Chemtronics Foamtips™ Swabs, Medical Grade Foam

We recommend choosing a solvent engineered specifically for contact cleaning. Other solvent cleaners an be used, but be aware or the following factors: Spray force - Aerosol cleaners are generally used to penetrate into the tight areas around the contact and provide agitation. Dielectric strength - If you are cleaning energized (powered) equipment, use a cleaning solvent with a dielectric strength of 30 kV (30,000V) or higher. This prevents shorting the equipment. Dielectric strength is defined as the maximum electric field that the material can withstand under ideal conditions without breaking down. Breaking down in this sense is described as a failure of insulating properties, where the electricity breaks free of the conductors and burns a path through the weakest area of the insulating materials. Solvency / cleaning strength - The solvent cleaner needs to be strong enough to dissolve oil and other contamination. Flammability - If there is risk of flames or sparks, a nonflammable solvent is recommended. Evaporation rate - Since there isn't opportunity to wipe the solvent off the inner parts of the electrical device, fast evaporation is very helpful. Plastic compatibility - Electrical devices often contain plastics and gasketing material that can be damaged by harsh solvents. Additives - Some cleaners, like WD40, contain oils that are left behind. That can be a good way to prevent oxidation, but it depends on your application and equipment. In some cases, it could be considered a contamination -- especially silicone oil, which tends to migrate. Electrical Contact Cleaner Spray & Lubricants | High Purity Learn more in our Blog Follow our Linkedin

Yes, Chemtronics offers a full line of ESD swabs. They include foam, knit polyester, or knit microfiber heads with static dissipative handles. The proprietary handle material has surface resistivity of 1.0 x 10_10 ohms/sq, and will dissipate 99% of (5 kV) charge in 0.5 seconds. This avoids static generation, and can dissipate a charge when the user is grounded.

No, cotton bud swabs (aka Q-tips) can’t be considered lint-free. Cotton tends to lead behind threads and particulates. Open cell polyurethane foam swabs are a common, very clean replacement for cotton. If harsh solvents are being used on the swabs, or even more cleanliness is needed, knit polyester or microfiber swabs are an excellent choice.

While cotton bud swabs (aka Q-tips) are commonly used for all kinds of precision cleaning, foam swabs are commonly used to reduce contamination from cotton threads and particulates. Foam swabs are usually made of open cell polyurethane for maximum cleanliness and absorbency. Foam swabs are usually made of open cell polyurethane for maximum cleanliness and absorbency.