Cleanroom wipes are essential consumables in cleanrooms and high-purity industries such as electronics and pharmaceuticals. Their performance directly affects the cleanliness of production environments and product yield. Currently, multiple testing standards cover aspects such as anti-static properties, particle release, material durability, and sterilization validation. This article systematically summarizes seven mainstream testing standards, explaining their applicable scopes and core requirements, while providing practical interpretation to help enterprises improve product quality and competitiveness.
1. IEST-RP-CC003.4:2011 — Cleanroom Garment System Requirements
Developed by the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST), this standard primarily regulates the production and testing of cleanroom garments and associated fabrics.
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Material Selection: Woven fabrics preferably use polyester or polyester-carbon composite fibers to reduce particle shedding. Disposable cleanroom garments utilize nonwoven fabrics such as spunbond or meltblown layers.
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Key Tests:
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Particle retention rate is evaluated using the Helmke Drum test, focusing on 0.3–0.5 μm particles for cleanliness classification.
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Sterilization validation must comply with ISO 11137, achieving a sterility assurance level (SAL) of 10⁻⁶.
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Applications: Suitable for high-cleanliness industries like pharmaceuticals and microelectronics.
2. IEST-RP-CC004.4:2019 — Cleanroom Wiping Materials Evaluation
Focuses on functional testing of wipes, including particle residue and anti-static performance.
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Particle Residue: Evaluates non-volatile residue (NVR) content via microparticle detection methods such as ASTM E1560 gravimetric analysis.
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Anti-Static Performance: Requires surface resistivity ≤1×10¹¹ Ω and static decay time ≤2 seconds (per IEC 61340-5-1).
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Suitability Classification: Recommends wipe types according to cleanroom class (ISO 14644-1), e.g., microfiber wipes for higher-class areas.
3. GB/T 24249-2009 — Anti-Static Cleanroom Fabrics (Chinese National Standard)
Specifies performance requirements for anti-static cleanroom apparel and gloves.
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Technical Requirements:
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Surface resistivity range of 1×10⁵ to 1×10⁹ Ω to ensure effective static dissipation.
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Abrasion resistance tested by Martindale method with mass loss ≤5%.
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Applications: Electronics, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical cleanroom garments.
4. SJ/T 11480-2014 — Anti-Static Cleanroom Wipes (Electronics Industry Standard)
Targets particle and chemical compatibility requirements for electronics wipes.
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Tests:
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Non-volatile residue (NVR) ≤0.1 mg/cm² (ASTM E1560).
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Extractables must comply with electronics cleaning demands.
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Edge Sealing: Laser or ultrasonic sealing recommended to minimize fiber shedding.
5. FZ/T 64056-2015 — Cleanroom Wipes (Textile Industry Standard)
Covers woven, knitted, and nonwoven wipes, emphasizing particle release and absorbency.
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Cleanliness: Suitable for ISO Class 5 (Class 100) cleanrooms with particle release ≤300 particles/m³ (≥0.5 μm).
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Absorbency: Minimum water absorption of 400 g/m² to ensure cleaning efficiency.
6. Seagate Testing Standard
Seagate’s proprietary testing standards can be referenced by industry participants to meet specific customer requirements.
7. Customer Standards
Customer-specific standards are the most critical quality benchmarks.
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Regardless of industry norms, meeting customers’ cleanliness class and basis weight requirements is essential for product acceptance.
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Example: One client shifted from low-cost wipes bought on e-commerce platforms (lacking cleanroom classification) to USTER products with guaranteed cleanroom grades (minimum Class 10,000 for wipes and Class 1,000 for microfiber wipes), resulting in a significant quality improvement.
Summary and Recommendations
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Selection Basis: Choose products compliant with relevant cleanroom classes (ISO 14644) and industry needs (electronics, pharmaceuticals).
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Quality Control Focus: Monitor particle residue, anti-static properties, durability, and sterilization efficacy regularly.
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Future Trends: Standards are evolving towards environmental sustainability (e.g., biodegradable nonwovens) and smart testing (real-time particle monitoring).
USTER is committed to continuously raising cleanroom wipe quality standards to support industries in achieving higher cleanliness levels and improved product yields.