Applications in Technical Cleanliness

This application is used for evaluation of particulate contamination on inner and outer surfaces of engine components originating from the production process and environmental conditions.

The degree of surface contamination with residual dirt particles is directly linked to the function and lifetime of the engine components. Component cleanliness testing helps reducing engine failures and start-up breakdowns and improves the product quality.

The inspection is an indirect test method that requires a sampling step in which a test lot of the pre-cleaned component is taken and cleaned under defined conditions once more again. The resulting extraction fluid is filtered by a laboratory process and the residual dirt particles are collected on a filter membrane.

The particle distribution is analyzed in terms of size and type, and are expressed in cleanliness classes (level).

Relevant industrial sectors: automotive industry, automotive supplier chain, service labs, facilities for testing and verification, as well as aviation and space industry.

This application is used for monitoring the cleanliness of the production environment and helps identifying potential particle sources. Processes and influencing variables which might be a source for particulate contamination can be identified, documented and monitored to guarantee clean manufacturing.

To validate the environmental and air cleanliness several particle traps are distributed close to the manufacturing and assembly sites. After a defined time period the particle traps are collected and analyzed.

The particle distribution is analyzed in terms of size and type, and are expressed in cleanliness classes (level).

Relevant industrial branches: automotive industry, the automotive supplier chain, service labs, facilities for testing and verification, as well as aviation and space industry.

This application is relevant for direct testing of fresh and used oils (mineral, synthetic, hydraulic) and lubricants for engines, gear boxes and hydraulic systems.

The presence of particulate contamination in lubricating and hydraulic oils interferes with its ability to lubricate and causes wear to the components. The level of contamination in the liquid has a direct bearing on the performance and reliability of the system.

For the analysis a defined amount of oil or lubricant is filtered by a laboratory process and the remaining particles are collected on a filter membrane. The particle distribution is analyzed in terms of size and type and are expressed in cleanliness classes (level).

Relevant industrial branches: the oil and lubricants manufacturer, the automotive industry, service labs, facilities for testing and verification, as well as aviation and space.

This application is used for evaluation of particulate contamination on medical devices originating from the production process and environmental conditions.

The degree of surface contamination with residual dirt particles might affect the tissue compatibility in terms of transplantation and the function of medical devices. Testing of cleanliness of medical devices can help reducing tissue intolerance or rejection and optimizing product quality.

The inspection is an indirect test method that requires a sampling step in which a test lot of the pre-cleaned medical device is taken and cleaned under defined conditions once more. The resulting extraction fluid is filtered by a laboratory process and the residual dirt particles are collected on a filter membrane.

The particle distribution is analyzed in terms of size and type, and are expressed in cleanliness classes (level).

By default, testing of medical products should be combined with the GxP module.

This application is used for correlative analysis of particulate contamination on membrane filters and delivers complementary particle results depending on the used instrument. The correlative workflow starts with light microscopy (LM) analysis for particle detection and continues with electron microscopy (EM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS, often also called EDX) for extended material characterization on selected potential critical particles.

EM/EDS analysis extends the achievable results for LM analysis by reliable material characterization based on the element composition. The correlative approach results in an unique identification of metallic particles.