General Topic

Terra customers often inquire about what type of steel is suggested for their product. In making a decision, one should also consider that not all 304 and 316 stainless steel is built to equal standards.

In the USA, the leading codes of standard practices for steel manufacturing are issued by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the specification

Terra Universal manufactures a vast selection of stainless steel products for cleanrooms, hospitals, laboratories, and other controlled environments. Among these steel-constructed products, you'll find tables, workstations, glove boxes, pass-throughs, doors, and more.

Here at Terra Universal, we’ve made it our mission to offer the best possible lead times in the industry.  In addition to aggressive stocking programs and streamlined fulfillment, Terra Universal also offers several services that ensure you receive your products as quickly as possible.

FasTrak 24/7 guarantees to meet the shipping date YOU specify, regardless of quoted lead times. 

Terra Universal can provide FasTrak 24/7 service for both in-stock products and custom orders.

Electricity is in the air all the time; we can clearly see it during a lightning storm. But what happens when it’s in your cleanroom, glovebox or hood? Electrostatic discharge will damage components and materials, so get a better understanding of this phenomena and learn what you can do about it.

Controlled environments act as secluded clean spaces for performing select applications in a manner that protects the internal samples or materials and/or the workers involved. Air pressure is a key component of a cleanroom. The internal pressure and, by design, the differential pressure, are closely regulated and maintained.  Basic chemistry tells us that high pressure air has greater mass than low pressure air, and given the opportunity, will flow into the less dense environment.

Ascending or descending pressure differentials are part of the foundation of most controlled environments. Maintaining a specific differential between adjacent areas reduces the inflow of airborne particulates and/or prevents hazardous materials from escaping. The type of application dictates whether a positive or negative pressure space is required. So, how do these two pressure types differ?

Isolation

High-tech industries have long been plagued by an unseen foe. From semiconductors to medical devices, manufacturers are forced to accept high product rejection rates due to particle contamination or critical defects. Oftentimes, contamination issues and product damage in these industries can be traced back to uncontrolled static electricity. When static is allowed to build-up, it becomes a double threat to a cleanroom, increasing the chances of ESA-induced contamination and electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage.

ESA Contamination in Cleanrooms

Electrostatic attraction (ESA) is the phenomenon that causes dust to stick to the glass screen of an old vacuum tube television. When particles become statically charged by friction or contact with another material, they adhere to surfaces that have the opposite charge. While this may seem harmless in the example of the TV monitor, the semiconductor industry works on a microscopic