Regarding the Selection of Antistatic Clothing and Fabrics
I. The antistatic cleanroom fabric used in antistatic clothing is often called "conductive silk." However, this terminology is inaccurate. Conductive silk, based on its technical characteristics, can be divided into those suitable for ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) and those suitable for cleanrooms.
Only conductive silk suitable for cleanrooms can be considered antistatic cleanroom fabric.
II. What is antistatic fabric? Fabric that has undergone antistatic processing can be called antistatic fabric. Common antistatic processing methods for fabrics include:
① Finishing the fabric with antistatic agents;
② Fiber grafting modification, blending and interweaving of hydrophilic fibers to improve fabric absorbency;
③ Blending or embedding conductive fibers;
III. The difference between cleanroom fabrics and ordinary antistatic fabrics in antistatic clothing.
The mechanism of the first two methods is to increase the fabric's moisture regain, reduce insulation, and accelerate static electricity leakage. Therefore, if the processing effect is not durable or significant in a dry environment or after multiple washes, it is usually applied to ordinary clothing fabrics. Only the third method can solve the static electricity problem of textiles in a lasting and efficient manner, and is therefore widely used in the production of antistatic work clothes. The fabric is finished with an antistatic finishing agent.
Antistatic fabrics can be woven fabrics, such as conductive silk and antistatic T/C fabrics, or knitted fabrics, such as antistatic knitted glove fabric and antistatic knitted underwear. In addition to meeting the general technical standards for textiles, antistatic fabrics must also have good antistatic properties to meet the needs of product production and safety. Technical requirements can be found in GB12059-89 "Performance of Synthetic Fiber Antistatic Silk for Electronic Industry".
IV. Difference between Antistatic Ultra-Clean Fabrics and Ordinary Antistatic Fabrics:
The main difference lies in the concept of "ultra-clean". Antistatic ultra-clean fabrics must simultaneously possess the following three characteristics:
① Antistatic function: Static electricity attracts dust, making the attracted dust difficult to be blown away during an air shower. Therefore, the primary characteristic of antistatic cleanroom fabrics is their antistatic properties. Simultaneously, this antistatic property must be durable and highly efficient, not significantly diminished by daily washing and friction.
② The fabric itself must not generate dust: Since it is worn in a cleanroom, the fabric must not be a source of dust in the cleanroom. This dictates that cleanroom fabrics can only be produced using chemically synthesized long fibers. Natural short fibers such as cotton, linen, and silk cannot be used in cleanroom fabrics, even though these materials can improve the fabric's wearability. At the same time, the amount of dust generated by the selected synthetic filaments must be strictly controlled. Generally speaking, fully dull polyester filaments are not suitable for weaving antistatic cleanroom fabrics because the matting agent added during polyester production-titanium dioxide-can become a source of contamination.
③ The fabric must have good dust filtration properties: Dust in cleanrooms mainly comes from the airflow and the human body moving within the room. Once the equipment conditions are determined, improving cleanliness means maximizing the containment of tiny dust particles generated by the human body within the clothing, allowing them to pass through the fabric and enter the air. This is what is meant by a high dust filtration rate for the fabric. Increasing the dust filtration rate comes at the cost of sacrificing the breathability of the fabric, so knitted fabrics and loosely woven fabrics are not suitable for cleanrooms.