In cleanroom management, selecting the appropriate cleanroom wiping materials is crucial for maintaining production environment quality and improving product yield. Cleanroom wipes (also called cleanroom nonwoven wipes) and cleanroom cloths are often confused, but there are significant differences in key performance and application scenarios between the two. So, can cleanroom wipes be used for wiping in high-level cleanrooms? This article analyzes the differences from the perspectives of edge-sealing technology, contamination control indicators, and cleanroom class compatibility, and provides professional recommendations.
1. Key Reasons Why Cleanroom Wipes Are Not Recommended for High-Level Cleanrooms
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Edge Sealing Technology Differences and Potential Contamination
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Cleanroom wipes generally use cold-cut edge sealing, resulting in relatively rough edges that tend to shed fibers during use, becoming uncontrolled particulate contamination sources in the cleanroom.
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Cleanroom cloths adopt laser or ultrasonic edge sealing technology that creates a highly fused and smooth edge, greatly reducing or eliminating fiber shedding, meeting the stringent cleanliness requirements of high-level cleanrooms.
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Differences in Contamination Control Indicators
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Although some cleanroom wipes are manufactured in Class 10,000 environments (such as those by top brands), their production and post-processing generally lack the rigorous deep cleaning processes required for high-level cleanrooms. This means they may carry and release non-volatile residues (NVR), liquid particle counts (LPC), and ionic contaminants (such as sodium, potassium, chloride), which can directly affect precision manufacturing and electronic components.
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Cleanroom cloths are specifically designed for high cleanliness, undergoing multiple ultrapure water washes and strict testing. Their NVR, LPC, and ion levels meet or exceed ISO Class 5 (Class 100) and higher standards. Some manufacturers offer up to Class 10 cleanroom cloths, widely used in advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
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2. Cleanroom Class Compatibility
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Cleanroom wipes are suitable for lower-level cleanrooms such as Class 10,000 and Class 100,000, as well as peripheral cleanroom areas (equipment exteriors, floors), where particle and chemical contamination control requirements are more lenient.
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Cleanroom cloths are essential consumables for core areas in high-level cleanrooms (Class 100, Class 10, and above), suitable for direct contact with precision instruments, optical components, semiconductor wafers, and sterile pharmaceutical production equipment, ensuring that wiping does not introduce contamination risks.
3. Conclusion and Recommendations
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Use cleanroom wipes only in lower-class cleanrooms or non-critical areas of high-level cleanrooms (such as equipment housing and floors) to leverage their cost-effectiveness.
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Use cleanroom cloths exclusively in core process areas of high-level cleanrooms. Their superior edge sealing and stringent contamination control (low NVR, LPC, and ionic contamination) are fundamental to maintaining ultra-clean environments and protecting high-value products and processes.
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Never substitute cleanroom wipes for cleanroom cloths in critical high-level cleanroom operations. When procuring, require suppliers to provide full cleanliness certification and contaminant test reports (NVR, LPC, Ions) to ensure product performance matches the cleanroom standards.
Properly distinguishing between cleanroom wipes and cloths by application scenario is the foundation for maintaining cleanroom operation efficiency and product quality. Selecting the right wiping materials minimizes contamination risks and supports the stable development of high-end manufacturing processes.