GUIDE TO PROPERTIES OF SYNTHETIC FIBRES Using membranes like Ravensworths "Ravlex", or other surface additions, still makes it essential

to choose the right supporting fabric. This is because the fabric is exposed to the same temperatures, and to the same chemicals, which pass through it as gas, liquid or vapour. Choice of fabric is a specialist activity. This is particularly true in the case of hot gas filtration. If in doubt, please contact Ravensworth. The following information on needlefelts is plagiarised with permission of Andrew Textile Industries, for which our thanks. Please note that these are guidelines only - all aspects must be considered. Note: re. woven glasscloth. Woven glasscloth offers a different set of characteristics to synthetic fibres. In general, it is superior to all except PTFE fibres and Polyphenylene Sulphide (PPS), for hydrolysis and resistance to moist acidic air streams. It is superior to Polyphenylene Sulphide for oxidation resistance. Temperature resistance is limited by the treatments to 250 C continuous, which is as good as any of the synthetic fibres available, and this is without any softening or other change at this temperature. There are also different pretreatments for glasscloth, to suit the conditions On the other hand, glass is not completely resistant to hydrolysis. It still has chemical weaknesses (particularly in the case of fluorides) and it is relatively delicate, needing better quality filter cages and cautious cleaning. However, combined with Ravlex, it offers an interesting, and economically practical alternative to synthetic fibres. GUIDE TO FIBRE PROPERTIES GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Fibre (Generic Term) Typical Trade Name Colour Density G/CuCm Tenacity Cm/Tex Cont. Operating Temp DegC Max Operating Temp DegC Moisture Regain % Polyester Trevira White 1.38 60 150

170 0.4 Polypropylene White 0.91 50 90 100 0.1 Polyamide Nylon White 1.14 60 110 120 4 Polyaramid Nomex/Konex Cream 1.38 33 200 250 4 Acrylic (Homopolymer) Dolanit Cream 1.15 35 130 150 1 Polyphenylene Sulphide Ryton Light Brown 1.37 35 190 230 0.6 PTFE Teflon/ Toyoflon Dark Brown 2.3

18 250 260 0 Co-Polyimide P84 Gold 1.41 25 250 280 3

CHEMICAL RESISTANCE Fibre (Generic Term)

Strong Acids Weak Acids Strong Alkalis Weak Alkalis Solvents Oxidising Agents Hydrolysis
Polyester

*** *** * ** *** *** *

Polypropylene

**** **** **** **** **** *** ****

Polyamide

* *** *** *** *** *** **

Polyaramid

** ***

*** *** *** *** **

Acrylic (Homopolymer)

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Polyphenylene Sulphide

*** *** ** ** *** * ****

PTFE

**** **** **** **** **** **** ****

Co-Polyimide

*** *** * ** *** ** ***

*Poor **Fiar ***Good ****Very good Note: guideline only: see notes on introductory page Note: The above are trademarks of : "Trevira", "Dolanit": Hoechst. "Teflon", "Nomex": Du Pont. "Konex": Teijin. "Ryton": Amoco. "Toyoflon": Toray. "P84": Inspec.