The requirements to remove smaller and smaller particulates from advanced fluid filtration systems grow larger and larger by the day.
Fluid Conditioning is the process by which particulates are removed from fluid in a system. Damage happens when key filtration points are ignored. It is the job of the filter to remove these particles from the flow to help prevent premature component wear and system failure. As the sophistication of systems increases, the need for reliable filtration protection becomes ever more critical.
Chemical metal etching is a subtractive manufacturing process that uses baths of temperature-regulated chemicals to remove metal for fine feature creation. Reel-to-reel chemical etching is a highly controlled, high-volume process that delivers consistency, repeatability and cost effective production.
Chemically etched screens are superior to steel wool and wire mesh because they are capable of filtering out much smaller particulates. Etched screens will not fray, open or distort. In addition, the chemical etching process allows for a variety of mesh opening sizes as well as unique hole shapes, such as round, square and hexagonal holes. This enables designers to use whichever feature works best to meet the specific filtration requirement.
When designing a filter screen, the key considerations that must be addressed are: 1) Particulate Size, 2) Liquid Flow, and 3) Material Thickness:
The particulate size and the liquid flow pressure together determine the material strength required for the filter. The strength is reflected in the thickness and temper of the material used.
Advanced chemical etching processes are already being used extensively to create filters for a variety of demanding applications in automotive, aerospace and medical industries. Now chemical etch processes are also being applied for many new filtration requirements in the appliance industry to implement water-saving environmentally-responsible features.
To achieve these critical objectives with consistency, high-repeatability and cost-effective production, reel-to-reel chemical etching is the only process that offers a solution for today’s requirements.
Our new Tech Bulletin provides an overview of emerging fluid conditioning requirements and details how chemical metal etching enables the creation of fine-mesh, high-strength filters with the desired features. It includes key engineering approaches and design examples.
