Nanofibers
U.S. NEWS
IN
FABRIC FILTRATION
HIGHLIGHTS
• INTERNATIONAL FILTRATION CONFERENCE
• DONALDSON NANOFIBER SURPRISE
• NEWS IN BRIEF
• FILTREX 2006 Volume 23, No. 3
August 2005
Published by:
FILTER MEDIA CONSULTING, INC.
5TH INTERNATIONAL FILTRATION CONFERENCE*
FILTER MEDIA CONSULTING, INC. in close co-operation with NIKKAN KOGYO SHIMBUN -
a leading industrial Japanese newspaper - will organize the 5th International
Filtration Conference in Osaka/Japan in November 2006. This major 2 day event
will concentrate on the latest filtration technology with several papers on
Nanofiber filter media, HVAC and synthetic HEPA media developments, and new
fibers. And on the second day will again address the huge market for
incineration. With more than 1200 baghouse installations, Japan is by far the
largest baghouse incineration market in the world. High temperature filtration
is never discussed more thoroughly than at our conferences (1995, 1997, 2000,
2003).
*FILTER MEDIA CONSULTING INC. IS QUITE POSSIBLY THE LARGEST
ORGANIZER OF INTERNATIONAL FILTRATION CONFERENCES WORLDWIDE.
DONALDSON NANOFIBER
DONALDSON developed a nanofiber 25 years ago but never called it "nanofiber"
rather referring to it as Ultra-Web® and manufactured and used it first for
numerous but mainly industrial filtration application.
Via the internet, the medical community came across this 'phenomenal structure'
and a brand new application was born. Reported first in the 'Star Tribune' the
Donaldson nanofiber is now evaluated as a "synthetic extra-cellular matrix" for
cell growth in animals and for drug research promising unbelievable potential.
The tiny fibers do mimic the cellular matrix, allowing a 'controlled' cell
growth but at least 5 more years are needed in several interesting completely
new fields. Although this is out-site "pure" filtration, at least it started,
when a company took a well proven technology and offered it to a new scientific
field with maybe more potential than in its original application.
This is a reminder that DONALDSON COMPANY offers Ultra-Web® for dust collection,
Spider-Web® filters for gas turbine filtration and Endurance® air filters for
heavy-duty engines.
NTI NONWOVEN TECHNOLOGY OFFERS NANOFIBER
NTI claims to have made a major breakthrough, namely a process to make less
costly and large quantities of meltblown nanofiber. The company reports to have
a first licensing agreement with a major media manufacturer, but still feels
challenged, whereby its invention focuses on meltblown technology with 2 patents
and additional patents pending.
HOLLINGSWORTH & VOSE OFFER NANOFIBRE FOR AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
The company received the 2004 Hessen Innovation Award for its nanofiber
composite called Nanoweb®. This new material addresses the new stricter emission
limits of the EU during the next few years. Recently H&V has been able to
produce filters with an average fiber diameter of 200 nanometer or smaller based
on their 'electrospinning' process. H&V says that their process was improved
when compared to other currently know methods. Details: www.hovo.com
Nanofibers 0.5nm - 10 nm available
A manufacturer of nanofiber yarn for PP string wound cartridges claims to have a
monthly capacity of 300 tons for such material. We are curious if this is of any
interest to current manufacturers of such disposable liquid cartridges.
CombiFil® Nano
JOHNS MANVILLE introduced a new Polyester Spunbond nonwoven with a
three-dimensional structured surface, high tensile strength and small controlled
pore size. This pleatable new material offers excellent cleanability and other
cost benefits.
NanoMelt™ SYNTHETIC MEDIA
HOLLINGSWORTH & VOSE introduced NanoMelt™ synthetic media for HVAC pocket
filters. It is the result of a long term development program at H&V to develop
submicron synthetic filter media.
Aramel® a new meta-aramid fiber for high temperature filtration
At the TECHTEXTIL in Frankfurt/Germany, we have learned, that a new meta-aramid
fiber is available in Europe exclusively from R-STAT in France. Such fiber is
currently in great demand because of shortages of the 2 major suppliers of such
fiber.
