|
Product Functions
The components of Filtrona Porous Technologies deliver an array of functionality to a variety of market applications. Our business is best measured and segmented by the degree of functionality we bring to customers. The flexibility and development potential of each core functionality of Filtrona Porous Technologies components gives customers the freedom to design new and next generation products requiring precise liquid management performance.
Filtrona Porous Technologies is not limited to specific market applications or actual product segments. Rather, due to the adaptable nature of the fiber and foam components and the ability to combine multiple functions within a single component, either our bonded fiber products or foam technology products can help bring concepts to reality across any area of application demanding precise liquid functionality at increasingly smaller scales.
Here are the core functions the products of Filtrona Porous Technologies perform.
Retention or storage with controlled release
Filtrona Porous Technologies designs bonded fiber products to hold or contain a specific volume of liquid and permit its release in a controlled manner by modifying the capillary or cascading differential pressure of the liquid. Filtrona Porous Technologies bonded fiber components are highly adaptable to meet fluid retention and transfer challenges. The composition of the fiber substrate as well as the nature of the fiber matrix – including the type of fiber, fiber diameter, number of fibers, component density, and porosity – can be modified to optimize fluid capture, retention, and then release.
Areas of application: 
-
writing instrument reservoir
-
inkjet printer cartridge media
-
stamp pads
-
household product cleaning tool device components
-
medicinal drug delivery devices
-
cosmetic markers or personal care applicators
-
liquid deodorant reservoirs
-
insecticide hold-and-release components
View Product Demo
Absorption
Absorption refers to the uptake of a substance, a taking in, with the intent to hold and not leak, overflow, or spill. Filtrona Porous Technologies' bonded fiber components are highly adaptable to meet functionally precise fluid absorption and leak resistance challenges. The composition of the fiber substrate as well as the nature of the fiber matrix – including the type of fiber, fiber diameter, number of fibers, component density, porosity, and pore structure – can be modified to optimize fluid absorption, retention, and leak resistance.
Filtrona Porous Technologies' components typically are designed with void volume targets ranging from 40 to 90 percent and with high capillarity to enhance liquid transfer and maximize absorptive capacity. Liquids may be absorbed into the substrate pore structure, or adsorbed into the molecular substance of the fiber strands themselves.
The term adsorption is often used to describe similar absorptive functionality, but it more properly refers to the attraction and adhesion of a liquid or  vapor to a fiber surface, in many cases gaseous substances. Filtrona Porous Technologies' components refer to this term when used in odor adsorption and odor control applications, often using impregnated activated carbon or other adsorbents.
Areas of application:
- medical diagnostic assays waste reservoir components
- wound care treatment
- lateral flow absorption pads
- printer waste and ink cleaning components
- odor removal
View Product Demo
Collection
Collection is a form of absorption whereby Filtrona components capture liquid with the intent to release or transfer substances collected for specific reasons. Our products may contain fiber finish on the fibers themselves to enhance collection and subsequent transfer performance. Often Filtrona customizes the polymers and surfactant finishes to tailor the hydrophilicity or oleophilicility of the substrate while avoiding selective binding. Filtrona Porous Technologies components will therefore release the targeted analytes within the sample substances collected as desired.
Areas of application:
View Product Demo
Filtration
Filtration refers to the act of mechanically dividing a mixture of solids and fluids. Depending on the application, the solid, the fluid, or both may be isolated. Because Filtrona Porous Technologies specializes in 3D component structures, for traditional filtration markets our filters are typically classified as depth filters, meaning they are net shaped, or formed "as is," and do not require conversion or pleating. The elimination of pleating is a major cost saver for customers. In medical applications, depth offers scope and structure that competing membrane technologies often do not match.
The composition of the fiber substrate as well as the nature of the fiber matrix – including type of fiber, fiber diameter, number of fibers, component density and porosity, and surfactant finish or overlay – can be modified to optimize specific filtration characteristics, such as targeted bonding or the evasion of nonspecific binding.
For the Fiber Technology group, the three-dimensional fiber character and uniform, tortuous path complexity inhibit clogging, pore obstruction, and for some medical applications, cell lysis. Depth can provide volume, capacity, longevity, and the ability to overcome two-way flow contamination. Chemical modifiers may be added to or impregnated within the structure to further activate or customize the filter media’s efficiency; binding characteristics or other surface energy modification are possible using Filtrona Porous Technologies bonded fiber components as the target media. These methods can be used to produce selective-capture filtration components. Target particle ranges can be as low as 1 to 5 microns for most applications.
