PRIMUS developed the PRI-Mirror® reflective finish on solid 316L stainless steel. It is the smoothest, most durable surface in the industry. The surface is achieved by a unique process of hand polishing stainless steel to <10 μin Ra or better.
The brilliant PRI-Mirror chamber finish found in all PRIMUS models sets the highest standard for surface finish, achieving a 10 Ra (0.026 microns) measurement. Even though .50 microns is acceptable, we take it further and grind our stainless steel down to .026.
Did you know?
Did you know that the surface finish of your stainless-steel steam sterilizer (inside and outside) is just as important as the grade of the stainless steel?
It’s true! You can determine the corrosion resistance of an #autoclave just by how shiny and smooth the unit is.
“Surface finish can be just as critical in determining the corrosion resistance of austenitic stainless steel as the grade [58]. Poor quality finishes can lead to the disappointing performance of stainless steel, and a bright polished surface will usually give the best performance in any specified environment. 1 micron = 39.4 microinch Ra. Coarse polished finishes with surface roughness values greater than 1 micron have been shown to contain deep grooves where chloride ions can accumulate and destroy the passive film, thereby initiating a corrosion attack. In contrast, fine polished finishes with surface roughness values less than 0.5 microns generally have fewer sites where chloride ions can accumulate”. (Parrott and Pitts, 2011)
That’s why #PRIMUS by Spire Integrated Solutions polishes every steam #sterilizer to a mirror-like finish. Look at the difference. #Spire is the only healthcare and life science steam sterilizer manufacturer to polish their steel this shiny.
Because a highly polished #autoclave surface performs at peak performance in a #healthcare or #lifescience environment.
The Problem
A rough, porous surfaces make conventional laminated steel chambers difficult to clean and create a haven for microorganisms.
Over time, as the surface oxidizes or the lamination fails can cause autoclave/sterilizer failure because the sterile processing environment is compromised and spill cleanup starts to become time-consuming and problematic.
The Solution
PRIMUS CHAMBER SURFACE FINISH (PRI-MIRROR®). PRIMUS developed the PRI-Mirror® reflective finish on solid 316L stainless steel. It is the smoothest, most durable surface in the industry. The surface is achieved by a unique process of hand polishing stainless steel to <10 μin Ra or better.
The result is a non-porous surface that is easy to clean and hostile to microorganisms. The non-oxidizing (passive) surface does not discolor and maintains its clean, smooth, reflective qualities over many years of operation.
Measuring Surface Smoothness
Surface porosity is measured by a profilometer in micro inches Ra, the lower the Ra number, the less porous the finish.
A chamber of 25 μin Ra is considered high quality. The PRI-Mirror® finish provides a glassy smooth, non-porous surface that typically measures from 3 to 7 μin Ra.
The PRI-Mirror® Standard
The PRI-Mirror® finish was originally developed for those industries using validatable sterilizers with high-purity steam. But because of its strong benefits for all customers, it has long been a standard feature in every PRIMUS sterilizer. PRIMirror® truly outshines and outperforms the competition.
The photo below illustrates two features that make PRIMUS sterilizers superior. The three bands show differences in surface smoothness between PRIMUS and its competitors.
The bright band at the top is the PRI-Mirror® finish visibly smoother than the 25 μin Ra polished finish (center) and the bead-blast surface (right).
The middle band shows a typical finish of a sterilizer chamber – conventional laminated steel
The bottom band shows the raw material of 316 stainless steel.
Have a question or having difficulties? Talk to Dave Schall, our PRIMUS sterilizer expert who is here to assist you anytime at 877.679.7800 extension 1212 or email at dschall@spire-is.com.