Definition of disposable cleanroom garments
Disposable garments are often used as supplements to reusable cleanroom garments. Both serve as product protection and as personal protective equipment.
Attention should be paid that disposable garments do not become additional particle sources. Meaningful application, e.g. with reusable garments, can achieve a contamination reduction.
A comparative study of disposable garments vs. reusable garments showed very interesting differences on the subject of "self-contamination".
Depending on the requirements, different designs and properties have to be considered, for example antistatic behaviour, tear resistance, protection against toxic substances etc.
Due to application-specific requirements in the cleanroom world, the topic of "personal protection/personal protective equipment in the cleanroom" has become one of the focal points, in addition to product protection. Both aspects should complement each other in a meaningful way.
Due to the lack of unified standards or norms which could be used to designate a disposable article e.g. as ISO Class 5 compliant, the following Internet pages should help you to find the right item for your individual requirements.
We will be happy to advise you on your selection and will also provide you with samples for testing purposes.
Materials in different qualities
Disposable garment for the body is used for the protection of the employee (PPE), but also to protect the product and process. For the manufacturing of disposable garment, spunbond fabrics are used nearly exclusively, which are then compacted with heat and pressure.
Some examples are non-woven fabrics, so called SMS (Spunbond-Meltblown-Spunbond) which have good breathability, fabrics with an additional applied microporous finish (higher barrier affectivity against particles, but only minor resistance against mechanical influences) or Tyvek®, the patented PE-HD non-woven fabric from DuPont™. This fabric has high durability, low particle generation and very good barrier features.
Usually, disposable garments are not manufactured in particulate and microbiological controlled industrial ambient conditions. All contaminations falling and sticking on them during the manufacturing process and packaging are thus not removed, and will be brought therefore into the cleanroom areas. For this reason, we recommend – where possible – using of disposable clothing that has been specially processed, cleaned and packed under cleanroom conditions.
Essential prerequisites for cleanroom suitable disposable garments, depending on application:
- particle retention capacity and barrier properties
- sterility on demand
- antistatic finish with lowest possible particle emission
- cleanliness at delivery and cleanroom suitable packaging (polybag)
- latex-free elasticated hoods, sleeve and trouser ends
- current documentation, model specifications, technical data sheet for the used materials
- permeation measurements in the case of natural and synthetic substances
- (EU) PPE Regulation, if required