Safeguarding competitive advantages through the use of innovative materials and surface technology systems 

Industrial alliance for cleanroom-suitable materials - why?

Apart from the constructive layout of a factory, the selection of suitable materials is one of the most important parameters to be considered when using cleanroom and cleanliness-suitable production utilities. The choice of materials decisively influences the particle emission behaviour of a production utility, i.e. its suitability for use in a cleanroom. However, it is not only the emission of airborne particles which plays an essential role in the selection of suitable materials. Other characteristics such as resistance to corrosion, conductivity and ease of cleaning are also equally important. These influencing factors are defined as cleanliness suitability. Up till now, however, no specifications have been laid down for the cleanroom suitability of materials. Depending on the subject area, there are only a few specifications in existence for standardized material tests and sometimes no specifications at all. Experts at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (Fraunhofer IPA) and representatives from various fields of industry have now set out to rectify these deficits in the development and manufacture of cleanroom-suitable production utilities. 

Expected results

The active collaboration in identifying and characterizing innovative materials and the resulting surface technology systems guarantees a decisive competitive advantage for companies participating in the industrial alliance. Users of cleanroom technology such as semiconductor companies or pharmaceutical firms will be in a position to benefit from the alliance by optimizing the purchase of new production utilities and increasing their output. Equipment and component manufacturers will be able to bring new products onto the market as well as reduce the price of existing products.

The aspects to be dealt with by the industrial alliance are determined by the participating companies themselves. This enables participant requirements to be dealt with individually and customer-orientated solutions to be developed. With their technical demands and requirements, participants in the alliance are able to decisively influence the future state of technology. 

Cleanroom-suitable materials - market feeling and demands 

A survey involving 2,700 companies and institutions resulted in some important core statements [for details, please see: www.ipa-qualification.com]: 

• 3/4 of the companies questioned either use or manufacture cleanroom-suitable products. 
• The number of specifications for materials/products has risen to the same extent as the number of cleanroom-suitable materials/products being implemented. Within the last 12 years there has been a six-fold increase. All cleanroom users are striving for standardized and clearly-defined test and assessment algorithms for materials and cleanroom applications.  

Encouraged by the results of the survey, the decision was then made to found the industrial alliance “Cleanroom Suitable Materials”. Such projects have already proved their worth in the past in dealing with other technical problems, such as the standardized specification of ultra-pure media. 

To determine the degree of interest, a workshop titled “Cleanroom suitable materials” was held by the Fraunhofer IPA for 31 industrial representatives. The importance of this topic became very clear during the course of the workshop. The active interest shown by industry was the reason for starting Phase 1 of the industrial alliance “Cleanroom Suitable Materials”.

Summary

In order to deal with future demands associated with the development and utilization of cleanroom-suitable production utilities, the cleanroom suitability of materials needs to be further researched and specified. 

The survey carried out by the Fraunhofer IPA has demonstrated the considerable demand for cleanroom-suitable materials and for their specification. This was the reason behind setting up the industrial alliance “Cleanroom Suitable Materials”. Participants receive a comprehensive overview of the current state of technology and science and are in a position to actively influence this state as far as their requirements are concerned. The use of innovative and up-to-date materials forms the basis for competitive products and therefore for company success. 

Companies interested in the alliance are still able to join at this point in time. 

GIT einraumtechnik, 6. Jahrgang, März 2004, S14/15