Tightening standards, growing concern over air and water quality, and the shift toward more sustainable materials are all increasing the demands placed on filtration systems. In this Q&A, Borealis experts Gustaf Tobieson, Application Marketing Manager, and Henk van Paridon, Application Development Engineer, explain how polyolefin-based materials help meet these challenges—combining fine fiber structures, electric charging, low pressure drop, and the option to use circular feedstocks.
Borealis experts Gustaf Tobieson and Henk van Paridon share how polyolefin-based materials are redefining filtration.
© Borealis
Gustaf Tobieson: Polyolefins are lightweight and cost effective, making them an attractive option for filtration applications. But the key factors behind their growing use are their effectiveness, efficiency, versatility, and durability.
Polyolefin-based nonwoven fibers are finer than traditional filter materials, enabling them to capture smaller particles and significantly improve air and liquid quality. They also help to reduce energy consumption and support sustainability goals—both of which are becoming increasingly important across many industries.
Gustaf Tobieson: Yes—applications requiring high purity, safety, and durability gain significant advantages. This includes products like automotive cabin filters, HVAC systems, face masks, and liquid filtration solutions for medical and food-processing industries.
Henk van Paridon: Meltblown polypropylene fibers have extremely small diameters—often between 1 and 2 micrometers—creating a dense network that traps particles in several different ways. Some particles are caught directly when they collide head-on with fibers, others are captured as they pass close by, and some are attracted by static electricity. Together, these methods ensure polyolefin-based filters perform efficiently without restricting airflow very much.
Henk van Paridon: This is a result of the fact that polyolefin-based nonwoven filters allow air and liquid to pass through easily, while still trapping particles efficiently. This means that fans and pumps don’t have to work as hard, so they use less energy. In technical terms, this is known as a lower pressure drop.
Henk van Paridon: Nonwoven materials capture particles throughout their depth—not just on the surface. This allows them to hold more dirt and particles before clogging, which increases their lifespan and reduces maintenance costs.
Discover how polyolefins are raising the bar for filtration in our newly developed brochure.