From the flying drone to the textile fiber

Mobile purity monitoring in the cleanroom. (Source: Fraunhofer IPA)

From May 19 to 21, the "Lounges 2015" will take place in Stuttgart. At this specialized trade fair for purity technology, Fraunhofer IPA will present solutions related to manufacturing under clean conditions. On the action stage A28 in Hall 1, the scientists will demonstrate how particulate contamination can be controlled, avoided, and eliminated, and will also focus on fiber shedding from consumables. Live demonstrations will be held daily at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Mobile Monitoring of Cleanroom Cleanliness

Fraunhofer IPA presents a novel approach for cleanroom monitoring, which allows operational parameters such as compliance with the required air cleanliness class to be monitored online. Flying drones could soon be used in cleanrooms and replace the currently stationary systems through their integrated particle measurement technology. This does not disrupt operations, nor does it require additional personnel.

Furthermore, the experts will introduce methods to determine the cleanliness status of a product. This measurement is especially relevant for objects that must meet certain purity specifications, as currently defined for medical technology. Companies receive support in choosing the analysis method and subsequent validation. If the results are found to be insufficient, the scientists will suggest suitable cleaning procedures and evaluate their effectiveness using standardized procedures.

Fiber Shedding Poses Risks to Production

Temporary airborne particles often occur when textile consumables are mechanically stressed. They can cause damage in processes or entire production lines. The risk of dispersion is particularly high with turbulent mixing ventilation in manufacturing halls. To raise awareness among users and manufacturers about the risks of fiber shedding, IPA experts explain the causes of fiber formation and its spread in the cleanroom. They also discuss the influence of fibers on air cleanliness classes and present methods to investigate and assess fiber shedding.