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Company insight > Filters & fuid control

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Are you looking for microfiltration membrane

laminate technology that can improve the

performance and reliability of your sensitive

medical devices? Aspire microfiltration membranes from

GE are some of the top-performing membrane laminates

available today. The difference: GEs patented material

enhancement and layering, which go through rigorous

testing, enable Aspire membrane laminates to optimally

vent air and gases while preventing oils and particulates

from passing through.

Aspire membranes are made from treated expanded

polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), a 3D air permeable

and oleophobic web-like structure with millions of

microscopic pores. The microporous membrane is then

laminated to one or more substrate layers to further

enhance the membranes inherent air permeability and

oleophobic properties. The result of this multi-layer

membrane design is consistent and effective oil

repellency, airflow and particulate retention on the

membranes surface.

Aspires 3D web-like structure contains millions of

tortuous path microscopic pores, allowing air and gases

to pass through easily while liquids and particulates as

small as 0.1 collect on the membranes outer surface.

Because of the membranes inherent fluid resistance

and non-stick nature, captured liquids and particulates

can be easily removed from the membranes surface

through cleaning-in-place techniques, such as direct

water or air spray.

GEs patented Direct Venting technology allows

millions of pores to vent at their full potential while still

improving the membranes ability to resist wetting by

most fluids. Advanced processes and computer-

controlled equipment manage manufacturing variables

such as pore size, pore distribution and membrane

thickness all contributing to the membranes efficiency

and effectiveness.

Working continually to expand the boundaries, GEs

latest multi-layer membrane design blocks contaminants

as small as 0.05 while providing improved water entry

pressure performance and higher bubble points. The

results? Consistent retention, flow and protection against

fluid ingress through the membrane (see Table 1).

Rigorous testing

GE understands the value of rigorous testing to ensure

the high performance customers expect. As well as

providing a barrier to liquid and membrane contaminants

the company understands protective vents also need to

allow air to pass through easily, relieving the pressure

build-up associated with changing temperatures and

environmental conditions. Thats why it ensures its

filtration solutions meet or exceed industry standards.

Membrane testing methodology measures airflow

through the membrane and the membranes ability to

repel different types of fluids at different surface

tensions. The industry uses the AATCC 118 test to

determine the ability of the membrane to retain its

breathability as it comes into contact with fluids.

Steing the fowWith 40 years experience in ltration, GE helps improve operating perormance andequipment reliability. Global product manager Christopher Keller reveals how the

companys microltration media and venting membrane solutions help protect sensitiveequipment and packaging rom contaminants while allowing the ree fow o vapours.

The GE products lowed aboutthree or our times greater thanother products. Normally in thatcase youd see a degradation inthe repel characteristics.

GEs patented Direct Venting technology allow millions o pores to ventat their ull potential while still improving the membranes ability to resistwetting by most fuids.

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Company insight > Filters & fuid control

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Test fluids are rated from one to eight, in increasing

levels of dif ficulty. Water, which is the easiest flui d to

repel, ranks as a one, and oil, the most difficult fluid

to repel, ranks as an eight.

Many membranes used today may rate a value of six

using this test, and the substrates, the layer to which the

membrane is applied, may rate a value of three. GEs

Aspire medical venting products have overcome this

challenge. Its oleophobic grade-eight technology is rated

a value of eight on both the membrane and the substrate

sides of the laminate.

In addition to its advanced technology, GE can tailor

its membranes chemistry and physical characteristics to

provide the right solution for clients application, helping

them differentiate medical products in the marketplace.

Furthermore, GEs microfiltration and venting membrane

laminates can be easily integrated into a wide range of

product designs, offering the economic or environmental

benefits customers need. Its new 0.05 product can repel

even the most difficult fluids after they have been treated

with GEs patented technology, thereby improving the

membranes ability to repel the complex solutions used

in todays medical devices.

Real world results

The new product helped LTI Atlanta, a speciality

manufacturer focusing on critical customer requirements

for high performance components and materials. GE used

a new chemistry technique that modifies the way the

oleo-phobic treatment is applied to its ePTFE film,

reducing VOC air emissions. It used supercritical carbon

dioxide (CO2) as a vehicle for applying GEs proprietary

oleo-phobic treatment to the ePTFE nodes and fibrals.

That maintained the inherent open pore structure of

the ePTFE film giving it the equivalent or higher air

permeability than other technologies as well as the

performance-resistant specifications to guard against oil

contamination. The result is that LTI Atlanta reported

operating costs savings as high as 50% for their

customers that need venting solutions.

In our experience, the GE products flowed about three

or four times greater than the other products weve

used, says LTI Atlanta president Brian Tapp. Normally,

when you see that you see a degradation in the repel

characteristics. Whats unique about the GE product is

that not only have you got the high air flow rate, but

youve also got the oleophobic eight, so youre going to

repel even the most difficult fluids. Thats ultra-critical in

todays game.

A personalised service

Aspire technology can also be tailored for use by

companies that produce IV vents and colostomy bags,

as well as biotech companies that produce enzymes

and different proteins using biopharm reactors. GEs

advanced ePTFE is an air permeable, hydrophobic, micro-

porous membrane. It removes particles through size

exclusion based on the size of the pores. Bacteria

either in air or aerosol form cannot pass through the

membrane using the same mechanism as it would for

a particle, such as dust. In addition, GEs membranes

are stable in most standard sterilising processes,

including autoclave.

GE can quickly and easily work with customers to

improve the performance of their filtration and increase

the longevity of their equipment. It will put its four

decades of experience to work for each customer, tailoring

a filtration solution while allowing them to stay focused

on their clients and not the filtration system. And thats

not just any promise: its the promise of something better.

About GE

GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media

company built to meet essential world needs. From energy,

water, transportation and health, to access to money and

information, GE serves customers in over 100 countries and

employs more than 300,000 people worldwide.

GE serves the energy sector by developing and deploying

technology that helps make efficient use of natural

resources. With 60,000 global employees and 2009 revenues

of $37 billion, GE Energy is one of the leading suppliers of

power generation and energy delivery technologies. Its

businesses GE Power & Water, GE Energy Services and GE

Oil & Gas work together to provide integrated product and

service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including

coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear, as well as renewable

resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other

alternative fuels.

Further inorationGE

www.ge-energy.com/membrane

Email: christopher.keller@ge.comTel: +1 816 313 4783

Whats unique about the GEproduct is you have the high air low

rate and the oleophobic eight,so you can repel even the mostdiicult luids. Thats ultra-critical.

Table 1. Key perorance characteristics coparison

Water entrypressure

Bubble point Oil rating

Standard product 150psi 40psi 1

New multilayered 180psi 47 8

Source: GE