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Abstract:
Group to address nanotechnology disciplines

IEST Joins ISO Committee for Nanotechnology Standards

Rolling Meadows, IL | July 07, 2005

The Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST) has been accepted as a voting member of the ANSI-accredited US Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to Technical Committee 229, newly formed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to address the nanotechnology disciplines. In this role, IEST will represent the environmental sciences at the cutting edge of global standards development for the emerging technologies.

ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnologies will produce standards for classification, terminology and nomenclature, basic metrology, calibration and certification, and environmental issues. Test methods will focus on physical, chemical, structural, and biological properties of materials or devices whose performance is critically dependent on one or more dimension less than 100 nm.

"As the leading organization addressing issues connected with contamination control, IEST is in a unique position to contribute its expertise in developing international standards for controlled environments to anticipate the unique needs of the emerging nanotechnology industry," said Dr. David Ensor, IEST delegate to the US TAG to ISO/TC 229. A center director and senior fellow in aerosol science and nanotechnology at RTI International, Ensor recently served as convenor of a working group of ISO/TC 209 Cleanrooms and associated controlled environments and is a Fellow of IEST.

Long active in international standards writing, IEST is Secretariat of ISO/TC 209 and Administrator of the ANSI-accredited US TAG to ISO/TC 209, which is responsible for establishing worldwide standards for cleanrooms. International standards produced by ISO/TC 209 established airborne particulate cleanliness classes for particle sizes ranging from 0.1 µm to 5 µm.

The US TAG to ISO/TC 229 will hold its inaugural meeting July 19-20, 2005, in Gaithersburg, Maryland. At that time, the TAG is expected to review the title, scope, and structure of TC 229, develop strategies for obtaining a US leadership role in TC 229, and appoint a delegation to attend the first meeting of TC 229 this fall.

"Nanotechnology applications will pose major challenges for the environmental sciences," observed Bud Frith, consultant and Senior Member of IEST, who chaired a session on nanotechnology at ESTECH 2005, the annual technical meeting of IEST. "Smaller instruments will be needed. Unit processes will require improved testing, documentation, and data storage and retrieval. Processes may need more sophisticated environmental chambers and equipment. R&D will demand more resources to establish criteria for environmental monitoring and controls.

"At the same time, the environmental sciences will make key contributions to the success of nanotechnology. International standards for cleanliness of facilities, processes, and materials will require revision, and IEST has the opportunity to cooperate in defining and developing new standards for testing and control," commented Frith.

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About IEST:
Founded in 1953, IEST is an international professional organization serving members and industries through education and the development of recommended practices and standards. Industries served are contamination control in electronics manufacturing and pharmaceutical processes; design, test, and evaluation of commercial and military equipment; and product reliability issues associated with commercial and military systems.

For more information, please visit www.iest.org

Contact:
Diana Granitto
IEST
(847) 255-1561, Ext. 22

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