A cleanroom:
- is a contamination-"free" environment for high-tech manufacturing and assembly
- is an environment that has a low (or more accurately controlled)
level of environmental pollutants such as airborne microbes, aerosol
particles, dust, chemical vapors, etc. The level of contamination is
specified by the number of particles per meter-cubed and by
maximum particle size
- may be very small chambers, also known as microenvironments
- may be very large, such an entire manufacturing facility; large clean
rooms are also known as ballrooms
- is used extensively in semiconductor manufacturing, biotechnology,
life and health sciences, pharmaceutical, aerospace, food, medical devices and hospitals and other fields that are especially sensitive to environmental
contamination
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Cleanrooms are kept clean by:
- filtering outside air and recirculating (and simultaneously re-filtering)
cleanroom air via high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) and ultra
low-penetration air (ULPA) filters to remove internally created contaminants;
the air may also be sterilized using high-temperature heat exchanger
- regulating staff to wear cleanroom suits and /or other protective
clothing such as hats, face masks, boots and coveralls
- regulating or prohibiting the use of materials such as paper, pencils, and fabrics made from natural fibers
- using low-contaminating equipment inside the environment
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