For ESD purposes, materials are classified by their resistance to the movement of electricity. The following ranges and definitions are found in ESD Association or EIA standards publications:

Conductive materials: With a low electrical resistance, electrons flow easily across the surface or through the bulk of these materials. Charges go to ground or to another conductive object that the material contacts or comes close to. Conductive materials have a surface resistivity less than 1 x 10^5Ω or a volume resistivity less than 1 x 10^4Ω.

Dissipative materials: For these materials, the charges flow to ground more slowly and in a somewhat more con-trolled manner than with conductive materials. Dissipative materials have a surface resistivity equal to or greater than 1 x 10^5 Ω but less than 1 x 10^12 Ω or a volume resistivity equal to or greater than 1 x 10^4 Ω but less than 1 x 10^11 Ω.