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Polymer or plastic filtration

Filtration of Extruded Polymers and Plastics: Process Reliability and Quality with GKD Metal Meshes

The quality of polymer‑based products or raw materials depends significantly on the purity of the melt after the extrusion process. Contaminants such as foreign particles, agglomerates, gels, or thermally degraded residues impair the product’s structure and appearance.

Melt filtration is therefore a key process step in polymer processing and plastic recycling. With metallic filter meshes from GKD, operators ensure consistently high melt purity and product quality, while extending filter service life through the appropriate selection of filter media.

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Challenges in practice

During extrusion and compounding, undissolved polymer residues, agglomerates, or foreign substances can occur. Without effective filtration, these contaminants enter the final product or system components, causing significant quality issues or reduced system service life. In plastic recycling in particular, fluctuating material streams further increase the demands on the filtration process.

Operators require filter media that, in addition to retaining hard particles, also reliably reduce gels. At the same time, differential pressures should remain as low as possible, and the media must allow efficient backflushing in the respective filtration systems.

Solutions from GKD

GKD supplies a comprehensive portfolio of filter media, filter discs and elements, as well as filter belts for the polymer industry. The meshes are designed for separation fineness levels ranging from just a few micrometers up to the millimeter scale.

Filter discs made of stainless steel wire mesh, available in single- or multi‑layer configurations
Stamped parts from 2 mm diameter and complex geometries are possible
Highest cleanliness ensured through repeatedly cleaned mesh materials
Optimized twilled meshes for fine filtration and gel reduction
Screen cylinders and filter candles for continuous extrusion processes
Screens for all common screen changers

Technical features

Materials: Stainless steel and special alloys for standard polymers and fluoropolymers
Mesh sizes / pore sizes: From 6 μm to 500 μm, depending on the application
Construction: Single‑ to multi‑layer meshes, optionally sintered
Geometries: Filter discs from 2 mm upwards, screen cylinders, filter belts up to 36 m in length for belt screen changers

Benefits for operators

Product quality: Ensures consistent product quality through precise filtration and efficient gel reduction
Cost efficiency: Extended service life, reduced maintenance effort, and lower operating costs
Flexibility: Customized filter solutions for extrusion and recycling

Typical application areas

Extrusion and compounding of polymers
Filtration in screen changers for film, sheet, and profile production
Spinneret filtration in fiber manufacturing
Filtration of recyclates in plastic recycling plants
Removal of agglomerates in granulates and masterbatch

Your next step

Optimize your polymer processes with filter solutions from GKD. Our experts provide individualized consulting and develop filter elements that enhance your process reliability and ensure consistent product quality. Contact us for technical advice and a tailored quotation.