Hermetic seal

A hermetic seal is the quality of something—a container, structure, etc.—being airtight (excluding passage of air, oxygen, or other gases). Used technically, it is stated in conjunction with a specific test method and conditions of use.

Etymology

The word hermetic comes from the Greek god Hermes, via the vocabulary of alchemy. The alchemists invented a process for making an airtight glass tube, which they used for distillation. The process used a secret seal, whose invention was attributed to the legendary inspiration of alchemy, Hermes Trismegistus.

Uses

Some kinds of packaging must maintain a seal against flow of gases: foods, pharmaceuticals, some chemicals, and some consumer goods. The term can describe food preservation practices, such as vacuum packing and canning. Barrier packaging includes containers such as glass, aluminum cans, metal foils, and high barrier plastics.

Buildings designed with sustainable architecture principles use airtight technologies to conserve energy. Under low energy building, passive house, low-energy house, self-sufficient homes, zero energy building, and superinsulation standards, structures must be more air-tight than previously. Air barriers, careful sealing of construction joints and service penetrations (holes for pipes, etc.) achieve this. Airtightness minimizes the amount of warm (or cool) air that can pass through the structure, so the mechanical ventilation system can recover the heat before discharging air externally. Green buildings may include windows that combine triple-pane insulated glazing with argon or krypton gas to reduce thermal conductivity and increase efficiency. In landscape and exterior construction projects, airtight seals protect general service and landscape lighting electrical connections and splices. Many other specific applications must meet airtight standards to be waterproof or vapor-proof for human safety and proper function.

Airtight (G.I. Joe)

Airtight is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's hostile environment specialist and debuted in 1985.

Profile

His real name is Kurt Schnurr and his rank is that of corporal E-4. Airtight was born in New Haven, Connecticut.

Airtight was a misfit kid, who was known for his collection of plastic dinosaurs, and being able to hold his breath the longest. He grew up into the type of adult, who would wade into a cloud of toxic gas strong enough to dissolve lung tissue with one whiff. He is a trained expert in chemical weaponry, and is able to detect, identify, neutralize and contain viruses and poisons. His primary military specialty is CBR (Chemical, Biological and Radiological Warfare), and his secondary military specialty is ordnance. He is noted for being a practical joker, but his actions during battle make up for this reputation.

When the G.I. Joe team temporarily disbanded, Airtight returned to duty in the US Army as a CBR Warfare Specialist, and was eventually promoted to Sergeant E-5. He has been called back to active reserve status upon reinstatement of the team, in the event his skills are needed for a future mission.

Airtight (film)

Airtight is an upcoming American drama thriller film written, produced and directed by Derek Estlin Purvis. A riveting psychological thriller set in a NY mansion and an homage to Alfred Hitchcock, Airtight is based on the true events that inspired a play in the 1920s, an adaptation by Hitchcock in the 1940s and this feature film from 2013. Airtight made good on its attempt to complete the film in fewer shots than Hitchcock did with his, capturing it in full in just 4 shots. A 38-minute single shot anchors the center of the film and is believed to be in the top ten longest single shots in American Film history .

Plot

Bradley and Connor are intellectual elitists who've secretly been planning to murder a former college classmate and close friend, Ronald. Ronald has gathered all of his family and friends to make a big announcement. What Ronald doesn't know is that he will become the victim when Bradley and Connor decide that natural selection is no longer doing its job. It's up to them to force Ronald to defend himself and prove that only the strong survive. Unfortunately, he is physically overpowered, bound, gaged and put into an airtight, soundproof chest in the middle of the living room that will be the stage for the night's festivities. Once they've sealed the chest, there is only one hour's worth of air. He will slowly suffocate right beneath his closest friends and family without them ever knowing.