 Areas of application:
- aerosol barrier filtration for pipette tips
- heating oil filtration
- blood filtration (plasma from red blood cells)
- urine and saliva sample debris filtration
- niche water filtration markets
View Product Demo
Functional Separation
Functional separation, including coalescence, refers to the ability to partition a liquid mixture into its component parts. Filtrona Porous Technologies creates functional components to separate liquid materials from one another; for example, oil and water found within a specific liquid application. Surface energy modification may be included to further customize the separation functionality. As always, with Fiber Technology products, the composition of the fiber substrate as well as the nature of the fiber matrix – including the type of polymer and fiber, fiber diameter, number of fibers, component density and porosity, and surfactant finish or alteration – can be modified to optimize functional separation. 
Areas of application:
-
fluid sample preparation and purification; the DNA/RNA purification market; protein separation
-
functional fluid separation in medical and automotive applications
-
diesel engine crank case coalescing media
- fuel & water separation media
View Product Demo
Wicking or liquid transfer
Fluid transfer, or wicking, is the process by which a liquid is transported from one point to another across a medium using capillary forces. Filtrona Porous Technologies modifies and customizes the capillary behavior of its fiber substrates as well as the nature of the fiber matrix – including the type of fiber, fiber diameter, number of fibers, component density and porosity, and surfactant finish or overlay – in order to optimize fluid transfer.
An example of this functionality occurs within lateral flow diagnostics devices, such as a consumer pregnancy test. The pace and length of the liquid transfer, as well as the volume of fluid, can all be controlled by the fiber type, size, and density, porosity, and holding capacity.
In some instances, Filtrona engineers and adjoins two different components to achieve selective fluid transfer – for example, adjoining a high capillary component to a low capillary one to meter the necessities of a product’s selective wicking moments.
Areas of application:
-
bodily fluid transfer in medical diagnostic applications
-
lateral flow assays -- precision fluid transfer with chemical activation or visual Identification
-
ink fluid transfer within inkjet cartridges
View Product Demo
Repellency
Repellency, or the repulsion of liquid, refers to several functions and possible areas of application. The first is the process of keeping a liquid at bay or away from a specific part of a device. One application is a writing instrument end plug, so that upon change in atmospheric pressure and resulting ink expansion, the ink does not overflow. Another reference is to the actual physical process occurring during separation, whereby Filtrona engineers a component to be –phobic to one liquid substance but –philic to another. In essence, Filtrona media is repelling one liquid and absorbing another, for a specific purpose. The third area of reference for repulsion can be an application of displacement, whereby the surface of a Fiber Technology component is -philic and the core is -phobic to a particular fluid substance. Upon insertion into a specific container of the liquid, the Fiber Technology component repels and thereby displaces the liquid, maximizing surface area absorption. This functional reference has been applied in household product markets.
To achieve repulsion, hydrophobic components can be supplied using polyester and polyolefin fibers that have been specially treated to critical surface energies. Fiber density and porosity can be adjusted in these types of components to affect air or gas flow rate or to affect the pressure required to allow or prohibit liquid intrusion into or through the components.
Areas of application:
-
specialty filtration oil coalescing, fuel/water separation
-
liquid containment under pressure – writing instrument end caps
-
liquid displacing components – air freshener wicks
View Product Demo
Evaporation
Evaporation refers to liquid-to-vapor phase transfer. Filtrona Porous Technologies controls the vapor phase transfer rate of specific liquids. A current application is Filtrona Porous Technologies Transorb® air freshener wicking media, which controls the emission of fragrance into the atmosphere. Filtrona Porous Technologies controls the evaporation or vapor phase transfer rate by manipulating the fiber composition and density of the wick or reservoir, so that (1) the proper quantity of vapor or fragrance is emitted into the air, and (2) the liquid vapor or fragrance is airborne suspended or endures the requisite time demanded by the customer or application.
Areas of application:![]( "Air Freshener")
- liquid air freshener wicks
- insect repellent wicks
View Product Demo
|
