<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="color:#0b5394">Hi Dan,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="color:#0b5394"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="color:#0b5394">We try to minimize the use of PDMS as much as possible, but there are some instances where we cannot avoid it, as it becomes part of a larger device structure. In those cases, it is often mixed, diluted, and spin-coated onto wafers. For that application, we have an isolated area in one of our wet chem bays, where that work must be done. Users have their own dedicated glassware for mixing and must wear double gloves. We also have a "dirty" spinner in that area for use with PDMS, SU8, and any other material that may gunk up our general use spincoaters. Users are trained to foil coat the spinner basin as needed for easy cleanup as well. Similarly, there is a separate hotplate for that area. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="color:#0b5394"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="color:#0b5394">If people are planning to do "bulk" PMDS for microfluidic molds or similar applications, we typically ask them to do it outside the cleanroom. We have a lab available with wet benches if needed. They are also allowed to do post processing on PDMS (O2 plasma, thin-film deposition, and etching) in the cleanroom on a small subset of tools, but it requires approval on a case-by-case basis. In that process, we evaluate the mixing and molding procedures, along with the curing conditions of the PDMS to ensure it was prepared properly. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="color:#0b5394"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="color:#0b5394">Best Regards,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="color:#0b5394"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="color:#0b5394">Matt</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Sep 4, 2024 at 2:54 PM Dan P. Woodie <<a href="mailto:daniel.woodie@princeton.edu">daniel.woodie@princeton.edu</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class="msg3006131456389547236">
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<p class="MsoNormal">Lab Network,<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I am curious how many fabs allow PDMS mixing in their main cleanrooms and how many require that work done in separate isolated spaces or noncleanroom labs. My experience has been that they can be in the same space if careful glove protocols
are used to avoid spreading the unpolymerized precursors around the facility, but I am interested in other’s experiences. Thanks for the shared knowledge.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Dan<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Daniel Woodie<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Director, Micro/Nano Fabrication Center, Princeton Materials Institute<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Princeton University<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">155 Andlinger Center<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">86 Olden St<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Princeton, NJ 08540<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(609)258-5922 (office)<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(607)227-2993 (cell)<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:daniel.woodie@princeton.edu" target="_blank">daniel.woodie@princeton.edu</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://mnfc.princeton.edu/" target="_blank">mnfc.princeton.edu</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/danielpwoodie/" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/in/danielpwoodie</a><u></u><u></u></p>
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</div></blockquote></div><br clear="all"><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal">--<br>
Matthew T. Moneck, Ph.D<br>
Executive Director, Claire & John Bertucci Nanotechnology Laboratory<br>
Electrical & Computer Engineering | Carnegie Mellon University<br>
5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890<br>
Phone: 412-268-5430<br>
<a href="http://ece.cmu.edu" target="_blank">ece.cmu.edu</a> <br>
<a href="http://nanofab.ece.cmu.edu" target="_blank">nanofab.ece.cmu.edu</a> </p></div></div>