 |
|
Market Applications
Glovebox Isolator, Barrier, and Enclosure Information
A glovebox is a sealed container that both protects users from hazardous materials and isolates materials from outside contamination. Glovebox use began in the 1940s, when the defense industry began using gloveboxes to contain radioactive materials and to protect scientists and researchers who were experimenting with hazardous materials.
Examples of materials used within gloveboxes include gaseous or particulate hazardous substances, non-biohazardous microorganisms, low-level radiochemicals, chemical carcinogens, and asbestos.
Today, industries as diverse as pharmaceutical, forensics, biochemistry, microelectronic, biological, health care, food processing, aerospace, and education markets use glovebox technologies to protect their product, people, and processes.
Gloveboxes offer numerous benefits:
Greater control
Safer workplaces
Improved production yields
Improved product shelf-life
Lower costs for operations, consumables, and waste disposal
Gloveboxes are used in any industry where materials must be protected from the environment or operators must be protected from the materials they are working with. Specific industries and applications that use gloveboxes include the following:
Pharmaceutical and medical companies use gloveboxes for various processes, including
Sterility testing
Sterile processing
Liquid filling
Bulk powder processing
Packaging, researching and radiological isotope processing
Cytotoxic compound research
Aerosolization studies
Vaccine research
Infectious disease diagnostics and research
Handling of sterile potent pharmaceutical compounds
The pharmaceutical industry is even experimenting with using robotic mini-environments in conjunction with gloveboxes to eliminate human workers - the biggest source of contamination in the industry.
Glovebox Applications
The electronics industry uses gloveboxes for controlling particulate and static contamination
NASA uses gloveboxes during space shuttle missions and on the space station to conduct experiments
Electrochemical companies use gloveboxes to study oxygen-sensitive or moisture-sensitive compounds
Biomedical and health care companies use gloveboxes to protect employees who are working with carcinogens, reproductive toxins, and other hazardous substances
Gloveboxes can be used to grow crystals
Corrosion can be removed within gloveboxes
Electromagnetic companies use gloveboxes to:
Construct coin cell batteries for researching and testing cathodic and anodic electrode materials and configurations
Design and develop alternate energy cells such as lithium batteries
Design and process semiconductors and flat panel displays
Synthesize polymeric devices within an inert atmosphere
Hermetically seal microelectronic packages
Seam-seal microchips
Welding
Gloveboxes protect workers on numerous manufacturing assembly lines and prevent the release of dangerous materials into the external environment
Botanists use gloveboxes to propagate mushrooms and fragile plants such as orchids
Lamp manufacturers use gloveboxes to enable controlled atmosphere sealing of lamps
The nuclear industry uses gloveboxes to:
Purify tritium and other nuclear products
Protect operators against alpha particles and gamma irradiation when producing and reprocessing spent fuel
Gloveboxes can be used to inspect suspected terrorism samples (chemical and biological)
Gloveboxes can be used to inspect suspect mail
Gloveboxes can be used in painting and sandblasting applications, to minimize mess and cleanup
 |
 |
Sales and Service
Contact your Innovative Technology sales representative at 978-462-4415 or online to discuss how our glovebox systems and accessories can help you meet your application needs.
|
|
|
|
|
