Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more on what Sterlitech Corporation has to offer. Find answers to your questions about our filtration products here!
Polyester Track-Etch (PETE) FAQ
What are the advantages of PETE membrane filters?
Will Sterlitech polyester tract-etch (PETE) or polycarbonate track-etch (PCTE) membrane filters keep liquid behind the filter while allowing gases pass through?
No—Sterlitech PCTE and PETE track-etched membranes are not ideal vent filters unless they are hydrophobic and have sufficient water entry pressure. Standard polycarbonate (PCTE) membranes, even when hydrophobic, typically have low water entry pressure and can allow liquid water to pass under relatively low differential pressure.
For applications that must retain liquid while allowing gases or water vapor to pass, Sterlitech recommends hydrophobic PTFE or hydrophobic/oleophobic PETE membranes, which provide much higher water entry pressure and are commonly used as vent filters in laboratory and industrial systems.
What kind of polyester is used to make your polyester track etch (PETE) membranes?
Sterlitech Polyester Track-Etched (PETE) membrane filters are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET)—a durable polyester film known for its strength, dimensional stability, and chemical resistance, making it ideal for track-etched membrane filtration and microscopy/particle analysis applications.
Can I measure the pore size of polyester track-etch (PETE) membrane filters with a SEM?
Yes—you can estimate the pore size of Sterlitech PETE (polyester track-etched) membrane filters using SEM imaging, and SEM is commonly used to characterize track-etched pore diameters during manufacturing. However, pore size measurements can vary between instruments due to SEM calibration, magnification accuracy, image resolution, sample preparation, coating thickness, and measurement method. Because of these variables, user-measured pore diameters may not exactly match Sterlitech’s manufacturing pore size specifications. For best accuracy, use a calibrated scale standard, measure multiple pores across several fields of view, and report results as an average with a distribution.
