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Cabinet N/A Powder-Coated Steel 1 ISO 5 100 lb 46" 17" 83" Solid Door Series 300 1990-35A 76739 $3,200 1-3 Days 2
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Cabinet N/A Stainless Steel 1 ISO 5 100 lb 46" 17" 83" Solid Door Series 300 1990-21B 83776 $8,267 4-6 Days 3
Cabinet SDPVC Powder-Coated Steel 1 ISO 5 100 lb 46" 17" 36" Viewing Window Series 300 1990-33A 83781 $2,028 1-3 Days 4
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Cabinet SDPVC Powder-Coated Steel 1 ISO 5 100 lb 46" 17" 83" Inset Doors Series 300 1990-38B 83782 $5,263 1-3 Days 5
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Cabinet SDPVC Powder-Coated Steel 1 ISO 5 100 lb 46" 17" 83" Viewing Window Series 300 1990-31B 83778 $3,087 4-6 Days 6
Cabinet SDPVC Powder-Coated Steel 1 ISO 5 300 lb 46" 17" 83" Viewing Window Series 300 1990-30B 83777 $7,470 29-35 Days 7
Cabinet SDPVC Stainless Steel 1 ISO 5 100 lb 46" 17" 36" Viewing Window Series 300 1991-58A 69101 $5,763 1-3 Days 8
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Cabinet SDPVC Stainless Steel 1 ISO 5 100 lb 46" 17" 83" Inset Doors Series 300 1990-24A 76735 $9,391 1-3 Days 9
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Cabinet SDPVC Stainless Steel 1 ISO 5 100 lb 46" 17" 83" Viewing Window Series 300 1991-56D 83837 $9,702 1-3 Days 10
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Cabinet SDPVC Stainless Steel 1 ISO 5 300 lb 46" 17" 83" Viewing Window Series 300 1990-09A 76732 $13,427 1-3 Days 11
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Cabinet SDPVC Stainless Steel 1 ISO 5 300 lb 46" 17" 83" Viewing Window Series 300 1990-09B 83775 $13,427 1-3 Days 12
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Cabinet N/A Powder-Coated Steel 1 ISO 5 100 lb 46" 17" 83" Solid Door Series 300 1990-35B 83779 $3,200 1-3 Days 13
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Cabinet SDPVC Stainless Steel 1 ISO 5 100 lb 46" 17" 83" Inset Doors Series 300 1990-24B 83780 $9,391 1-3 Days 14
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Cabinet SDPVC Stainless Steel 1 ISO 5 100 lb 46" 17" 36" Viewing Window Series 300 1991-58B 83783 $5,763 1-3 Days 15
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Product Details
Product Details
  • Available ISO Rated Designs: ISO 5, ISO 6, ISO 7, ISO 8
  • Extra-large stainless steel, double-door desiccator cabinet for high-capacity storage
  • Includes flowmeter to regulate nitrogen gas flow
  • Adjustable shelves with perforations that promote nitrogen gas circulation
  • Automatic RB® (Relief/Bleed) Valves prevent over-pressurization
  • Nitrogen purge controllers sold separately (specify during checkout)
  • Static-dissipative PVC windows for viewing contents
  • Shelves adjust on 1" increments; 100 lbs. load capacity
  • Stainless steel, ergonomic LiftLatches
  • One-piece, mechanically attached door gaskets
  • Optional heavy-duty shelves available with 300 lbs. load capacity
  • Built-in digital thermohygrometer displays internal temperature and RH to help monitor conditions
  • Large cabinet-sized desiccators in 304 stainless steel
  • Heavy or standard-duty options
  • Optional automatic RH Control module wLED display,
  • External automatic RH control system or flowmeter
  • Static-dissipative PVC viewing window
  • Optional standard or heavy-duty SS shelves
  • 48"W x 18"D x 36" or 83"H

