Porous Ceramic Diffusers
Refractron Technologies Corp. is a leading manufacturer of technical ceramics. Products include both controlled porosity and densely structured ceramics designed to meet requirements specified by our customers for durability, chemical, corrosion and wear resistance, toughness, and density.
Refractron porous ceramic diffusers are used for applications that require the production and dispersion of fine air or gas bubbles through the porous ceramic into a liquid. The smaller the bubbles the more gas is exposed to the liquid increasing the gas transfer efficiency. Diffusers or spargers can also be designed into the system to cause turbulence or mixing if desired.
The range of Refractron porous ceramic diffusers are made by fusing aluminum oxide grains using porcelain bond to for a strong, uniformly porous and homogeneous structure. The naturally hydrophilic material is easily wetted resulting in the production of fine, uniform bubbles. Refractron's porous ceramic has 40-50% open porosity and is available in pore sizes ranging from 0.25 to 90 microns. Monolithic, single grade, aluminum oxide porous ceramic is available in 6, 15, 30, 50, 60 and 90 micron pore sizes. In addition, Refractron produces a ceramic membrane that uses a medium pore substrate with a thin coating of fine porous ceramic membrane in 0.25, 1, 3 and 6 micron pore sizes.
Porous ceramic is cleaned and reused using a variety of methods depending on the contaminant to be removed. Specifically tailored techniques include:
- Spraying
- Brushing
- Backwashing
- Oven firing
- Dilute acid cleaning
- Solvent cleaning
- Steam and ultrasonic cleaning
The range of porous ceramic diffusers include 2 3/4" tubes, 7" & 9" discs, 12" square plates, 7" domes, the patented Solidome TM and other custom components made from aluminum oxide where tightly controlled pore size and porosity for fine bubble production is critical. This range of diffuser product is also called air stones, bubblers, spargers and aerators. Common uses for porous ceramic diffusers include:
- Aeration in municipal waste water plants
- Diffusion for chemical reactions
- Ozone diffusers for drinking water
- Oxygen diffusion
- Sparging in pharmaceutical process
- Diffusion for aquaculture and hydroponics applications
Other specialty products include a range of adsorbent filter/drier cores for refrigeration applications, dispersion parts, vacuum chucks, inkpads and gas probes.
Porous ceramics are readily machinable using conventional diamond cutters and wheels. Since it is not ductile and the granules are removed the porous ceramic pore structure is not affected by cutting and grinding. Typical diamond tile saws are routinely used to cut porous ceramic tubes and test coupons.
We work closely with our customers to define their needs and the requirements of each specific diffuser application. Our engineering and sales team is great at attacking technical design and process problems, then customizing an innovative solution using our broad range of advanced industrial ceramics. Contact us with your application requirements.