Microfibre or PTFE membrane, which filter bag should you use?
Both ultra-microfibre felts and PTFE membrane bags capture fine dust at the surface to cut emissions. The difference is airflow under heavy dust load: a membrane can blind and push up pressure drop, while a microfibre surface holds emissions at 5 mg/Nm³ or lower and keeps pressure drop low. Masturlal uses 13–15 µm ultra-microfibres instead of membranes for heavy-dust industries such as cement, steel and ferro-alloys.
Side-by-side
| Ultra-microfibre felt | PTFE membrane | |
|---|---|---|
| How fine dust is caught | Dense layer of 13–15 µm fibres in the felt surface | Thin expanded-PTFE film laminated to the felt |
| Emissions | ≤5 mg/Nm³ (Masturlal) | Very low |
| Pressure drop under heavy dust | Stays low; cake pulses off | Can rise if the membrane blinds |
| Resistance to abrasion | Fibres are part of the felt | Film can wear or crack |
| Originally designed for | Dust filtration | Air filtration |
| Best for | Heavy dust loads, cement, steel, metals | Light loads, sticky or very fine dust, product recovery |
When a membrane is the better choice
- Light dust loads where blinding is unlikely
- Product recovery where every gram counts
- Some sticky or oily dusts that cling to felt
When microfibre is the better choice
- Heavy dust loads
- Abrasive dust that wears a film
- Plants where fan power and pressure drop matter
- Tight emissions limits in cement, steel and metals
Questions, answered.
Do microfibre filter bags work as well as PTFE membranes?
For emissions under heavy dust load, Masturlal's microfibre felts reach 5 mg/Nm³ or lower while keeping pressure drop lower than a blinded membrane.
Why do PTFE membrane bags lose airflow?
Under heavy dust load, fine particles can block the membrane surface, so pressure drop rises and the fan has to work harder.
Are membrane bags more expensive?
Membrane lamination adds cost to the base felt, and blinding can add energy cost over the bag's life.
Send us your dust profile.
Temperature, chemistry, moisture, particle size and your emissions target. An application engineer replies within one working day, usually with a media specification within two.