Hi,

Without knowing circuit details; yes, your customer's concerns are reasonable.
The plastic caps can build (through friction with other materials) and hold
static charges. How susceptible the product may be is determined by several
factors including, but not limited to: the semiconductor families attached,
junction size, thickness of oxide layers, use of crystal devices, use of thin
film devices etc.

ESD safe connector caps are available which are made with a plastic substrate
loaded with carbon or surfactants or are made from copolymer. Carbon loaded
plastic has no life limitation as do the others but it tends to shed conductive
particles with wear as the carbon weakens the substrate. A substrate loaded with
surfactant (it has a greasy feel) has the lowest useful life. Alternately, if
you have static shielding bags with the metallization layer exposed you could
cut squares from the bags, put the squares over the connector (metallized side
touching the metal) then put the caps you're using now on top.

Bob

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