The "Superpower" of a Piece of Paper: How Does Airless Paper Solve the Cleanliness Challenges of High-Precision Manufacturing?
Publish Time: 2025-10-10
In high-precision manufacturing fields such as microelectronics, optoelectronics, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverages, cleanrooms are key environments for controlling contaminants such as particulates, toxic gases, and bacteria. Strict management of these environmental parameters is directly related to product quality and production safety. As a crucial component of cleanroom consumables, airlaid paper, with its unique physical and functional properties, has become a key material for maintaining a clean environment. This article will analyze airlaid paper from four perspectives: its definition, production process, application areas, and market trends.I. Definition and Characteristics of Airlaid PaperAirlaid paper, also known as dry-laid nonwoven fabric, is a nonwoven material made primarily from wood pulp fibers using air-laid technology. Its core characteristics include:Low dust generation: Ultrapure water washing and vacuum packaging are used during production to ensure a surface cleanliness of 200 square meters per gram of material. This effectively reduces particle shedding during wiping, preventing secondary contamination of the cleanroom environment.Highly Efficient Liquid Absorption and Water Retention: The wood pulp fiber structure gives it exceptional water absorption and retention capabilities, allowing it to quickly absorb and lock in liquids, making it ideal for cleaning oil and water stains on precision instruments.Excellent Physical Properties: High elasticity and a soft drape, combined with its microfiber structure, effectively remove dust without damaging the surface being cleaned.Anti-static Function: Some products utilize the addition of conductive fibers or surface treatments to effectively control static electricity, preventing damage to electronic components.II. Production Process and ClassificationThe production process for cleanroom paper is primarily divided into two categories: chemical bonding and thermal bonding. These methods result in three types: glued cleanroom paper, thermally bonded cleanroom paper, and combined cleanroom paper:Chemical bonding: Using 100% wood pulp fiber as the raw material, the product is air-laid, sprayed with a water-soluble adhesive, and then baked for reinforcement. This process is relatively low-cost and is primarily used in industrial wipes, feminine hygiene products, and other applications.Thermal bonding: Wood pulp fibers are mixed with at least 15% hot-melt fibers. The low-melting-point fibers are then melted and bonded together using hot air or hot rolling. Because they contain no chemical adhesives, the product boasts superior bulk and moisture absorption, making it widely used in highly absorbent hygiene products (such as sanitary napkins) and as a wiping material for the electronics industry.Combined dust-free paper: This combines chemical and thermal bonding processes, offering the advantages of both, with outstanding performance in terms of bulk, dry and wet tensile strength, and liquid absorption.III. Application Areas and Typical ScenariosDust-free paper is used throughout the entire high-precision manufacturing chain, with typical applications including:Semiconductor and electronics industries: In the production of chips, microprocessors, and circuit boards, it is used to remove particles and chemical residue from equipment surfaces to ensure product yield. For example, dust-free paper is the only permitted wiping material in Class 10 to Class 10000 cleanrooms.Optical and aerospace industries: In the production of coated lenses and large-scale integrated circuits, the ultrafine fiber structure of dust-free paper enables non-destructive cleaning, avoiding scratches on delicate surfaces.Pharmaceuticals and Laboratories: In pharmaceutical production, where a sterile environment is strictly required, cleanroom paper is used for equipment maintenance, workbench cleaning, and cross-contamination prevention.Food and Pharmaceutical Industries: The low dust generation and chemical stability of cleanroom paper ensure compliance with hygiene standards for machine maintenance and packaging material wiping.IV. Market Trends and Development Challenges1. Continued Market GrowthAccording to statistics, the global cleanroom paper market reached 9.991 billion yuan in 2024 and is expected to grow to 12.493 billion yuan by 2030, a compound annual growth rate of 3.79%. The Asia-Pacific region (particularly China) is the primary growth market due to an influx of foreign companies and growing domestic demand.2. Technological Upgrades Drive High-End ProductivityAs the electronics industry's demand for ultra-clean environments increases, cleanroom paper is evolving towards ultrafine fibers and multifunctionality. For example, cleanroom paper infused with nano-silver ion antibacterial fibers has been used in medical equipment cleaning.3. Breakthroughs in Domestic Equipment and Capacity ExpansionDomestic companies are gradually achieving breakthroughs in high-end cleanroom paper production technology by introducing production lines from Danish companies like Dan-Web and M&J. By 2023, China's cleanroom paper production is projected to reach 211,800 tons, a year-on-year increase of 4.7%. However, the high-end market remains reliant on imports, leaving ample room for domestic substitution.4. Environmental and Sustainability ChallengesCleanroom paper production involves chemical adhesives and hot-melt fibers, and their recycling and degradation challenges urgently need to be addressed. Some companies have begun developing bio-based wood pulp fibers and biodegradable adhesives to reduce environmental impact.As a core component of cleanroom consumables, the performance and quality of cleanroom paper are directly related to the success of high-precision manufacturing. With the rise of emerging industries such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and biomedicine, the cleanroom paper market will usher in a new round of growth opportunities. Companies must build differentiated competitive advantages through technological innovation, capacity optimization, and environmental upgrades to meet the dual challenges of global competition and sustainable development.
