The Technical Vault
By SOSCleanroom
Nylon That Earns Its Place in ISO 5–6 Wiping: Why TX4004 MiracleWipe Behaves Like a Process Tool, Not a “Utility Rag”
Last reviewed: Jan. 2, 2026 | Audience: contamination control, cleanroom operations, EHS, quality
Texwipe TX4004 MiracleWipe (4" × 4") is a dry, double-knit nylon cleanroom wiper built for jobs where
operators need soft contact (optics/photomasks, delicate surfaces) without sacrificing strength and
adsorbency. In practice, TX4004 is selected when “wipe performance” is not only about cleaning—it is about
controlling what the wipe contributes when wiping force, edges, and re-fold cycles get real.
What differentiates MiracleWipe in a wiper program is the material choice: 100% continuous-filament nylon in a stable knit.
Nylon’s elasticity and toughness can be advantageous in repetitive wipe patterns and edge work where some constructions snag, tear, or shed under pressure.
What it’s for
TX4004 is positioned for general wiping and spill control in ISO Class 5–6 environments, with additional
use cases that tend to be “surface-sensitive but still demanding,” including cleaning and polishing metallic/nonmetallic magnetic media surfaces and
cleaning sensitive optical and photomask surfaces. When a work instruction includes corners, fixtures, or light abrasion on robust surfaces,
MiracleWipe’s knit durability can reduce the “wipe breaks down mid-step” failure mode that drives rework and redeposit.
Program note: TX4004 is frequently treated as a “critical utility wipe” — stronger and more engineered than blended nonwovens,
while remaining soft enough for many delicate surfaces. Final suitability should be confirmed in your actual solvent set, surface finish, and inspection criteria.
Decision drivers
TX4004 earns placement when the facility needs a wipe that tolerates real handling while keeping contamination risk bounded:
- Substrate and construction: 100% continuous-filament nylon in a double-knit, no-run interlock pattern for strength and stability.
- Soft, nonabrasive face: engineered for contact on sensitive surfaces where harsh “hand feel” increases scratch or haze risk.
- Adsorbency posture: high sorptive capacity supports spill response and solution pickup without immediately saturating.
- Cleanroom laundering/processing: manufactured and packaged as a controlled-environment wiper with ultraclean intent.
- Packaging discipline: Bag-Within-A-Bag style packaging supports controlled introduction and staged access.
- Traceability: lot-to-lot traceability supports change control and investigations when trends shift.
Materials and construction – explained like an engineer
“Nylon wiper” is not a commodity label in cleanrooms. The controlling details are continuous filament (long filaments, fewer loose ends)
and a stable knit that resists unraveling when operators fold, pinch corners, and wipe across fixtures. TX4004 uses a
continuous-filament nylon knit designed to maintain integrity during repeated wipe cycles—reducing the chance that the wipe itself becomes the source of
strings, edge breakdown, or sudden shedding spikes during fast work.
Nylon’s elasticity can also matter operationally: it can tolerate “tension + compression” wiping (pulling over edges, pressing into corners) without
tearing as readily as weaker constructions. That durability tends to shorten cleaning steps because operators are less likely to stop and restart due to wipe failure.
Specifications in context
Format: 4" × 4" (10 cm × 10 cm) is a deliberate “precision wipe” size—useful for corners, small fixtures,
photomask/optical work zones, and controlled spot cleaning where large wipes increase the probability of incidental contact with adjacent surfaces.
Packaging (TX4004): 600 wipers per bag, presented as 4 inner bags of 150, with 8 bags per case.
In practice, inner-bag staging supports “open only what you need” issuance logic and reduces exposure time compared with single large bulk packs.
Cleanliness and performance metrics
For qualification discussions, MiracleWipe’s published typical values map to the standard risk buckets: uptake behavior (spill control), releasables (particles/fibers),
residue potential (NVR), and ionic extractables. Treat typical values as a capability snapshot, not contractual per-lot specifications.
- Sorption capacity: typical 530 mL/m²; sorptive rate < 1 second. Translation: fast wet-out and strong hold for spill response and solution pickup.
- Particles/fibers (released): typical 15 × 106 particles/m² (0.5–5.0 µm), 200,000 particles/m² (5–100 µm), and 2,000 fibers/m² (>100 µm). Translation: suitable for critical wiping when technique is disciplined; still differentiate from sealed-edge strategies when edge-driven releasables dominate.
- NVR: typical 0.35 g/m² (IPA extractant) and 0.67 g/m² (DI water extractant). Translation: residue is strongly influenced by technique (wetness control, face rotation, early discard) and the chemistry you apply.
