What's the most effective filter media based on your application?
To get the best performance and longevity out of your dust collector filters, start off by choosing the right media. Choosing media for your filters is going to be based on the type of application they will be used for. When you're looking at different options, take into consideration the following things:
- Product - what you are filtering?
- Particles - what the size of the dust you are filtering?
- Temperature - are you operating with extreme temperatures?
- Chemistry - does your filter need to withstand dust particles that have a chemical make-up?
- Resistance - what's the filter's ability to resist the wear and tear of dust?
Watch Video: Understanding Dust Properties
Now that you have the answers to the questions above, let's go through the the characteristics of some of the most common filter medias used throughout different industries such as asphalt, food manufacturing, and the chemicals industry.
Polyester
Polyester performs well under conditions that have a maximum operating temperature of 275 degrees Fahrenheit, and it's relative cost is far below other specialized medias such as Teflon and Fiberglass. This combination of low cost, wide availability, and excellent filtration properties make polyester the most common filter media used throughout different industries.
Teflon
Teflon (PTFE) is one of the most expensive medias on the market. The reason for this? It bears well when it comes to chemical and acid resistance, high temperatures, and moist heat. Depending on your application, Teflon w/ PTFE membrane filters can last twice as long as standard bags. Besides the longer bag life, the other benefits are; labor savings on costly change-outs, bags do not blind easily, and less consumption of compressed air resulting in less energy consumption.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is often used in baghouses that handle very high temperatures, up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, in continuous operation. You'll see Fiberglass media used in industries such as energy, cement/concrete/aggregates, and agriculture.
Aramid
Aramid, also known as Nomex, is another option used in high temperature operations. They are widely used because of their excellent resistance to abrasion and relatively high temperatures of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Aramid is usually used to filter dust at cement coolers, coal dryers, furnaces, and asphalt batch plants.
For more information on other media types in the dust collector industry (e.g. Ryton, P84, Acrylic, and Polypropylene) you can access our fabric characteristics chart.