NEWS

Company news

Ceramic filter plate using white fused alumina 240#

Ceramic filter plate using white fused alumina 240#

A ceramic filter plate is a porous, rigid disc or panel used to separate solids from liquids (or gases) via surface filtration and depth filtration. The liquid passes through the microscopic pores, while solid particles are trapped on the surface or within the pore structure.
The key component giving the plate its filtering characteristics is the filter media—in this case, grains of white fused alumina.

1. The Role of White Fused Alumina 240#

  • Function:​ It acts as the sintered aggregate​ that forms the rigid, porous structure of the filter plate. The alumina grains are bonded together at their points of contact, creating a network of interconnected pores.
  • Grit Size (240#):​ This is a critical specification.
    • “240”​ refers to the U.S. Standard grit size. It indicates the average particle diameter of the alumina grains.
    • A 240# grit is a fine abrasive, with an average particle size of approximately 44.5 microns (µm).
    • This fine size directly determines the filtration rating​ of the final plate. A plate made with 240# alumina will typically be capable of filtering out particles in the range of 20-40 microns​ or even smaller, depending on the manufacturing process and binder system.

2. Why Choose White Fused Aluminum Oxide?

White fused alumina (WFA) is a premium material made by fusing high-purity alumina (Al₂O₃) in an electric arc furnace. It is an excellent choice for filter plates due to its properties:
Property
Why it’s Important for a Filter Plate
High Hardness (9.0 on Mohs scale)
Provides exceptional wear resistance​ and abrasion resistance. The plate maintains its pore structure and does not degrade when filtering slurries with hard particles. It has a long service life.
Chemical Inertness
Highly resistant to acids and alkalis (except for strong hydrofluoric and phosphoric acids at high temperatures). It will not contaminate the filtered liquid and is suitable for aggressive chemical environments.
High Purity (>99% Al₂O₃)
The “white” grade is purer than brown fused alumina. This minimizes the leaching of impurities (like iron oxide) into the filtrate, which is critical for applications in pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and electronics.
Controlled Particle Size
The grains are precisely graded (240#), allowing for the manufacture of filter plates with a consistent and predictable pore size distribution.
High Temperature Resistance
Can withstand temperatures well over 1000°C, allowing for steam sterilization (SIP – Steam In Place) and use in high-temperature processes.

3. Key Characteristics of the Final Filter Plate

  • Fineness of Filtration:​ Effective for removing fine particles down to the low-micron range.
  • High Permeability/Flow Rate:​ The interconnected pore structure allows for a good flow rate of the liquid (filtrate) under pressure.
  • Easy Cake Discharge:​ The rigid surface allows the filtered solid cake to be easily removed by scraping or reverse blowing.
  • Mechanical Strength:​ High compressive strength, resistant to cracking.

4. Common Applications

Filter plates made with 240# WFA are used in demanding industries where chemical purity, abrasion resistance, and fine filtration are required:
  • Pharmaceutical Industry:​ Clarification and sterile filtration of process liquids.
  • Food & Beverage:​ Fining of wines, beers, juices, and edible oils.
  • Chemical Industry:​ Catalyst recovery, purification of aggressive chemicals, and filtration of corrosive slurries.
  • Metalworking:​ Coolant filtration and recovery of grinding swarf.
  • Water & Wastewater:​ Final polishing filtration for ultrapure water.

Summary

Using 240# white fused alumina​ as the base material results in a high-performance, durable, and chemically inert ceramic filter plate ideal for fine filtration​ in harsh and high-purity environments. Its primary advantages are its exceptional wear resistance, chemical stability, and ability to be regenerated for repeated use.

Send your message to us:

Scroll to Top