- Ions: typical Na 0.22 ppm, K 0.50 ppm, Cl 0.50 ppm. Translation: low ionic extractables relative to many general wipes; still validate when corrosion/ECM sensitivity is a controlling defect mechanism.
Interpretation guardrail: The manufacturer states these values are typical analyses at time of publication, not specifications.
Use them to set expectations, then confirm performance in your actual surfaces, soils, solvents, and inspection window.
Why the inner-bag format matters operationally
In high-mix cleanrooms, wipes become uncontrolled variables when the pack is left open, the same wipe face is reused too long, or operators start “making do” with
substitutes. TX4004’s staged inner-bag presentation supports a simple control plan: open a small unit, issue to a station, use with aggressive face rotation, and
discard before saturation turns wiping into redeposit. This format also helps quality teams contain investigations to a narrower time window if an excursion appears.
Best-practice use
TX4004 performs best when technique is treated as part of the contamination control system—especially on optics and inspection-driven surfaces.
- Face management: quarter-fold and treat each face as single-pass for sensitive wipe-downs; discard early when loaded.
- Stroke discipline: use straight, overlapping, single-direction strokes; avoid back-and-forth scrubbing unless the SOP calls for it.
- Wetness control: aim for damp control (enough to mobilize soil, not enough to pool into seams). If solvent loading must be tightly controlled, standardize the solvent delivery method.
- Edge/corner work: use the 4" × 4" format to control contact area; reduce incidental contact with adjacent zones.
- Inspection alignment: qualify the wipe/chemistry pairing under the same lighting, dry-down window, and acceptance criteria operators actually use.
Common failure modes — and how TX4004 helps
A wiper becomes a contamination source in predictable ways: reusing a loaded face, wiping too wet and driving pooling/streaking, snagging on fixtures, and overworking
edges until fibers appear. TX4004’s continuous-filament nylon knit helps resist tear-driven fiber events during repetitive wiping, while the remaining controls are procedural:
staged issuance, face rotation, directional strokes, and chemistry discipline.
Closest comparators
The most defensible comparisons are to other small-format, high-control wipes used near sensitive surfaces—especially knits and sealed-edge strategies.
Polyester knit cleanroom wipes (4" × 4" class) are common comparators when the program prioritizes very low releasables with broad chemical compatibility.
Buyers often compare “knit feel,” edge strategy, and published contamination metrics under the same qualification methods.
Sealed-edge polyester wipes (when edge control is the driver) are the logical step-up when investigations point to edge-related stringers or fiber transfer.
When the acceptance driver is edge stability during aggressive folding and corner wiping, sealed-edge/sealed-border strategies are often the next control lever.
Rule of thumb: When edge-driven releasables are the acceptance driver, step up to a sealed-edge strategy. When wipe failure under handling is the constraint,
prioritize a construction that maintains integrity under real wiping force.
Where TX4004 fits in a cleanroom wiping program
TX4004 fits as a precision-format, high-integrity wipe for ISO Class 5–6 operations and other controlled workflows where the wiper must stay intact,
clean sensitive surfaces, and support disciplined technique. Use it for optics/photomasks and other surface-sensitive zones where operators need a soft, durable wipe
that tolerates re-folding and corner work. When the risk shifts to strict edge control, a sealed-edge strategy is typically the technical step-up.
Terminology note: TX4004 is engineered for low-linting performance; no wiper is truly “lint-free” in every process condition.
Country-of-origin control: The SOSCleanroom product listing describes TX4004 as made in the USA. If country-of-origin is a controlled attribute in your QMS,
confirm via documentation tied to the lots received and your receiving records.
Source basis
- SOSCleanroom product page: “Texwipe TX4004 MiracleWipe 4" × 4" Nylon Cleanroom Wiper” (positioning, packaging configuration, country-of-origin marketing statement, SKU presentation). https://www.soscleanroom.com/product/wipers/texwipe-tx4004-miraclewipe-4-x-4-nylon-cleanroom-wiper/
- ITW Texwipe datasheet: “MiracleWipe® Wipers” DS-4004 (construction, ISO Class positioning, packaging breakdown for TX4004, performance/contamination typicals; typical-value disclaimer; references to IEST-RP-CC004.3 and ASTM E2090). https://www.soscleanroom.com/content/texwipe_pdf/4004%204009%204012%204018.pdf
- Category practice basis applied: staged issuance and minimal handling exposure; face rotation and early discard discipline; one-direction wiping; wetness control aligned to residue and streaking risk.
Source: SOSCleanroom.com | Last reviewed: Jan. 2, 2026
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