Product Spotlight
02/01/2005
Wipers are essential for cleaning critical surfaces in the cleanroom, and with today’s strict contamination control regulations, it’s important to know what products are available to meet your cleanroom needs. Here is a selection of the market’s latest wiper offerings.
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Family of wipers
Kimberly-Clark Professional offers an entire family of wipers for various cleanroom specifications. KIMTECH PURE CL4 Critical Task Wipers are suited for ISO Class 4 or higher cleanrooms. Delivered double-wrapped in antistat packaging, these wipers meet USDA requirements for food processing establishments. They are made of 100 percent polypropylene and can be autoclaved and ETO sterilized. KIMTECH PURE CL4 PreSat Alcohol Wipes are also ideal for ISO Class 4 or higher cleanrooms. They offer one-step application of alcohol to critical surfaces via a 100 percent polypropylene base sheet, saturated with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and 30 percent deionized water. KIMTECH PURE CL5 Critical Task Wipers are suited for ISO Class 5 or higher cleanrooms. Offered in an antistat double bag, the wipes can be autoclaved and ETO sterilized. All of these KIMTECH PURE wipers have been specifically designed for ISO Class 4 and higher cleanrooms, and are ideal for use in pharmaceutical, high-tech, biotechnology and medical device industries.
Kimberly-Clark Professional
Roswell, Ga.
www.kcprofessional.com
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Polyester wiper
Longtek Scientific Co. has introduced its LTK2020 wiper to effectively remove surface residuals. This strong and highly absorbent wiper is composed of 100 percent polyester continuous filament yarn and has thermally-sealed borders on all four edges. It is laundered and packaged in a Class 1 cleanroom, and features extremely low particle generation, extractable residue, and ion content. It is available in two sizes: 9”x9” (150 pcs/bag, 10 bags/case), and 6”x6” (300 pcs/bag, 10 bags/case).
Longtek Scientific Co., Ltd.
Hsin-Chu, Taiwan
www.longtek.com.tw
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Wiper with WFI
ITW Texwipe is pleased to introduce Sterile AlphaSat 10 with WFI (TX3280), the first sealed-border polyester wiper prewetted with 70 percent USP isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and 30 percent water for injection (WFI) in a resealable flatpack package. These wipers are 100 percent continuous-filament polyester with thermally sealed borders that have been designed to control particle and fiber contamination. Each case of wipers is triple-bagged and gamma irradiated to a Sterility Assurance Level (SAL) of 10-6 in accordance with ANSI/AAMI/ISO 11137-1994. A lot specific Certificate of Processing, Certificate of Analysis, and Certificate of Compliance accompany each case. Sterile AlphaSat 10 with WFI is used to clean critical sterile environments in pharmaceutical aseptic processing areas, biotechnology manufacturing facilities, microbiological laboratories, and prep rooms. The product has been developed to clean sterile environments without compromising the sterile nature of those environments.
ITW Texwipe
Mahwah, N.J.
www.texwipe.com
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Polypropylene/cellulose wiper
Value-Tek introduces its line of presaturated wipers made of a spun-lace nonwoven blend of polypropylene and cellulose, provided in a durable and resealable tub. These wipers are saturated with semiconductor grade (filtered to 0.2 micron) 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and 30 percent deionized 18 mega ohm water. They are processed and packed in a controlled environment compatible with Class 1000 cleanrooms and are lot quality-control tested. These wipers are highly absorbent and strong without the use of binders, starches, or thermal bonding, yet the smooth, soft texture makes them appropriate for use on scratch-sensitive surfaces. These wipers exhibit low particle and extractable levels, and leave no residue on surfaces, making them ideal for electronics applications and for general use in pharmaceutical, electronic and semiconductor industries.
