Determining the Dynamic Efficiency of Cleanroom Wipers for Removal of Liquids and Particles from Surfaces

摘要

Three factors are important for removing a liquid from a surface using a wiper, whether that liquid is added to the surface for cleaning or whether it is present as a spill. First is the dynamic absorption efficiency; second is the number of particles present in the spill (or on the surface being wiped) and the extent of removal of particles during the wiping process; and third is the concern regarding particles and fibers which the wiper may leave behind on the surface being wiped. This paper describes new procedures for investigating these factors. Data are presented which demonstrate that cleanroom wipers made from fabrics that "wipe the surface dry" leave the wiped surface cleaner than those which do not because residual contamination from a spill remains in the liquid phase left behind on the surface. The conclusion from these data is that wipe-dry is not only desirable from a housekeeping point of view, but critical for wiping up spills and removing particles from surfaces. The inherent cleanliness of wipers is less important in selecting wiping materials that the ability of the materials to wipe surfaces dry.