Berkshire Bond satisfies the need for cleanroom compatible documentation.

The technical complexity of today's cleanroom operations and quality systems demand an ever increasing level of documentation. Whether in the form of work instructions and equipment manuals; production forms, reports and product travelers; or engineering notebooks, the applications for cleanroom compatible "paper" continue to grow.

Cleanroom paper is made from a variety of materials that are inherently incompatible with the cleanroom environment. Wood pulp, the basis for traditional paper, has many desirable characteristics (low cost, ink absorbency, etc.) but the basic structure of the cellulose makes it fragile and prone to particulation. In addition, traditional paper making uses chemical additives to improve the opacity and brightness of the sheet. These chemical additives can be released in the form of particulate or chemical contamination from the paper.

An additional challenge exists in a cleanroom environment when paper is printed, photocopied or written upon. Each of these techniques creates the potential for releasable particulate or chemical contamination if the toner or ink is not full absorbed or bonded to the sheet.

Berkshire Bond has been specifically engineered to address all of these issues!

Retaining the desirable aspects of conventional bond paper while addressing its shortcomings presents a unique challenge.

Creating a cleanroom compatible substrate

We began by creating a base substrate from the highest quality raw materials and eliminating undesirable binders and fillers. The absence of these impurities can be easily verified by ashing or examination under ultraviolet light. Then we created a structure and density that optimizes the strength and durability of the sheet while maximizing its consistency in printing and photocopying. Finally, we formulated a proprietary fiber coating to encapsulate fibers and particles and enhance strength and durability, without limiting the ability of the sheet to absorb ink. In addition, we made the coating resistant to the heat and static normally generated in photocopying and laser printing.