Industrial work group founded for cleanroom-suitable materials
The industrial work group "Cleanroom Suitable Materials” has recently been set up with the aim of defining the term “cleanroom suitability” with regard to materials as well as drawing up and establishing appropriate standards. The requirement for cleanroom-suitable products and materials is increasing dramatically. A survey carried out last year by the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA) on the product portfolio of 300 participants showed that the number of cleanroom-suitable materials and products has risen six-fold over the last twelve years. According to the Fraunhofer IPA, the exact meaning of the term “cleanroom-suitable” is not always clear - despite the publication of the VDI Guideline 2083 (Part 8) two years ago which defines methods and procedures for assessing the cleanroom suitability of operating utilities. Over 42% of the participants questioned stated that they did not receive any clear specifications from their customers regarding the materials to be used. ”Cleanroom suitability is often only a general requirement. Without more precise details, such requirements can’t be met” remarked graduate physicist UdoGommel, a scientific employee working at the Fraunhofer IPA, who was one of the coordinators of the survey. This is due to the fact that, contrary to operating utilities, up till now the cleanroom-suitability of materials has not been clearly defined nor have specific test methods been developed to determine it. Cleanroom experts working at the Fraunhofer IPA have now set out to rectify this deficit. Its first step towards this goal has been the foundation of the industrial work group "Cleanroom Suitable Materials" which was set up at the beginning of this year.
