Cable Particulation Study for Cleanroom Environments

This white paper presents a study on cable particulation in cleanroom environments, focusing on the impact of cable movement and design on particle generation. It outlines the challenges in minimizing particulation due to friction among cables and tubes, particularly in automated manufacturing lines. The study, commissioned by W. L. Gore & Associates and conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute, involved testing two types of Gore cables for ISO cleanroom certification. The test design included various cable chain configurations to assess particulation levels. Results indicated that GORE® Trackless High Flex Cables emitted zero particulates, while other configurations showed varying levels of particulation based on velocity. The paper concludes that proper cable management and design are critical for achieving low-particulation systems suitable for Class 1 cleanrooms. It emphasizes that the particulation levels are influenced more by the cable chain design than by the cables themselves, highlighting the importance of selecting appropriate materials and configurations for cleanroom applications.