Author: Vanessa 14 Mar. 2025     Category: Applications

In the performance of industrial filters, material selection directly determines the equipment life, filtration efficiency and comprehensive cost. The rigidity of stainless steel, the economy of polyester, the corrosion resistance of glass fiber… Faced with complex working conditions, which material can be the best answer? This article reveals the golden rule of material selection for you through measured data and industry cases.

  • Basic performance comparison: a table to see the essence
IndicatorsStainless steel（316L）Polyester（PET）Fiberglass（GF）
Temperature range-200℃~500℃   -40℃~120℃ -50℃~280℃
Tensile strength520MPa    55MPa 350MPa
Acid and alkali resistance pH range 1-14(Fully tolerated)4-102-12  
Filtration accuracy1-200μm(customizable)5-500μm 0.5-100μm
Cost (yuan/㎡)800-150080-200300-600
Typical life8-15years 1-3years3-5years 

2. Material selection in actual combat scenarios

Scenario 1: Chemical corrosion environment – the absolute home of stainless steel

  • In concentrated sulfuric acid (98% concentration) pipeline filtration:
  • Polyester filter element: swelling and deformation occurred in 3 months, and the filtration efficiency decreased by 60%
  • Glass fiber: acid-resistant but fiber embrittlement in hydrofluoric acid environment
  • Sintered stainless steel filter element: 5-year zero replacement record, passed ASTM G48 pitting test
  • Recommendation: Strong acid (PH<2), strong alkali (PH>12) or chloride ion medium, 316L stainless steel is preferred.

Scenario 2: Food and beverage workshop – polyester is a cost-effective choice

  • CIP cleaning system filtration requirements of a dairy factory:
  • Filtration target: intercept milk fat particles above 50μm
  • Stainless steel filter: initial investment of 180,000 yuan, payback period of 5 years
  • Polyester folded filter element: the cost of the whole system is 32,000 yuan, replaced twice a year, and the comprehensive cost savings are 47%
  • Recommendation: Polyester material has the best cost-effectiveness in food/medical scenarios with temperature <80℃ and no strong corrosion.

Scenario 3: High-temperature flue gas treatment – irreplaceable glass fiber

  • 300℃ flue gas dust removal in waste incineration plant:
  • Stainless steel filter bag: high-temperature oxidation leads to damage in 3 months
  • Polyester filter cartridge: shrinkage and deformation above 120℃
  • Glass fiber coated filter bag: temperature resistance of 280℃, filtration efficiency remains at 99.97% after 18 months of operation
  • Recommendation: 180-280℃ high-temperature gas filtration, glass fiber + PTFE coating is the industry standard.

III. Hidden cost trap: three major misunderstandings in material selection

  • 1. Excessive pursuit of low prices
  • A certain electroplating plant selected polyester filter elements to save costs, but the filter elements were scrapped in 3 weeks due to nitric acid corrosion. After the stainless steel system was urgently replaced, the annual maintenance cost increased by 25%.
  • 2. Ignoring changes in working conditions
  • The lithium battery raw material workshop originally used glass fiber filter bags, but after the material humidity increased from 30% to 60%, the fibers absorbed moisture and agglomerated. After switching to stainless steel sintered filter elements, the production capacity increased by 40%.

4.Trenntech’s innovative material breakthrough: the future has come

  • 1. Metal-plastic composite filter material The surface stainless steel sintered layer (20μm) + PET matrix has both corrosion resistance and low wind resistance. It has been tried in the automobile painting line and reduced energy consumption by 18%.
  • 2. Silicon carbide ceramic fiber The temperature resistance reaches 1600℃ and is resistant to hydrofluoric acid corrosion. After a polysilicon company tried it, the filter element life was extended from 6 months to 3 years.
  • 3. Intelligent self-cleaning material The glass fiber filter bag implanted with shape memory alloy (SMA) automatically expands and shakes off dust when blocked, and the cleaning cycle is extended by 5 times.

Trenntech Filtration Decision-making Suggestions: 3 Steps to Lock the Optimal Material

  • 1. Clarify the characteristics of the medium: temperature, pH value, particle hardness (Mohs hardness)
  • 2. Calculate the full-cycle cost: including purchase, replacement, energy consumption, and loss of production suspension
  • 3. Predict changes in working conditions: humidity fluctuations, detergent types, and process upgrade plans When a photovoltaic company upgraded its cutting fluid filtration system from polyester to stainless steel, it saved 830,000 yuan in consumables costs annually – this confirms a truth: there is no best material, only the most suitable choice for working conditions. Your production line is waiting for a precise material revolution. Contact Trenntech Filtration to provide you with the most professional filtration design solutions.

Vanessa

My name is Vanessa, and I am a content writer specializing in corporate content creation. With more than 10 years of writing experience, I am committed to providing companies with high-quality, impactful content to help them stand out in a competitive market. My background covers multiple industries, including technology, finance, marketing, etc. In the process, I have accumulated rich knowledge and skills, and can deeply understand the needs of audiences in different fields, so as to create more targeted articles and content. I am good at writing blog posts, white papers, case studies, product descriptions, etc., and I am familiar with SEO optimization strategies to ensure that the content gets good exposure in search engines. At the same time, I also have good project management skills and can complete high-quality works within a tight time frame. I believe that high-quality content can not only convey information, but also build customer trust and brand image.