Choosing the right sticky mat involves considering thickness, purpose, size, and whether disposable or plastic mats are needed. Mats prevent contaminants from being carried into cleanrooms and should be durable and appropriately sized. Some newer mats are reusable and eco-friendly.
Choosing the best sticky mats requires consideration of product thickness, intended purpose, and size. Also, you should consider whether a disposable or plastic type of mat would work well for the application. These sticky mats allow workers to move between a regular workspace and a cleanroom without carrying contaminants on the soles of their shoes. The sticky, or sticky, part of the mat captures contaminants from the shoe and holds the debris in place.
A major factor to consider is the thickness of the mat. Most mats use removable adhesive layers; once the sticky feeling is no longer felt by operators walking on the mat, the top layer is simply peeled off to reveal a new adhesive sheet. Cleanroom companies that have a lot of foot traffic should invest in adhesive mats with many layers. As a result, the mat will last longer even if the layers are removed more frequently.
Some sticky mats have an extra portion of carpet. This carpet removes large debris from shoes while the attached adhesive grips remaining small debris away from the shoe. The combination of carpet and adhesive is especially useful when employees track dirt or mud from outside.
If the mat’s intended purpose is to be installed near hazardous materials, it’s best to purchase a durable mat that can withstand accidental toxic spills. Some cheap sticky mats are made up of very thin layers that can be damaged by hazardous liquids. As a result, the mat may malfunction, resulting in the introduction of contaminants within the cleanroom area. Thick layers of rigid material may be required for particularly dangerous business practices, such as laboratory work with hazardous chemicals.
Smaller sticky mats are cheaper, but sometimes it’s worth investing in a bigger mat so that everyone who enters and exits the cleanroom can have their shoes thoroughly cleaned. Inappropriately sized adhesive mats can easily be stepped on, causing contaminants to enter the cleanroom. Contaminating a cleanroom will cost more to repair than buying a larger size adhesive mat.
Some newer mat products don’t use the disposable sheets, but actually use a specially designed plastic resin to adhere the debris to the surface layer. These mats can be cleaned and reused when debris has built up inside the plastic. After cleaning, the mat is free to be reused; this is a more eco-friendly mat choice since there are no disposable sheets that will end up in a landfill.
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