AIRRIGHT FILTER
USA TODAY reported on June 24, 2005 that a new filter can be attached to the air
vent over a seat in an airplane. It is supposed to "remove 95.5% of bacteria and
viruses from the passenger's personal air space". A study for the EUROPEAN UNION
found "that air in pressurized cabins is cleaner than that in most public
settings". We believe that all modern aircraft already have air filters; neither
may protect you from the guy with a cold or influenza sitting next to you. Take
out a face mask that is probably more effective.
YEUMIFLON®
A brand new PTFE fiber was introduced at TECHTEXIL in Frankfurt/Germany by YEU
MING TAI CHEMICAL INDUSTRIAL CO. LTD. in Taiwan R.O.C. The company offers an
ePTFE membrane, staple fiber and also sewing thread. They are on the market for
about 5 years but this was their first visit to a major European exhibition. The
new staple fiber was first offered last year.
3 M COMPANY DIVES INTO LIQUID FILTRATION
WITH BID FOR CUNO
The filtration community used to see large US companies to make major FILTRATION
ACQUISITIONS is now learning from annother surprising move. The 3M COMPANY -
known for their successful penetration of the residential air filtration market
and other activity based on their meltblown and composite filter media - must
feel strong about the potential of CUNO, a well established filtration company,
mainly known for their disposable liquid cartridges for hundred of applications.
This acquisition would benefit both companies and very nicely fit the current 3M
COMPANY offerings. 3M is one of the most successful consumer marketing companies
and has numerous times penetrated an existing market with a "premium" product
and a new "high end" - high profit approach. We predict 3M will further go after
the consumer segment including filters for tap water, showers, refrigerators and
other appliance consumer filters.
FLEETGUARD OFFERS NEW AIR-INTAKE FILTERS
Due to smaller engine departments, FLEETGUARD developed a new line of patented
air-intake technology called OptiAir™ systems. Properties include: longer filter
life to extend service intervals, lower system restrictions to provide maximum
engine performance, reduced maintenance time to increase vehicle uptime,
integrated pre-cleaner to help extend life all together delivering a smaller
air-intake package for Tier 3 engine applications.
MANN+HUMMEL DEVELOPED NEW FUEL PRE-FILTER
This two-stage system increases water separation by more than 50% within the
same installation space and the same service life. Modern diesel systems demand
increasingly efficient fuel filtration and water separation to protect the
engine. More than 50% of all sold passenger cars in Europe are now diesel
powered, even in the US numerous new platforms are being introduced with a
diesel engine - with gasoline prices beyond $2.50/gallon - a development which
will significantly increase.
FAA WILL SUPPORT CABIN ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH
DONALDSON is partnering with the US FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRAT. (FAA) and
aerospace equipment manufacturers and leading American universities to improve
airline cabin air quality. DONALDSON will serve as an industrial partner in the
FAA's Air Transportation Center of Excellence for Airliner Cabin Environment
Research. Through the center, members will coordinate research and development
efforts over the next 3 years. The FAA will contribute $1 million to the center
the first year and $ 500,000 each for the second and third years, is reported by
DONALDSON.
INDA FILTRATION EVENT IN NOVEMBER 2005
Since 1994, INDA organizes the largest International Filtration event, this year
again in Chicago. The dates are November 15 - 17, 2005 at the NAVY PIER
Conference Center. INDA expects possibly 150 exhibitors and as many as 2000
attendees. This is the major event not only in North America but, strictly
speaking, worldwide. We are proudly associated with INDA for the last 15 years.
We highly recommend attendance.
FILTREX 2006
EDANA has issued a call for papers for the 2ND FILTREX CONFERENCE AND
EXHIBITION, taking place October 24 - 25, 2006 at the ARABELLA SHERATON HOTEL in
Munich/Germany. EDANA is looking for high level papers for latest filter media
developments in automotive, air, liquid and specialty filtration. Short
abstracts should be sent to EDANA. More details from: www.edana.org