What is tacky-roller or polymer roller cleaning?
Tacky-roller or polymer roller cleaning is a specific type of contact cleaning. In these systems, a polymer roller creates a nip through which the material being cleaned passes. As the material passes through the nip, the contamination is lifted by the tackiness of the polymer roller. The polymer roller subsequently runs against an adhesive coated roll and passes the contamination to the adhesive roll, permanently trapping the dirt on the adhesive. The adhesive roll is reverse wound. Therefore, when the surface of the adhesive is fully loaded with contamination, the roll is simply unwound one revolution and cut, thus providing a fresh adhesive surface in contact with the elastomer roller. One big advantage is that tacky roller systems are free of liquid so they can be employed prior to critical steps (printing, coating, laminating, etc.) where liquid is not allowed.
