by Laureen Belleville
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The most important, and probably most obvious, criteria to consider when choosing the proper wiper for your cleanroom application are detailed in the table. But, sometimes it's the subtle qualities—the ones that don't pop out at you—that can make a difference in performance.
A sampling of wipers from High-Tech Conversions (top) and Asahi Kasei (bottom).
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One company, High-Tech Conversions, believes it is on to something. According to a company spokesman, “people are getting excited about [the new product] because of the many benefits over the 'pull-out' canisters and the 're-sealable' pouches.” These particular wipers are packaged in a container that can be opened and closed with one hand, enabling the user to hold the item to be cleaned with the other hand. The company points out that wipers that have to be pulled and stretched through a hole on the top of a canister risk scuffing, scraping and loosening fibers that could contaminate sensitive surfaces. Further, these wipers are hermetically sealed in nylon bags within the containers prior to use, thereby improving shelf life.
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Alternately, there are sealed-edge wipers that are also low in particle emissions and ionic levels. For many of these, a laser beam is used to cut and melt each fiber along the edge of the wiper, which reduces the chance of particle emission.
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No one wiper is appropriate for all cleanroom applications. The offerings run the gamut from basic wiper to application-specific. As with all products intended for use in a cleanroom, choose the one that is suitable for use in the proper ISO Class specification and the properties that are necessary for your application.
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Distributors of cleanroom wipers
The following companies distribute cleanroom wipers:
- Connecticut Clean Room Corp., Bristol, CT, Tel: (860) 589-0049, Fax: (860) 585-7355, www.connecticutcleanroom.com
- Contamination Control Products, Neptune City, NJ, Tel: (732) 869-3400, Fax: (732) 869-2999, www.ccpcleanroom.com
- Hal Sharpe Associates Inc., Chico, CA, Tel: (530) 899-1555, Fax: (530) 899-1559, www.halsharpe.com
- Liberty Industries, East Berlin, CT, Tel: (800) 828-5656, Fax: (860) 828-8879, www.libertyind.com
- Magid Glove & Safety, Chicago, IL, Tel: (800) 444-8030, Fax: (773) 384-6677, www.magidglove.com
- Overall Laundry Services Inc., Everett, WA, Tel: (800) 926-6996, Fax: (206) 682-1254, www.overallservices.com
- Prudential Cleanroom Services, Irvine, CA, Tel: (800) CLASS-10, Fax: (949) 261-1947, www.pcs-clean.com
- Servitex Cleanroom Services, Durham, NC, Tel: (919) 957-9800, Fax: (919) 957-0403
- Ultrapure Technology, Suwanee, GA, Tel: (800) 932-0309, Fax: (770) 932-0809, www.ultrapuretechnology.com
- VWR Scientific, West Chester, PA, Tel: (610) 719-7014, Fax: (610) 918-0310, www.vwrsp.com