Static control in packaging has been around for centuries. In its earliest years, it was used to prevent the electrostatic discharge (ESD) ignition of gunpowder stores. Today, there are many kinds of devices, parts, and pieces manufactured in cleanrooms that are vulnerable to ESD. Since basic motion and activity can create a static charge, it’s important that these items are packaged in ESD protective materials. Here are a few options.
Conductive plastic is achieved through the compounding of carbon particle material into plastic resin. This permanently changes the surface resistivity, transforming it from an electrical insulator to an electrical conductor.
A conductive tote prevents ESD because when grounded, it bleeds the charge off to the surface it’s in contact with. When enclosed with a cover, it becomes a Faraday cage, providing an electrically continuous conductive enclosure.
This kind of resistivity… Read more
Cleanrooms are incredibly complex. Without the right amount of planning when building one, you can encounter one time and money-sucking challenge after another. You can’t just think about your needs now, but also in the future. Situations like expansion, repairs, and upgrades can be an enormous headache if you’re not set up for it when the time comes for change. When you’re building a cleanroom, here are 5 characteristics you want to ensure it has to avoid costly, time-consuming obstacles.
- Located on the first floor. Everything you want to build, install, or renovate requires access to the room, and the easier you make that, the faster it will get done. Additionally, the first floor is ideal when you look at all the HVAC and other necessary equipment – you need room for everything, and you need space in the correct location… Read more
One of the greatest expenses and energy drains in a cleanroom is the HVAC system. Air change rates, pressurization, temperature, and humidity are all monitored to maintain compliance for cleanroom classification. This accounts for about 80% of the energy used, and about 50% of that comes from that fans alone.
With strict guidelines on air quality and regulation, the HVAC systems are typically left to run at full power all the time. If you can reduce the amount of energy used by the HVAC or even shut the system down while the room is not in use (e.g. evenings and weekends), it would result in a significant cost and energy savings. The question is: is it possible to reduce the air change rates without compromising the microbial growth in a sterile environment?
According to research, yes, it might be possible to… Read more
The internal skin of your cleanroom is just as much a barrier from contaminants as are gloves and gowns. Like any barrier, the six sides of your cleanroom are less effective under certain circumstances. Anything that disrupts the smoothness of the surface is a potential contamination hazard. Here are 5 common mistakes people allow inside their cleanrooms.
- Compromised surface quality. Any bumps, cracks, scratches, holes, sharp corners, or raised surfaces can be a nightmare to clean. This is not only true of the enclosing structure, but also of countertops and other surfaces found within the room. Keep a close eye on the integrity of flat surfaces, and avoid any work that requires drilling or adding dimensions to the walls or ceiling.
- Rivets. These are used to join panels or keep coving or window frames in place. Rivets are very useful… Read more
If you work in a cleanroom, you know it is imperative to follow protocol. To keep contaminates out and protect yourself from toxic substances, you likely use a variety of protective wear like gowns and gloves when you work. Even though gloves provide an excellent barrier between you and what you touch, it is important to take an extra step in safety. Are you washing your hands before and after wearing gloves?
If you’re not, you need to start immediately, and here is why.
Latex gloves are not 100% impenetrable. There is a chance that contaminates from your hands can break the glove barrier. You need clean hands before you even put the gloves on to protect the controlled environment.
Glove residue can break down your tolerance to irritants. Gloves often contain materials that can cause allergies. The allergens rub off on… Read more