A glove box is a highly sealed experimental device with a controlled atmosphere environment. It serves to protect the internal environment and its contents from external contamination, while also safeguarding external operators from potential hazards within the box.
（一）Protecting Experimental Materials Inside the Glove Box
One of the primary functions of a glove box is to create an inert atmosphere environment that is physically isolated from the external surroundings for experimental samples, precision instruments, or special materials.
Isolating Moisture and Oxygen to Prevent Oxidation and Degradation: Many materials, such as reactive lithium metal, organic light-emitting materials, certain catalysts, and nanomaterials, are highly sensitive to moisture and oxygen in the air. Even trace amounts of moisture and oxygen can trigger oxidation reactions, deliquescence, passivation, or performance degradation.
By filling the glove box with high-purity inert gases (such as nitrogen or argon) and continuously circulating and purifying the atmosphere, the concentrations of moisture and oxygen inside the box are maintained at extremely low levels (typically <1 ppm). This provides a stable, long-term storage and operational environment for sensitive materials, which is critical in fields like lithium battery R&D and production, semiconductor material processing, and organic synthesis.
Controlling Dust and Particulates: For applications such as microelectronics manufacturing, precision optical component assembly, and nanotechnology research, even micron-sized dust particles can lead to product failure or experimental deviations. A glove box can be integrated with an FFU ultra-clean filtration system to effectively filter dust particles from the internal atmosphere, achieving cleanliness levels of Class 10 or Class 100.
（二）Protecting Operators Outside the Glove Box
Another equally important function of a glove box is to physically isolate operators from potential hazards inside the box, ensuring their safety:
Isolating Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals: When handling toxic chemicals or highly reactive compounds (such as certain organic synthesis intermediates or arsenides), direct exposure poses significant risks. The airtight structure of the glove box, combined with indirect operation through attached gloves, effectively prevents toxic vapors, dust, or liquids from coming into direct contact with the operator’s skin, eyes, or respiratory system, thereby reducing occupational health hazards.
Barrier Against Radioactive Materials: In scenarios such as nuclear fuel processing, radiopharmaceutical preparation, and radioactive isotope research, glove boxes (particularly those equipped with lead shielding) serve as critical protective equipment. They shield against radioactive radiation and prevent the leakage of radioactive dust or aerosols into the external environment, protecting personnel from radiation exposure and radioactive contamination.
A glove box is not merely a "box with gloves." It is a sophisticated device capable of providing precise environmental control and personnel protection. Through physical isolation, inert atmosphere management, and designated operational access (gloves), it effectively achieves the dual goals of "protecting internal purity and ensuring external safety." As such, it serves as a foundational tool in modern research laboratories, high-end manufacturing industries (such as lithium batteries, semiconductors, and OLEDs), the nuclear industry, and biosafety fields.
