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White
Paper |
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Fluoropolymer
coated stainless steel helps emerging nanotech |
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industry
grow safely |
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The computer
revolution of the mid 80's dramatically transformed business and
the way people work. Today, at the dawn of the 21st
century, nanotechnology has the potential to impact every-day
life in the same way. The pursuit of scientific
innovations in this field of research and consequent commercial
applications has been increasingly financed with an eye on
future dividends. Universities, state and regional
development councils continue to invest in nano-technology
research in hopes of getting in on the ground floor of this
latest revolution. As a result research facilities are
sprouting up all over the country. Most noticeable of
which are the construction of multi million dollar nano-facilities
on university campuses from Boston to Los Angeles.
Nanoscience is the
study of microscopic particles as small as one nanometer or one
billionth of a meter.
Nanotechnology builds on this information with the express goal
of atomic scale manufacturing.
Scientists claim this technology holds the promise of new
materials and products from smaller, more
powerful computers, environmentally sensitive clothing and
futuristic swarm-like weapons.
Recognizing the potential of this science, major corporations
such as IBM, Fujitsu and Intel are also
pouring vast sums of money into research along with the United
States government. |
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University lab
under construction with PermaShield |
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Pipe header
suspended from the ceiling along the |
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opposite wall. |
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University lab
under construction with PermaShield |
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Pipe fittings
staged in the foreground for tool hook up |
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installation on
the header suspended from the ceiling |
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along the
opposite wall. |
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Nanotech research
employs many of the same manufacturing protocols as
microprocessor "chip" manufacturing, the
most critical of which is an environmentally clean space or
"clean room" free of airborne
particulate. Clean rooms are designated by class, such as
Class 1000, 100 or 10. A Class 10 clean room
maintains less than ten particles larger than 0.5 microns in
each cubic foot of airspace. |
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Just as clean room
manufacturing necessitates the intake of clean, filtered air, so
too must the by-products of
manufacturing processes be safely exhausted. These
by-products all contain potentially hazardous,
highly corrosive, combustible and even toxic fumes and liquids.
Therefore, the safety and health
of personnel and the integrity of the facility and its systems
are important considerations in the
design of any lab but especially important in an university
setting where student safety is
paramount. The challenge is to incorporate reliable,
cost-effective, easy-to-install, fire and corrosion
resistant transfer systems into a facility. Building codes
and insurance companies prefer the use of
non-combustible materials requiring suppressant devices such as
sprinkler systems. To
address these challenges, Fab-Tech
developed a process to integrity bond a fluoropolymer
material onto stainless steel. Fab-Tech's coated stainless steel
process pipe and duct delivers unparalleled corrosion protection, ease of
installation, and structural integrity in the
event of a fire since it does not melt, burn or generate smoke. |
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Also important in
the choice of construction materials is the FM rating.
Factory Mutual (FM) is an affiliate of FM
Global, the world's largest insurance company, specifically
devoted to reducing commercial and
industrial property losses and maintaining the continuity of its
policyholders' business
operations. In addition, manufacturers such as Fab-Tech
use Factory Mutual Research's services to earn
"FM" approval, certifying, through rigorous testing,
the reliability of their products and services. |
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