The Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union was an era of unrivaled innovation and discovery. Even before NASA’s introduction of the Mercury 7 astronauts to the world in 1959, work was well underway to create the hardware needed to get them into space and safely home again. Southern California was a…

Contamination is the bane of almost any manufacturing process, but when the product being made is pharmaceuticals, even a small amount of contamination can have disastrous results. Because of its high resistance to corrosion, austenitic stainless steels such as 304L and 316L are frequently the go-to materials for construction of tanks, supply lines and other…

Stainless steel’s corrosion resistance is a key reason for its use in everything from household goods to aerospace and manufacturing systems where high purity is critical. “Corrosion resistance” is the key term. Stainless steel can and will corrode if not properly maintained. The cause of corrosion varies based on the chemical make up of the…

The old maxim that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” certainly applies not only to the biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry but also to those other industries where high purity is an absolute requirement. The finished product is only as good as the ingredients and processes going into it, as well as the…

As the axiom goes, “the job’s not over until you finish the paperwork” and getting the paperwork completed in the proper fashion to show that a system has been properly passivated is indeed a crucial part of demonstrating compliance. But how exactly do you prove that the passivating process that was just completed actually did…

When quality stainless steel is produced it typically leaves the mill with an equal concentration (1:1) or less of chromium (Cr) and iron (Fe) atoms on its surface. When formed, the chromium will interact with the atmospheric oxygen to create a chemically inert, passive layer. It is this passive layer that helps the stainless steel…

The process of passivation is a mystery for most people and the outside observer. It would appear that the process of passivation is much like making a cocktail; pour the chemistry in, swish it around, and voila! However, a much better comparison would be baking a souffle where the right combination of ingredients, time and…

At the end of the 19th century, as American commerce was increasingly dependent on the rail network tying the country together, there was a prolonged spate of accidents that threatened to disrupt the Second Industrial Revolution. In response, engineers and scientists working for the Pennsylvania Railroad formed the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) in…

Surface roughness is an often-overlooked dimensional aspect of the manufacturing process. While more focus is generally given to the composition of a part and its strength, or to its measured dimensions and tolerances, a surface that is too rough can result in increased friction and premature failure of a part. Going beyond mechanical operation, high…

For many, the mention of the word “cleanroom” conjures up images of a space-age white room with workers moving about in full-body “bunny suits” and filtered facemasks working on items inside of glove boxes. Of course, Hollywood has a lot to do with that, but even many people within industries that utilize cleanrooms aren’t entirely…