Improvement of Polytetrafluoroethylene Membrane High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filter Performance with Melt-Blown Media.

Euijin Shim,Yeonsang Kim,Jai-Joung Moon,Jeong-Phil Jang

doi:10.3390/polym13234067

Euijin Shim, Yeonsang Kim + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13234067

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Abstract

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane filters are widely used in low-load application areas, such as industrial cleanrooms, due to their low initial pressure drop. In this study, melt-blown (MB) nonwoven was introduced as a pre-filtration layer at the front end of a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to improve the filter performance of the PTFE membrane. Pre-filtration reduces the average particle size, which reaches the PTFE membrane and reduces the dust load on the HEPA filters. A comparative analysis of the HEPA filters by composite MB and PTFE was conducted. Regarding the MB composite on the PTFE, low-weight and high-weight MB composites were effective in increasing dust filtration efficiency, and the dust loading capacity of the PTFE composite with high-weight MB increased by approximately three times that of the PTFE membrane. In addition, the filter was installed on an external air conditioner in an actual use environment and showed a high efficiency of 99.984% without a change in differential pressure after 120 days.

Highlights

High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters have been used in various fields to maintain a clean air environment for industrial facilities, such as producing semiconductor and LCD panels, bio-pharmacies, and nuclear power plants [1,2,3]
Glass fibre has been applied to HEPA filter media
The porous membrane filter material refers to many small pores in the membrane matrix, such as the expanded PTFE membrane

Summary

Introduction

High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters have been used in various fields to maintain a clean air environment for industrial facilities, such as producing semiconductor and LCD panels, bio-pharmacies, and nuclear power plants [1,2,3]. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes used to remove particles in industries have recently been developed to have the same efficiency level as glass fibre. PTFE membranes exhibit excellent chemical resistance, thermal stability, and strong hydrophobicity owing to the strong C–C and C–F bonds. The combination of strong bonds, a protective sheath, and non-polarity makes PTFE thermally stable and inactive. These features are suitable for a variety of applications, such as fine dust filtration, exhaust gas treatment, and membrane distillation. PTFE, a microporous membrane, is a valuable air filter medium with a high filtration efficiency and flow velocity [5,6]. Owing to its low porosity, this type of material has low airflow and generally has an exceedingly high filtration effect but extremely high air resistance [7,8]

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