Marks & Listings: CE, UL, ULC

Stainless Steel Desiccator Cabinets

  • Maximum Drying Power in a Nitrogen Desiccator Cabinet
  • Desiccators: Features and Design overview
  • Video Overview of Stainless Steel Desiccator Cabinets Stainless Steel Desiccator Cabinets
  • Smart® Humidity Module upgrade tutorial Installing Terra's ValuLine™ Desiccator Smart® Controller
  • Stainless steel twelve chamber desiccator Desiccator; Stainless Steel, 60.376" W x 18.624" D x 80" H, Series 300
  • Stainless Steel Desiccator Cabinet with Double Doors Single-Chamber Stainless Steel Desiccator Cabinets
Video Overview of Stainless Steel Desiccator Cabinets
Smart® Humidity Module upgrade tutorial
Features & Benefits

Features and Benefits

Learn More: Desiccator Cabinets

Desiccator Cabinet Frequently Asked Questions

What is a desiccator cabinet and how is it used?

The term “desiccator” commonly refers to two types of equipment and ranges of applications.

A desiccator cabinet is typically a larger unit, often with multiple chambers, used to prevent moisture exposure during storage of sensitive parts. Because storage applications must allow periodic parts access, a desiccator cabinet typically includes one or more doors and relies either on a desiccant material (regenerating silica gel or molecular sieve) or the use of inert Nitrogen gas to maintain dry conditions. Terra offers desiccator cabinet options for every application.

A desiccator, on the other hand, is a sealable drying enclosure that uses vacuum or desiccant, sometimes in conjunction with a fan, to remove moisture adsorbed into the surface layer of a sensitive sample. These sealable enclosures are typically fairly small cylindrical or round glass vessels and are commonly used in laboratories to dry biological, pharmaceutical, or other chemical samples. Terra offers a wide selection of vacuum and non-vacuum lab desiccator options.

What are the advantages of a Nitrogen purged desiccator cabinet?

Purging a desiccator cabinet involves flushing moisture and oxygen laden air out of the cabinet using a steady flow of dry inert gas, such as Nitrogen. A purge of purified 99%+ Nitrogen gas is generally preferred in a large desiccator cabinet because such systems achieve a uniformly low-humidity storage environment more quickly than desiccant-based systems, particularly where ultra-low RH levels are required. Nitrogen can be fed into multiple locations in a large cabinet, often using a rear plenum as a distribution chamber. A mixing fan can be added to increase humidity uniformity inside the cabinet and promote moisture dilution. Nitrogen purged desiccators also prevent contact with oxygen, making them ideal for anaerobic applications.

A desiccant based dry cabinet is often prefered in facilities that lack a Nitrogen source. However, because desiccant requires a periodic regeneration (heating) cycle, these desiccators cannot provide continuous moisture protection unless equipped with a redundant desiccant module. They are also typically unable to provide ultra-low humidity levels and require a longer RH recovery time when the cabinet is exposed to moisture.

What is RH recovery time?

RH recovery time is the time required to recover a low relative humidity set point when an access door is opened to part retrieval.

The acceptable RH set point depends on industry and application. Many semiconductor and optical sensing devices feature electronics that require a storage environment of less than 10%RH and are degraded by exposure of just a few minutes to moisture substantially above this level. Unfortunately, depending on size of the cabinet and drying system, some desiccators can require up to an hour to retain a 10%RH set point, particularly if ambient humidity is very high. If a door is opened again before set point is attained, parts may be exposed to unacceptable moisture levels for hours!

For critical applications, Terra provides a number of high-efficiency Nitrogen purged desiccator cabinets, including the IsoDry desiccator cabinet, which ensures RH uniformity and fast recovery time. In large, multi-chamber desiccators, Terra’s NitroPlex system provides automatic humidity control in each chamber independently.

Improved low-RH recovery also reduces Nitrogen costs.

How much Nitrogen does a desiccator use?

Equipped with an automated gas control system, such as Terra’s Dual Purge and NitroWatch controllers, desiccator cabinets consume on average less than five cubic feet of Nitrogen per hour, allowing a single 5’ pressurized liquid Nitrogen tank to operate a large cabinet continuously for 2-3 days, depending on frequency of access and recovery time.

To eliminate dependence on Nitrogen tanks, Terra offers Nitrogen generator options to produce up to 99.5% pure medical grade Nitrogen from compressed air.

How can a desiccator cabinet prevent static-related problems like electro-static discharge?

