What’s the Difference Between a Woven and Non-Woven Cleanroom Wipe?

What's a Nonwoven Wipe?

Nonwoven fabrics are broadly defined as a sheet or web structure bonded together by entangling fiber or filaments (or by perforating films) mechanically, thermally or chemically. Post-treatment and unique construction characteristics provide some potentially beneficial outcomes, such as a porosity that enables gas sterilization. Nonwoven wipes offer an economical choice, as the manufacturing process does not require laundering. Cellulose and synthetic blended hybrids provide additional absorbency for spill cleanup and removal of thick liquids. Generally, nonwoven wipes are used in cleanrooms no cleaner than ISO Class 6 or above.

What's a Knit (Woven) Cleanroom Wipe?

Woven wipes, also known as knitted wipes, assist contamination control in critical environments. Woven fabrics are the highest quality cleanroom wipes on the market today. Low levels of NVRs and superb particle removal is ideal for critical class environments. Unlike nonwoven fabrics, woven cleanroom fabrics are formed by knitting or looping monofilament, continuous polyesters or other synthetics. The outcome is cleanroom wiper with great tensile strength that will not shed. The lowest amount of linting and particulate generation yields compliance for ISO Class 3 and upwards.

Microdenier or Microfiber Wipes for Cleanroom Applications?

Microdenier, interchangeably used with microfiber, is constructed of synthetic yarn, typically a bi-component polyester-nylon polymer, or 100% polyester polymer. (View PDF) Microfibers absorb up to 99.4% of microorganisms found on the surface compared to only 30% for wipers containing cellulose. Therefore, microfiber is ideal for cleaning nano-sized particles, removing fingerprints from screen displays, applying or removing liquid, or wiping a wet surface dry. Problematically, the intense absorption characteristics render a material that is difficult to clean, and also retains many of the additives, ions, particulate and NVR acquired during the manufacturing process. Fragile bicomponent filament construction, such as 70% polyester and 30% nylon challenges particle control because it’s more susceptible to tearing, breaking, and shedding. For cleanroom use, a 100% polyester microfiber yarn ensures a cleaner more consistent wipe due to tightly knit filament structure which exceeds the cohesiveness of the previous generation of microfiber materials.