SPI Mica Sheets and Disks
Preparation of particulate free mica edges
A growing number of applications for the SPI Supplies mica involve use in a
clean room. And of course there are other applications, such as spin
coating, where the presence of particulates could be catastrophic in terms
of the final coating applied.
Consequently, SPI Supplies has developed unique cutting procedures so that
virtually no particulates are left on the cut mica. While we don't disclose
all of our technology, water is always used as a lubricant during the
cutting and after wards, high speed compressed air is used to remove still
more of any remaining particulates. It is believed that the act of cleaving
the mica does not in of itself produce particulates, but what is happening,
is that particulates on the edges remaining from the cutting, get liberated,
during the cleaving step.
We believe however that we can offer the user of SPI Supplies mica, the one
who absolutely demands the very minimum number of particulates, a protocol
for their removal.
The procedure is really quite simple, but it does involve pressing the edge
to be cleaned, into some
SPI thick replicating tape or sheets.
The plastic is easily softened with acetone, and then the edge is pressed
into the soft acetone-softened polymer film. The mica sheet should stand up
on end on its own but if not, then it can be propped up with something else.
But after several hours, the acetone will have completely evaporated and
the cellulose acetate would have returned to its hard brittle film form. At
this point, the cellulose acetate can literally just be peeled off, taking
with it, the remaining clinging particulates. At this point, the mica can
be cleaved, and under conditions of much lower risk in terms of particulate
contamination.
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Tuesday February 09, 2010
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