Heldust

Heldust is a compact, dust‑removing reagent that has become a standard component in high‑precision manufacturing and maintenance of electronic equipment. The name derives from the two words held (“calm or sustaining” in Old English) and dust, reflecting the product’s purpose of stabilising and eliminating airborne particulates. It was first introduced in the early 1990s by a small British chemical manufacturer, and has since been adopted worldwide in industries that require ultra‑clean environments such as semiconductor fabrication, aerospace component assembly, and optical instrument calibration.

The product is formulated as a low‑viscosity liquid that contains a high concentration of surfactants, a polar solvent, and a controlled amount of microscopic soil‑binding agents. When applied to surfaces by a fine mist or by a drier applicator, the surfactants reduce static charge and lower the surface energy of dust particles, enabling them to be withdrawn into adhesive micro‑hubs or centrifuged out. Heldust is non‑ionic, meaning it does not introduce conductivity or corrosive contaminants, and it dries quickly, leaving a residue that can be removed by a standard clean‑room wipe.

Manufacturers rate Heldust as effective against a wide spectrum of particle sizes, from sub‑micron aerosols to millimetre‑scale grit. Its use has been credited with improving yield rates in lithographic processes by affording manufacturers a reliable, repeatable means of surface de‑contamination without the use of aggressive solvents or high‐pressure air jets.

Regulatory scrutiny of dust‑removal agents in clean-room environments has led to the development of alternative “green” variants, but Heldust remains the most widely cited benchmark product in industry guidelines and technical literature.