Articles and methods involving filter media are generally provided. In certain embodiments, the filter media includes at least a first layer, a second layer, and an adhesive resin positioned between the first layer and the second layer. In some embodiments, the first layer may be a pre-filter layer or a support layer. The second layer may, for example, comprise fibers formed by a solution spinning process and/or may comprise fine fibers. In some embodiments, the adhesive resin may be present in a relatively low amount and/or may have a low glass transition temperature. The filter media as a whole may have one or more advantageous properties, including one or more of a high stiffness, a high bond strength between the first layer and the second layer, a high gamma, and/or a low increase in air resistance after being subjected to an IPA vapor discharge. The filter media may be, for example, a HEPA filter and/or an ULPA filter.

A washing apparatus for a 3D-printed article is provided for the removal of support material from the article. The apparatus includes a glove isolation cabinet with a liquid-discharging nozzle to enable an operator to spray an article with a washing liquid, and a drain. A first filter arrangement receives liquid discharged from the cabinet. The washing liquid drains through the first filter arrangement under the influence of gravity but the first filter arrangement is located in a trough in which washing liquid that has passed through the first filter arrangement accumulates whereby, in use, one or more filters of the first filter arrangement are submerged to ensure filtered-out residue remains submerged in the washing liquid. A pump is provided to pump liquid that has passed through the first filter arrangement through a second filter arrangement adapted to filter out solid material equal to or greater than 5 m in size.

A long-fiber nonwoven fabric includes fibers having a birefringence (n) of more than or equal to 0.005 and less than or equal to 0.020, a degree of crystallization of less than or equal to 25%, and an average fiber diameter of more than or equal to 30 m and less than or equal to 60 m, and has a basis weight amount of more than or equal to 50 g/m.sup.2 and less than or equal to 120 g/m.sup.2, and a folding angle after being pressed for 10 seconds under a pressure of 5.2 kPa at 80 C. of less than or equal to 15. Thus, the long-fiber nonwoven fabric has pleating property suitable for a filter reinforcement material, and also has rigidity that satisfies pleat shape retention property.

A washing apparatus for a 3D-printed article is provided for the removal of support material from the article. The apparatus includes a glove isolation cabinet with a liquid-discharging nozzle to enable an operator to spray an article with a washing liquid, and a drain. A first filter arrangement receives liquid discharged from the cabinet. The washing liquid drains through the first filter arrangement under the influence of gravity but the first filter arrangement is located in a trough in which washing liquid that has passed through the first filter arrangement accumulates whereby, in use, one or more filters of the first filter arrangement are submerged to ensure filtered-out residue remains submerged in the washing liquid. A pump is provided to pump liquid that has passed through the first filter arrangement through a second filter arrangement adapted to filter out solid material equal to or greater than 5 m in size.

A retaining material that can sufficiently maintain the function of retaining a pollution control element in a pollution control device at high temperature. In one aspect, the retaining material has a mat shape and contains inorganic fiber material, with the retaining material containing: a surface layer containing inorganic colloid particles; and an internal region positioned further to the inside than the surface layer, impregnated with inorganic colloid particles and organic binder; wherein the surface layer contains inorganic colloid particles at a higher concentration than the internal region; and the amount of inorganic colloid particles in the internal region is 1 mass % to 10 mass % based on the total mass of the retaining material.

A filter comprising a plurality of metal fibers having a non-round cross section, in particular a rectangular, quadric, partial circular or an elliptical cross section, with the cross section comprising a large axis and a small axis, wherein a ratio of the small axis to the large axis lies in the range of 0.99 to 0.05. The invention further relates to a treatment method for metal fibers comprising an elliptical or rectangular cross section, both having a large axis and a small axis, wherein a ratio of a length of the small axis to a length of the large axis is smaller than 1, preferably smaller than 0.5, wherein the treatment method comprises the step of heating the fibers (10) in an oven to a temperature value in C. between 70 and 95% of the melting temperature in C., such that the ratio of the length of the small axis (D2) to the length of the large axis (D1) increases, preferably to the range of 0.05 to 0.99, wherein the metal fibers (10) are at least a part of a filter according to the invention.

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of woven filtration fabrics that include core-sheath spun yarns in either or both of the warp and weft directions.

A cloth structure includes a first weaving layer, a second weaving layer interwoven with the first weaving layer, an intermediate connecting layer located between the first weaving layer and the second weaving layer, and a sun protection layer applied on the first weaving layer. The cloth structure presents a single-cloth fabric. The sun protection layer covers pores of the first weaving layer and forms a first protection layer to filter the smog. The first weaving layer is formed with inverted V-shaped cloth patterns, so that the first weaving layer forms a second protection layer to filter the smog. The intermediate connecting layer forms a third protection layer to filter the smog. The second weaving layer obstructs the thread openings of the first weaving layer and forms a fourth protection layer to filter the smog.

A retaining material that can sufficiently maintain the function of retaining a pollution control element in a pollution control device at high temperature. In one aspect, the retaining material has a mat shape and contains inorganic fiber material, with the retaining material containing: a surface layer containing inorganic colloid particles; and an internal region positioned further to the inside than the surface layer, impregnated with inorganic colloid particles and organic binder; wherein the surface layer contains inorganic colloid particles at a higher concentration than the internal region; and the amount of inorganic colloid particles in the internal region is 1 mass % to 10 mass % based on the total mass of the retaining material.

The present invention relates to a sheet material and filter element, where the sheet material and the filter element have a hydrophobic separating layer, and also to use thereof and to a process for production of same.