Cleanroom Technology: The Key to Contamination Control

In industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and aerospace, a clean environment is essential for successful and safe production. 

A clean room is the room in which the concentration of airborne particles is controlled to a certain level. Control of cleanliness in such a room is often achieved by controlling the introduction, formation and retention of particles and other relevant parameters (temperature, humidity and pressure) in the room. 

That area of contamination control which utilizes cleanrooms is known as cleanroom technology.

Cleanroom Construction Mechanism

The construction of a cleanroom involves several mechanisms that are designed to maintain a controlled environment. These mechanisms include:

1.Air Filtration: Supplying exceptionally large quantity of air through high efficiency filters. This helps in two senses: 

• Extreme air dilute and remove the particles, bacteria and chemicals dispersed from personnel, machinery and other sources within the room.
• Extreme air ensure that no dirty air flows into the cleanroom from outside by introducing pressure.

2. Building Materials: Cleanroom walls, floors, and ceilings are made of materials that do not generate particles or outgas airborne chemical contamination. Common materials used in cleanroom construction include stainless steel, laminates, and non-porous surfaces.

3. Cleanroom Clothing: Cleanroom personnel wear special clothing that envelops them and minimizes the dispersion of particles and microorganisms. Cleanroom clothing includes coveralls, hoods, gloves, and booties.

Cleanroom Practices and Protocols

In a cleanroom don’t:

• touch your face or skin with gloves
• touch building hardware, oily machinery, or wafer loading areas
•  lean on equipment
• wear cosmetics, powders, or colognes
• wear anything on fingers-- remove all rings and bracelets
• use paper, pencils or markers that leave dust or lint

In a cleanroom one must:

• change gloves whenever they get dirty or torn
• use a fresh pair of gloves whenever handling wafers
• wipe down wafer handling areas with isopropanol
• use clean room paper and dust-free ball point pens

Cleanrooms are critical for industries that require a controlled environment for successful and safe production. Cleanroom technology involves the construction of cleanrooms and the practices and protocols used to maintain a controlled environment. By following proper cleanroom practices and protocols, industries can reduce contamination and improve production yields.