Does styrofoam conduct electricity?

gary king

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Mar 5, 2013
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I've got a graphics card box, from when I purchased my Gigabyte GTX 660, with styrofoam in it to hold the graphics card in place. The card originally came in an antistatic bag, of course, and then placed in the styrofoam. However, right now I don't have the antistatic bag anymore, and I am planning on selling the GPU, so I'll be using the box to transport it.

Since I don't have the antistatic bag, how safe is it to place the GPU directly into the styrofoam? I plan on selling it in person, so the GPU won't be delivered, it will be transferred via a car. Would the styrofoam conduct electricity? My initial guess is "no", but perhaps I should think otherwise?

The styrofoam has a nice and snug cut-out so that the GPU fits perfectly in there. Actually, I have an antistatic bag for a motherboard, but it's so big that the GPU doesn't fit in the styrofoam anymore (because I have to roll up the sides to make it fit).
 

gary king

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Yeah, I figured that styrofoam can generate electricity. I recall that if you rub styrofoam against steel wool or something, it would hold a charge, at least briefly? A plastic bag, such as one that I get from a grocery store (which I have tons of) won't hold any charge at all? Or is it only suitable for short-term storage?
 

funguseater

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If you are talking about the closed cel foam (usually greyish) that GPU's come packed in it is not Styrofoam like a cooler. I am talking about the foam that is inside the GPU package not loose external packing. It would be much more dangerous to put the GPU into a grocery bag as these also generate static charge. Never use a grocery bag ;)

Fungi
 

gary king

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I'm talking about the very common, white styrofoam. Is that safe enough for the GPU?