Even the slightest static discharge can spell disaster for delicate electronic or semiconductor components. Furthermore, dangers of ESD (electrostatic discharge) are amplified in a low humidity environment. Below are a few options to consider to help create an ESD safe storage environment:

  1. Static-Dissipative PVC: Acrylic, a low cost plastic commonly used in storage enclosures, is a prolific static generator. Wiping an acrylic desiccator generates surface charges that can discharge onto ESD-sensitive components. Static-dissipative PVC prevents this danger. This material not only dissipates static charges safely but also eliminates the particle attraction that static charges create. Surfaces stay clean, inside and out, making this material perfect for use in cleanrooms. Because static-dissipative PVC is transparent and highly durable, it can be used in place of acrylic in nearly any application, desiccators included. It features a surface resistivity of approximately 10^7 ohms per square and is completely non contaminating—with no measurable outgassing—and it resists a wide range of chemicals.
  2. Static-Neutralizing Ionizing Nozzles: By ionizing Nitrogen molecules as they pass through the desiccator plenum wall, ionizing nozzles neutralize electrostatic charges on all interior surfaces. They provide practical ESD control for charged nonconductive materials, which cannot dissipate charges to ground. And because they eliminate static attractive forces, they help control contamination: in a statically neutral environment, any airborne particles that enter a desiccator are more likely to remain airborne and to be purged out of the cabinet.
  3. Stainless Steel Conductive Shelves, Shields and Trays: Terra's grounded stainless steel shelving provide a 100% ESD-safe enclosure. Grounded conductive plates (such as shelves) create a Faraday cage that prevents penetration of static charges. Because these conductive units are removable, they also protect your sensitive components from ESD as you transport them from one location to another. Terra’s ESD safe desiccator cabinet utilizes this Faraday design to provide complete ESD shielding for sensitive electronics storage.
What are the disadvantages of a plastic desiccator?

Creating a low-humidity environment requires careful material choice. An acrylic desiccator cabinet for example can be a lower cost option but bears a weakness known as hygroscopy. Plastic surfaces naturally accumulate liquid molecules through adsorption, collecting moisture from the atmosphere that clings to its surface in a thin coat. While this might not present an issue for simple operations, it can be a challenge in moisture-sensitive applications.

A potential solution to the issue of humidity in small acrylic enclosures, such as glove boxes and desiccators, is the use of nitrogen gas. Nitrogen is a dry inert gas commonly pumped into a chamber to lower the relative humidity and purge moisture to protect the materials inside. But constantly using a high flow of Nitrogen gas can be expensive, and for critical applications requiring minimal humidity, compensating for an inherently moisture-attractive material can expend a ghastly amount of N2.

Storage of large or heavy materials exceeding 100+lbs can sometimes be a challenge with plastic desiccator cabinets. The individually partioned chambers in the cabinet can make it difficult to fit very wide or tall items into the cabinet. Plastic desiccator cabinets also have a lower overall weight capacity, so they are generally less suitable for storage of materials exceeding 100lbs. Stainless steel desiccator cabinets offer solutions to both size and weight capacity constraints of plastic desiccator cabinets.

What are the advantages of a stainless steel desiccator cabinet?

Regardless of the type of gas blowing across acrylic, air cannot dislodge moisture particles from its surface or prevent air and liquid molecules from permeating the glued edges of an acrylic chamber. For applications requiring the strictest low-humidity environments, stainless steel provides moisture-impermeable protection as well as corrosion and chemical resistance. And while stainless steel will protect the atmospheric conditions of the environment within the chamber, optional properties for steel types can provide further benefit.

The best resistance to humidity comes from electropolishing, a procedure that removes the top layer of the stainless steel surface. The process entails an electrochemical removal of metal impurities, including carbon, silica and free iron, and it leaves a highly reflective nickel and chromium surface. Electropolishing eliminates the grainy texture of standard stainless steel, which can retain trace amounts of moisture or pathogens that escape cleaning. As a result, the surface has a smooth texture at a microscopic level, and liquid molecules have nowhere to hide.

Stainless steel desiccator cabinets are also ideal for heavy duty storage applications of large, bulky materials. For example, large pieces of equipment or heavy drums of raw materials. Desiccator cabinets with double doors provide extra-wide openings for large items. The shelving inside can also be reinforced and fitted with welded heavy duty shelves for increased weight capacity of 300lbs or more.

