YouTube® "combinationcleaning" or video of "dry", "wet-to-dry" and CombinationCleaning™ cleaning processes. There are comparisons of various cleaners, as well as, fusion splice prep and mid-span break-in using a patented procedure.
Combination Cleaning was first introduced in 2002. Since that time this "3rd Technique" has proven to be the most effective means of precision cleaning fiber optic end face connections. It has been "field proven" in many millions of successful cleaning operations.
Some contend that as much as 80% of the soils on a fiber optic end face is dust. While "dust" is certainly a possible contaminant, it is also possible that the remaining 20% of contaminants can cause 80% of network problems. The "combination cleaning process" is designed to remove the widest range of soils over the complete end face.
Some cleaning methods actually are ineffective and result in a "defect"...that could have been removed.
There is significant science in the procedure that works on all connectors and removes dust contamination, fluid contamination and combinations of these soils most-typically encountered in OSP and OEM. It is a fast and effective means to clean whether you work in a RBOC, MSO, CLEC, Enterprise or R&D, Military or CATV network.
Standard "dry" cleaning procedures do not remove as wide a range of soils as a the combination process. "Dry Cleaning" can also create a static field that attracts more soils. Some of the images and downloads on this site show how a static charge is built up with any "dry" method. "Dry Cleaning", when it works, is only effective on a limited range of soils.
Another typical cleaning process is to 'over-saturate' an end face by either drawing an IPA wiper across the end face or to direct-spray the connection. "Wet Cleaning" can trap excess moisture in the sides of the ferrule and deposit it on the end face as the solvent evaporates.
This "fluid contamination" is most troublesome because it remains outside the view of most commercial video or hand held inspection devices. While "wet cleaning" can clean more soils than the "dry" process, the over-use of a solvent makes this procedure one of the more difficult to learn and use with reliability..
When video-inspection is not practical or possible, the Combination Cleaning Process&trade is a highly-reliable technique that most-typically cleans all soils the first time. It is an important "safety net" when video inspection is not practical or available to field personnel.
Who is ITW Chemtronics® and how do you know so much about precision cleaning fiber optics?
For more than 50 years "Chemtronics Brand" products have been used in critical-cleaning applications ranging from high-value electronics to Class 1 operational cleanrooms.
We applied this knowledge (based on science, R&D, and years of field-work) to high-speed telecommunications with a view to future networks that will be based on immense demand from consumer, business, enterprise and military for bandwidth, speed, and, reliability.