Abstract:
A sintered metal fiber medium according to the present invention comprises metal fibers and a porous metal structure, which porous metal structure has two surfaces. The fibers are present on only one of the surfaces, providing, the fibers are present in at least part of the pores of the porous metal structure. A method for manufacturing a sintered metal fiber medium from metal fibers and a porous metal structure having a first surface and a second surface according to the present invention, comprises the steps of making a primary slurry comprising metal fibers, a solvent and a binding agent by mixing the metal fibers and the binding agent; applying the primary slurry on either the first surface or the second surface of the porous metal structure; solidifying the primary slurry by removing the solvent yielding a composite structure comprising the metal fibers, the binging agent and the porous metal structure; debinding the binging agent and sintering the composite structure.
Abstract:
A mass of metal fibers is disclosed. The metal fibers of the mass have a discrete length. The cross section of the metal fibers has two neighboring straight lined sides with an included angle of less than 90° and one or more irregularly shaped curved sides. The metal fibers of the mass have an average equivalent diameter of the fibers of less than 100 µm. The metal fibers of the mass have a standard deviation between fibers of the equivalent fiber diameter less than 25% of the equivalent fiber diameter.
Abstract:
A filter element according to the invention comprises a filter volume having an inflow side and an outflow side defining an average flow direction. The filter volume has an axis substantially parallel to the average flow direction and further comprising a casing delimiting the outer boundary of the filter volume in the direction of the average flow path. The casing is gas impermeable in radial direction. The filter volume is filled with a filter material comprising fibers, a majority of the fibers at least partially encircle the axis.