Enhanced PTFE Membrane Filter Performance Comes at a Price

Enhanced PTFE Membrane Filter Performance Comes at a Price

PTFE membrane is a microporous ‘skin’ applied to various filter medias to provide extremely high filtration efficiencies even when filtering sub-micron particulate.

Its non-stick surface offers the added benefit of excellent dust release on the cleaning cycle under moist operating conditions, or with ‘sticky’ dusts.

About PTFE Filter Media

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene. It is hydrophobic or water repellent. The filtration process with PTFE stretched film is different to other materials such as glass fibre or polyester felt. Glass fibre and polyester felt need to be of a certain thickness to be efficient as they “trap” the dust particles within a maze of tunnels. The filtration with PTFE stretched film is done at the surface because the micropores act as a gatekeeper. 

PTFE Membrane Media Applications

Cartridge filters utilizing PTFE membrane media are widely used in the Pharmaceutical, Food and Chemical Industries, in Process Filtration and Pneumatic Conveying applications. PTFE coated media excels at capturing fine particulate materials well under 1 micron in size. In fact, it is so effective that it can provide filtration efficiencies of very near 100% in some applications.

The Problem of Premature Pleat Collapse

Unfortunately, this high-efficiency particulate collection comes at a price. Due to the PTFE coating, the air permeability of membrane medias is generally in the area of 65-80% lower than that of conventional polyester filter media. In pleated filters, this causes higher pressures on the outside of the pleats and can lead to a further restriction in the air flow due to pleats collapsing against themselves, leaving no channel in which the filtered air can pass. This can cause premature blinding or failure of the filter cartridge and possibly the equipment it supports, incurring unnecessary downtime and expense.

Prevent Pleat Collapse with Fab-Tex Tandem Pleat Technology

For this reason, Fab-Tex has created a unique solution to solve the problem of pleat collapse in high-pressure applications. Tandem Pleat filter construction adds a double layer of plastic mesh media between each pleat to provide pleat support across 100% of the surface area. This allows for utilization of all the filter media, leaving no “dead spots” to restrict air flow.

Price of Combining PTFE Media with Tandem Pleat Technology

Although effective, PTFE membrane media are expensive, 5 to 10 times that of conventional filter media. 

Combining PTFE media with Tandem Pleat Technology, as compared to using a cartridge with unsupported PTFE media alone, will ensure: 

• Maximum value possible is achieved from each filter cartridge. 
• Increased lifespan and overall performance of the filter. 

Over the long run, this may make up for the initial higher price tag by having to conduct filter change-outs far less often. Talk to Fab-Tex to see if PTFE membrane combined with Tandem Pleat Technology may be an effective long term solution for your equipment.

Maintaining Your Vacuum Truck Filters

Check your filter bags often!

Your filters play a critical role in protecting the blower from damaging, foreign materials. Taking the time to check your filter bags for holes will pay off in several ways. When your filters do have holes, the baghouse allows material to reach the blower, essentially sandblasting and eroding the lobes. Once that starts to happen, your truck has to work harder and burns more fuel to maintain a vacuum. Ensuring that the bags are clean and the seals are tight will go a long way in minimizing costly downtime. When you’re in between jobs, simply run the pulsation system to keep them clean.

Interested in achieving significant savings?

Keeping an extra set of filter bags on hand for each of your trucks could actually save you thousands of dollars a year. Filters keep small particles from reaching the blower and eroding the lobes. Without clean, effective filters your truck will have to compensate by running harder and chugging fuel to maintain the same vacuum. It’s a fact that filter bags clog over time. By having an extra set on hand, you’ll be able to keep working and stay on schedule.

A competitive advantage

By planning ahead and stocking up on filters, you’ll avoid costly shutdowns, a mad scramble for replacement filters and exorbitant shipping fees.

For more information on our Vacuum Truck Filters, please click here.

High Performance Tandem Pleat Technology

Fab-Tex Filtration is pleased to announce great success in applications utilizing our own Advanced Tandem Pleat Technology.

This proprietary method of construction is designed to replace traditional polyester cartridge filters in most equipment. Dust Collectors, Pneumatic Conveying Equipment, Regenerative Air Street Sweeping Machines and Powder Coating Booths will all see increased filter efficiencies and this technology can also be adapted to numerous other cartridge filtration applications.

Tandem Pleat construction involves the addition of a rigid plastic mesh pleated in combination with the filter media to provide 100% pleat support. Adding Tandem Pleat Technology will eliminate the dead spots seen on a traditional filter where the airflow is restricted because of outside air pressure forcing the pleat to collapse upon itself. Fab-Tex Filtration’s Tandem Pleat Technology is engineered to provide a complete utilization of the filter media so no filter area is lost due to this effect.

Both laboratory and field tests have proven adding Tandem Pleat construction to a filter provides 30% to 40% higher efficiency on sub-micron particulate in the range of 0.3 to 0.7 microns. Dust loading tests confirmed Tandem Pleat filters will provide greater air handling capacity than other filters not utilizing this innovative manufacturing technique.

Advanced Tandem Pleat Technology is available for use on most replacement filter cartridges and in numerous industrial applications where dust control is necessary.

About Fab-Tex Filtration

Fab-Tex Filtration develops, designs and manufactures custom air filtration products for industrial air pollution control and dust collecting equipment. With over 40 years of experience in the air filtration industry, our principal has been a leader in developing new technologies for the cartridge filter aftermarket. A family run business, Fab-Tex prides itself on our ability to customize and build a filter product to maximize the exact requirements of our customers’ air filtration needs. For more information, please visit our website www.fabtexfilters.com or speak to our Technical Sales Representatives at 888-932-2839.