What applications use desiccators?
Semiconductors

Terra manufactures desiccators specially configured for ICs, tote boxes, IC carrier reels, and other common microelectronics and electronics parts. Not only does desiccator storage eliminate damage that can be immediately detected, but it also prevents “dwell effect” – the more costly damage that doesn’t emerge until ICs or other components are installed in more complex assemblies, such as medical devices, that are more difficult to repair or replace.

Chemical Samples

Desiccators provide an inert gas environment for storing volatile chemicals. They can also be used for slow, controlled drying, and are available with customized heating capabilities. Use of a nitrogen or other inert process gas eliminates reactions caused by oxygen exposure.

Biological Samples

The dry, inert environment inside a desiccator is ideal for storage of forensic materials, DNA samples, and biological cultures. Easy-clean BioSafe® stainless steel desiccator cabinets are ideal for use with materials that require a sterile environment.

Pharmaceuticals

Dry storage inhibits growth of organic contaminants and retards other chemical reactions that degrade pharmaceuticals.

Many More!

Clean, dry storage environments for everything from archival records to archeological samples—call to discuss your application!

Door-on-Door Design Minimizes Contamination Influx

Door-on-door design lets you open only sections of the cabinet that you need access to. This minimizes the loss of inert gas inside the cabinet and also reduces the amount of outside air and contaminants that can flow inside. The inset doors are overlaid on top of two large double doors for full access to the interior of the cabinet to adjust shelving or quickly loaded/unloaded materials.

Stainless Steel Desiccator Cabinet with Double Doors

Extra-large ISO 5 stainless steel desiccator cabinets with spacious chambers, adjustable shelving, and double doors are ideal for high-capacity storage or tall and bulky materials.

Fully Adjustable, Easy-To-Clean Shelf System

Stainless steel equipment cabinet provides adjustable, easy-to-clean shelving. Adjustable shelves allow for custom height in 1” increments to efficiently store materials and tools of various sizes.

Sloped Top Simplifies Cleaning

Large desiccator cabinet with two doors features a sloped top to minimize particle accumulation and simplify cleaning. Static-dissipative PVC windows stand up to frequent wipe-downs and minimize particle retention from static cling.

Quick-Connect Panel for N2 and Automatic RH Controller

Double door desiccator cabinet includes a quick-connect panel for nitrogen gas supply and connection with Terra’s automatic humidity control system.

Spacious Interior and Adjustable Shelving

Desiccator cabinet with double doors features easily accessible and spacious interiors with adjustable shelving to accommodate bulky items and containers.

High Caliber Hardware

Seemingly small details like latches, ports, glides and hinges are often overlooked or ignored by other manufacturers, and later become the point of costly recurring maintenance or equipment failure. Terra’s products are made of long lasting, cleanroom compatible, top tier hardware. Individual components are carefully designed and rigorously tested to guarantee the highest quality, durability, and craftsmanship.

Doors - The First Failure Point of a Desiccator Cabinet

Terra’s stainless steel door frames eliminate the need for internal reinforcements, which create particle surfaces and compromise cleaning. Unlike other doors with glue-on anti-bow pieces, Terra’s doors use no adhesives. This eliminates particle traps, sources of outgassing—and extends the strength and service life of the desiccator.

Clean and Durable Powder Coat Finish

Terra’s signature white powder coat finish provides a high quality, durable barrier to protect against corrosion, plus a clean and attractive aesthetic. The advanced heat-fused formulation exceeds ASTM and ISO paint standards to resist chipping, scratching, fading, and wearing.

Highest Standards For Desiccators and Electronic Components

Terra’s desiccator cabinets and RH control systems are designed and built to the highest standards required by defense and semiconductor industries for long-term reliability and protection against damage, injuries, and electrical hazards.

Rapid Drying of Hygroscopic Material

Terra's gas-purged desiccators utilize a rapid flow of inert nitrogen to quickly dry hygroscopic samples and components

Critical Environment Solutions

Terra's mission is to help customers in highly regulated industries transform the world with critical environment solutions that improve health, safety, performance, and yields. These environments may comply with stringent UL, ISO, IEST, ASTM and OSHA standards and local requirements.