Value-Tek
Phoenix, Ariz.
www.value-tek.com
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Cleaning and lubricating wipers
Veltek Associates Inc. has developed a selection of sterile cleaning and lubricating wipers that ensure that a sterile wiper is used each and every time. These wipers are designed for sterile operations that demand the use of an individually packaged, sterile, saturated wipe. The STEEL-BRIGHT wiper is saturated with VAI’s emulsion-based USDA-authorized cleaner that will not rainbow or accumulate a heavy build-up, allowing surfaces to remain cleaner longer. They are available in 12”x12” wipes. The DAS-WIPE wiper is saturated with VAI’s stainless steel cleaner and lubricant. It is designed to replace silicon on turntables, process lines and as a general-use lubricant to ensure that bottles do not stick during movement towards the critical fill site. They are available in 12”x12” wipes. Both of these products are made of a polyester blend that is inherently low in particulate generation and shedding. ALCOH-WIPE and ALCOH-GLOVE wipers are saturated with DECON-AHOL WFI 70 percent USP isopropyl alcohol and filtered at 0.2 micron. These wipers are gamma irradiated through a validation cycle, and delivered with a lot specific Certificate of Irradiation, Certificate of Analysis, and Dosimetry Record. Resembling a dust mitten, the ALCOH-GLOVE wiper is contoured to provide 100 percent coverage of the hand. It is made of a nonlinting, nonshedding polyester tube sewn at one end and then turned inside out.
Veltek Associates Inc.
Malvern, Pa.
www.sterile.com
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Polyester/cellulose wipers
SterileSorb wipers from Contec Inc. are comprised of strong, durable hydroentangled polyester/cellulose, and sterilized using gamma irradiation. These nonwoven wipers are ideal for general purpose cleaning in sterile cleanroom environments. The extremely absorbent fabric features low levels of particles and extractables. SterileSorb wipers are packaged in peelable outer bags and linear tear inner bags specifically designed for sterile wipers. Embossed lot numbers on both bags ensure lot traceability. Sterile validation reports are available upon request. SterileSorb wipers are excellent for wiping and absorbing spills. Available in 9”x9” and 12”x12” sizes.
Contec Inc.
Spartanburg, S.C.
www.contecinc.com
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Polycellulose wipes
Lymtech Scientific introduces a new polycellulose presaturated wipe in the Lymsat family. This product is manufactured using DuPont® nonwoven polycellulose, the standard in critical environment general purpose wiping fabric. All Lymsat products are perfect for general maintenance cleaning, wipe down, final inspection, and field service use. Everything is self-contained in a convenient resealable pouch. Lymsat makes an excellent Class 100 compatible wipe. This product is available in a nonsterile version and a validated sterile version.
Lymtech Scientific
Chicopee, Mass.
www.lymtech.com
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Polyester wipes
UltraClean #810B SmartWipes from JNJ Industries, Inc., are absorbent, tough, and lint-free. These Class 100 grade UltraClean polyester wipes deliver superior cleaning performance across a wide range of industrial cleaning applications with extremely low particle generation and soluble extractables. They are ideal for applications that require a cleanroom-grade wipe with good absorbency, resistance to tearing, and softness. These wipes clean aggressively but will not scratch the product being cleaned. Manufactured from 100 percent continuous filament polyester fiber with a knit construction and pattern, JNJ’s UltraClean wipes become softer when wet, while maintaining high tensile strength. They are unaffected by solvents and generate very low electrostatic discharge. These wipes are excellent for cleaning a variety of products including glass and ceramic substrates, CD discs, instrumentation, tools, and the bottom of screens used for printing electronic materials. They are offered in a 9”x9” size, meet Federal Standard 209D, and are laundered and dried in a cleanroom environment.
JNJ Industries, Inc.
Franklin, Mass.
www.jnj-industries.com
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Rayon wipers
The Captura family of nonwoven wipers delivers sorbent wipers for the electronics, life sciences, and automotive industries. These products are constructed from proprietary rayon producing a fabric that combines cleanliness with sorbency. Sterilization as well as presaturation with various cleaning solutions is available.
Anticon by Milliken
LaGrange, Ga.
www.anticonwipers.com