Desiccants, more commonly recognized as those tiny packs of silica gel found in new shoes or luggage, have dozens of useful purposes in our daily lives. Some of the most effective desiccant gels can absorb up to 40% of their weight in moisture, protecting our gym bags from mildew or our silver jewelry from tarnishing. Although quite versatile, this household method of dry storage is usually not enough to preserve highly sensitive materials from moisture or contamination. Here are five critical specimens that you’ll find in a high performance, nitrogen-purged干燥器柜子.
Semiconductors
预计全球半导体产业将在2015年生产3470亿美元。这些有价值的微电子在智能手机和汽车行业主要消耗，需要特别控制的干燥储存。空气污染物和水分的存在极大地威胁到微芯片和集成电路。这就是为什么将它们存储在低湿度氮气干燥器柜中的重要原因。考虑到低湿度水平与增加的电静电放电（ESD）电压相关联，对于包含在静态耗散的干燥器系统内的半导体也是至关重要的。
Carbon Dating Samples
地质标本,如土壤从不同的environments around the world, are used to investigate factors contributing to climate change, land use change, as well as ecosystem and
自然危险研究。由于湿度降低了所有有机物质，如土壤中的radioCarbon，这些样品应存储在湿度控制的干燥器中，其中可以自动维持相对湿度（RH）设定点。这样，样品中的酰碳水平可以保存，直到它们用于降低纯碳作为粉末的还原过程，以进行更深的科学分析。
生物样本
Success of a criminal investigation often relies on the quality of forensic evidence, such as DNA samples. Failure to properly store biological samples could compromise a legal prosecution. With the ability to maintain a dry controlled environment as low as -2°F, desiccator cabinets provide ideal short-term storage for highly sensitive specimens. This acts as protection from contamination and degradation of DNA that could prove a criminal’s guilt or innocence.
化学样本
In addition to cooling capabilities for biological samples, desiccators can be designed to maintain dry heated conditions for the storing and purification of volatile chemicals. Placing a beaker of distilled water along with a beaker of the harsh chemical within a desiccator for several days is a common physical technique for chemical purification. The controlled environment of the desiccator cabinet also allows for analysis and quality control of chemical samples, while inhibiting growth of organic contaminants. The processed chemical can then be used as a reagent for biological testing.
太阳能电池板制造业
第一个太阳能电池板制造的主要步骤is the formation of perfectly structured crystals with positive potential orientations. The crystals are then used to produce photovoltaic cells, also known as solar cells, which conduct electric current when exposed to sunlight. A desiccator protects solar cells from the ambient environment as they are mechanically guided into a cleanroom for solar panel assembly. Engineered specifically for this application, Terra’s solar cell desiccator features a plenum and perforated shelves that allow an unobstructed flow of nitrogen gas. The uniquely designed shelves accommodate the specific size and shape of solar cell racks, allowing the robotics system to remove the racks from the desiccator for assembly into solar panels.
Terra Universal is the leading expert in the design and fabrication of ISO rated cleanrooms, furnishing and supplies.