BioSafe®: Terra's Ultimate Cleanliness Rating

Terra's BioSafe products are designed for the most critical applications: no gaps and crevices where microbes colonize, rounded corners for easy disinfection, won't produce contaminants during sterilization, and exceeds cGMP, IEST, ASTM and ISO 14644-1 requirements.

Continuous Product Improvement

At Terra, we strive to develop and produce the highest quality products for our customers to improve health, safety, performance, and yields. Our product quality is enabled by high-grade manufacturing equipment and processes, 45 years of engineering and application expertise, and our commitment to continuously improve.

Long-Term Customers

Terra is committed to building long-term relationships with satisfied clients; 94% of orders each year come from repeat customers

Complete Order Transparency

Using Terra’s OnTrak system, our customers can view real-time production updates, receive shipment notifications and track their orders until they arrive at their facility

Catalog of CE-Marked Products

Terra offers over 1,700 CE-marked products configured for international voltage requirements

Products Tailored to Your Cleanroom Environment

Provide Terra with your desired ISO Grade™ design. We will tailor the product to meet your criteria and certify it with a report appended to your invoice. Certificate includes all the necessary information to streamline audits and facility compliance.
Available Accessories
Popular Accessories
For a full list of accessories, select a product then click Choose Accessories on that product page.
  • Universal Base Stands Offer Excellent Versatility

    Universal base stands support and stabilize various equipment sizes. Adjustable telescoping members allow for a precise fit. Choose between stainless and powder-coated steel to fit your desired application.
  • Universal Stand Adjusts to Fit a Wide Range of Equipment

    Terra's Universal stands easily adjust to fit a wide range of equipment. Multi-purpose stand frames are suitable for many types of cleanroom equipment, including refrigerators, freezers, incubators, ovens, and vacuum chambers.
  • Universal Adjustable Equipment Base Stands

    Stainless steel or powder-coated steel, cleanroom-compliant stands easily adjust to fit industry-standard cabinets, desiccators, vacuum chambers, refrigerators, incubators and ovens. Raises equipment to ergonomic height to support disinfection and sample monitoring.
  • Humidity and Temperature Data Logger

    Records storage conditions inside a Desiccator chamber-adjustable logging interval (hours to months), USB port for easy data download in several formats.
  • Available Stainless Steel Shelves and Trays

    Adjustable, non-contaminating shelves and trays slide on stainless steel racks, allowing easy parts access (one perforated shelf included)
  • Laboratory Nitrogen Generator

    Terra’s Nitrogen Generators provide a continuous, reliable supply of clean, dry nitrogen up to 99% pure to eliminate dependence on bulky canisters to operate desiccators and glove boxes.
  • Desiccator Sliding Rack with Tray

    Easy-glide sliding racks allow full extension of 1, 2 or 3 trays, simplifying parts loading and unloading and giving easy access to every square inch or storage space (tray not removable). Stainless steel runners feature a clean, easy-glide suspension system for smooth, non-contaminating operation.
  • Dual Purge™ and NitroWatch™ Work Together to Fully Automate RH Control

    Terra's Dual Purge™ and NitroWatch™ operate in tandem to precisely and automatically control the flow of nitrogen and maintain a preset humidity level (from ambient to 0% ± 1.5% RH), no matter how operating conditions may change.
  • Data Logging with 113,000 Readings at User Defined Intervals

    Terra's Smart® IsoDry® Nitro-Watch™ logs RH, temp, door open/close, purge on/off, and sensor removal/attachment. The max data file size is roughly 4 MB or 113,000 readings. This is approximately 32 hours of data when logging at 1 second intervals, 2 weeks at 10 second intervals, 6 weeks at 30 second intervals, or 12 weeks at 1 minute intervals. When the system reaches the 4MB limit, data begins to wrap, overwriting oldest data with new.
  • Plug & Play Data Logging

    Plug in a USB flash drive to your Smart® IsoDry® Nitro-Watch™ to transfer data in .CSV format. No software required.
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Desiccator Cabinet Features Comparison

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