Traceable to the days of the ancient Egyptians, woven wire mesh is one of the most versatile materials used today. From screening unwanted debris from molten plastics to preventing sparks from causing fires, the list of woven wire mesh applications is virtually endless.
But like most industries, the woven wire mesh industry has leaned on innovation in recent years to expand into markets that may not have benefited from the product initially. As a result, we have seen wire mesh products like POROSTAR and PLYMESH emerge.
But what exactly are POROSTAR® and PLYMESH, and how do the two compare?
W.S. Tyler has been a leader in innovation within the wire mesh industry for over 150 years. We strive to help our customer gain confidence in their wire mesh so they can spend more time focusing on other aspects of their operation.
With that, this article was written to help establish whether POROSTAR or PLYMESH will best suit your operation. It will cover:
- The definition of POROSTAR
- The benefits of using POROSTAR
- The definition of PLYMESH
- The benefits of PLYMESH
- Picking the right wire mesh variant
What Is POROSTAR?
POROSTAR is a woven wire mesh laminate comprised of multiple mesh layers sinter-bonded together to create a homogenous plate of filter media. This allows you to create a very fine pore size, down to two microns, in whatever required alloy.
As a result, the rigidity and strength needed to handle abrasive particles or high pressure is achieved.
What Are the Benefits of POROSTAR?
A key benefit of POROSTAR is that the media can be tailored to your specific needs. For example, it allows users to form wire mesh components in ways that single-layer media of a fine cut point can’t.
Having said this, there are parameters that POROSTAR must exist within; however, it can be fabricated to various configurations. This includes different layer amounts, different alloys, and different weave types.
This helps ensure POROSTAR can fit most filtration applications.
What Is PLYMESH?
PLYMESH is a woven wire mesh laminate comprised of multiple layers of woven wire mesh which is calendared together. This allows for a strong filter media that features a small precise of separation between layers, which helps with specific applications.
Specifically, PLYMESH is designed to provide fluidization and optimal filtration when working within a particle size range of 5 to 500 micrometers.
What Are the Benefits of PLYMESH?
As PLYMESH goes through a specialized calendaring process, it is known for its extremely smooth, protective surface. This helps protect the PLYMESH from abrasive particles or from having particles gather in the outermost layer of the filter media.
Additionally, PLYMESH is available in a standard range of configurations. This makes selecting a suitable PLYMESH solution a seamless process.
The configurations of PLYMESH are as follows:
- 3-ply 71-10
- 3-ply 40-60
- 6-ply 12-30
To that end, this doesn’t preclude any further development of Plymesh configurations. If an application calls for the use of PLYMESH and none of the available configurations were effective, there certainly could be the development of a new media.
Should I Use POROSTAR or PLYMESH?
Both Plymesh and Porostar are constructed of multiple layers of woven wire mesh, either designed with filtration layers protected by more stout and coarse layers of mesh or multiple layers of filtration filter cloth combined to create a smaller pore size or cut point. The major difference is in the construction.
That said, determining the best media for the application would be dependent on the material being filtered, the operational parameters, and the filter construction. There’s no one size fits all solution to filtration needs, so open conversation, product/process development, and exploration of all options to determine the best fit for a media solution are all very important.
Know What To Expect When Reaching Out
POROSTAR is a multi-layer wire mesh laminate sintered bonded together designed to provide optimal filtration. In contrast, PLYMESH is a multi-layer wire mesh laminate calendared together that is designed to provide fluidization properties.
Regardless of which of the two makes more sense, it is crucial that you understand what to exact when reaching out and purchasing wire mesh solutions. This will ensure you have all the logistics worked out, preventing any unexpected downtime.
For over 150 years, W.S. Tyler has been a prominent leader in the wire mesh industry. Throughout the years, we strived to help customers leverage woven wire mesh to innovate the way do things and build their confidence in their ability to produce quality products.
To learn what you can expect when incurring about either POROSTAR or PLYMESH, read the following article: