and Styrofoam tend to build up static electricity.

Wear gloves

During unboxing, gloves should be worn when handling the flex circuit board. When removing the circuit board from the ESD bag, at least one of the edges of the circuit board needs to touch the ESD bag. You should place the flex board directly on the bag and leave it there until you are ready to mount the board.

Install correctly

You need to install the flex circuit board into the correct module of the product or device with the required pressure (don't apply too much pressure) to hold it in the correct position. Do not force components into place.

Check protection

Designated workstations and storage areas for flexible circuit boards should be regularly inspected to ensure they can safely protect the flexible PCB. The main areas of concern are static dissipation of work surfaces, proper grounding methods, operation of ion blowers and ion air guns, and static dissipation of floor surfaces.

Use a shielding bag or box

Since the flex circuit board is sensitive, it should be enclosed in a shielding bag or box when it is not being handled. These are three types of electrostatic discharge (ESD) protective housing materials. They include:

1. Anti-static: This material provides anti-static cushioning for electronic components.

2. Static shielding: This material prevents static electricity from penetrating the package.

3. Static Dissipation: This material is sufficiently conductive to help dissipate static buildup.

Use special lotion

Do not use lotions and hand creams that contain silicones, as they may cause epoxy adhesion and solderability issues. Make sure to use a specially formulated emulsion to prevent contamination of the flexible PCB.