Cleanroom Manufacturing and Assembly for Aerospace MLI Blankets
MLI blanket fabrication, assembly, and integration demand a contamination-controlled environment where particulate levels, airflow, temperature, and humidity are continuously maintained ensuring every MLI system delivered meets flight hardware cleanliness and thermal performance requirements.
Cleanroom Standards
Why ISO Class 7 Cleanroom Standards Matter for MLI Fabrication
MLI thermal performance is directly vulnerable to contamination introduced during fabrication. Particulate matter trapped between reflective layers degrades effective emissivity (ε*), reduces thermal margin, and can introduce outgassing risk that compromises optical surfaces and thermal control systems on orbit. AeroTemp operates as a dedicated mli technical services provider within an ISO Class 7 controlled environment maintaining no more than 352,000 particles per cubic meter (≥0.5 µm) per ISO 14644-1 and ASTM E2352 aerospace cleanroom requirements ensuring every MLI blanket is fabricated, assembled, and inspected under conditions that protect material integrity from first cut through final flight hardware delivery.
- Degrades effective emissivity
- Threatens thermal control systems
- ISO 14644-1 compliance required
- HEPA filtration maintained
- Protects reflective film materials
- Continuous environmental monitoring
Environment Controls
Cleanroom Environment Controls Supporting MLI Assembly
Maintaining ISO Class 7 classification throughout MLI fabrication requires continuous control of multiple environmental parameters not just air filtration alone. AeroTemp’s cleanroom environment combines HEPA filtration, controlled non-unidirectional airflow with 60 to 90 air changes per hour, stable temperature and humidity regulation, electrostatic discharge (ESD) control, and strict personnel gowning protocols creating a fully managed fabrication environment where aluminized Mylar, aluminized Kapton, Dacron netting spacers, and outer cover materials are handled, cut, layered, and assembled without introducing contamination that could compromise blanket performance or flight hardware cleanliness requirements.
- HEPA filtration and controlled airflow
- Temperature and humidity regulation
- ESD and electrostatic control
- Personnel gowning protocols maintained
- Particle concentration continuously monitored
- Contamination control throughout fabrication
MLI Integration
MLI Fabrication and Integration Activities Performed in the ISO Class 7 Cleanroom
AeroTemp’s ISO Class 7 cleanroom supports the complete range of MLI fabrication and integration activities from initial material receipt and pattern cutting through blanket layup, layer assembly, fit checks against hardware mockups or flight structure, attachment and grounding point installation, and pre-installation inspection.
Contamination monitoring and cleanliness verification are maintained throughout each activity, ensuring MLI systems leaving the cleanroom meet program-specific cleanliness requirements and remain protected during handling, transport, and integration on flight hardware.
ISO Class 7 Cleanroom Capabilities at AeroTemp
AeroTemp’s cleanroom supports every phase of MLI fabrication, assembly, and integration under continuous ISO Class 7 environmental controls.
- MLI blanket pattern cutting and material preparation
- Reflective film and spacer layer assembly and layup
- Blanket fit checks against hardware mockups and flight structure
- Attachment point, standoff, and hook-and-loop fastener installation
- Electrical grounding point integration and ESD verification
- Pre-installation cleanliness inspection and contamination verification
- Bakeout and outgassing preparation support
- Hardware bagging and contamination protection for transport
- Integration coordination with AIT and quality assurance teams
- Thermal vacuum test readiness preparation and support
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 100K Clean Room (ISO Class 7)?
An ISO Class 7 cleanroom also referred to as a Class 10,000 or 100K cleanroom is a controlled environment that limits airborne particles to a maximum of 352,000 particles per cubic meter (≥0.5 µm) per ISO 14644-1. In aerospace MLI fabrication, this classification provides the contamination control required to protect reflective films, spacer materials, and flight hardware throughout assembly and integration.
Why does MLI fabrication require a cleanroom environment?
Particulate contamination introduced between MLI layers during fabrication directly degrades effective emissivity (ε*) and thermal margin compromising the thermal protection performance the blanket was designed to deliver. Cleanroom fabrication eliminates contamination sources that cannot be removed after the blanket is assembled and installed on flight hardware.
What MLI activities does AeroTemp perform in the ISO Class 7 cleanroom?
AeroTemp performs the full range of MLI fabrication and integration activities within the cleanroom, including material cutting, layer assembly, blanket layup, fit checks, attachment and grounding installation, pre-installation inspection, bakeout preparation, and thermal vacuum test readiness support all under continuous ISO Class 7 environmental monitoring and contamination control.
How does ISO Class 7 compare to other aerospace cleanroom classifications?
ISO Class 7 is the minimum classification specified by ASTM E2352 for aerospace hardware fabrication. It provides tighter contamination control than ISO Class 8 environments while supporting the practical operational requirements of MLI fabrication and spacecraft assembly. More sensitive operations may require ISO Class 6 or cleaner environments depending on hardware and program specifications.
Does AeroTemp maintain contamination monitoring throughout MLI fabrication?
Yes. AeroTemp maintains continuous environmental monitoring throughout all MLI fabrication, assembly, and integration activities verifying that particle concentration, temperature, humidity, and ESD controls remain within ISO Class 7 compliance requirements and that delivered MLI systems meet program-specific cleanliness standards for flight hardware.
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