If you’re looking for a reliable and durable filtration solution for demanding industrial environments, stainless steel filter cartridges are often the best choice. Designed to withstand high temperatures, pressures, and chemical exposure, these cartridges offer unmatched performance in filtration applications. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential details of stainless steel filter cartridges, including how they work, their key design features, and their broad range of applications.
We’ll start with an explanation of their working principle, followed by an overview of critical design parameters such as micron ratings, material types (SS304, SS316), and sealing configurations. We’ll then explore their unique features, including corrosion resistance, strength, and filter efficiency. The guide also highlights the advantages and disadvantages of using stainless steel filters and discusses the different types of stainless steel filter cartridges, such as mesh, sintered, and pleated filters.
Lastly, we’ll provide tips on cleaning and replacing your cartridges to ensure long-lasting performance. Whether you’re dealing with oils, syrups, or high-temperature fluids, this guide will help you choose and maintain the best stainless steel filter cartridge for your needs.
This article will give you the most comprehensive product introduction of stainless steel filter cartridge, This passage will give you a proper and durable product that will solve your problems. You can see the huge difference between different products. make you know it clear, you need to read this complete guide carefully.
1.What is the Stainless Steel Filter Cartridge
Stainless steel filter cartridge is a kind of detachable cylindrical equipment, which is designed according to international manufacturing standards. The main material of stainless steel filter cartridge is stainless steel. It has good filtering function and reliable quality. You may think this simple definition is too short to make you clear of the structure, I will divide it into several parts to explain every component differently.
2. Working Principle of Stainless Steel Filter Cartridge
A stainless steel filter cartridge operates on the principle of physical filtration. As fluid passes through the cartridge, solid particles and impurities are mechanically blocked by the filter media, allowing only clean liquid or gas to continue downstream.
Unlike polymer-based filters like polypropylene, stainless steel filters offer enhanced durability, chemical resistance, and heat tolerance. They are capable of removing both physical contaminants (such as rust, scale, or sediments) and certain chemical impurities, depending on the filtration structure.
Though the basic filtration mechanism is similar across cartridge types, stainless steel stands out due to its reusability, mechanical strength, and precise pore structure, making it a preferred choice in demanding industrial applications.
3. Applicable Field and Range of Stainless Steel Filter Cartridge
Generally speaking, a cartridge will block or trap the impurities in the fluid as the fluid flows. But the filter manufacturer produces different filters with different micron ratings for different applications. You should know exactly what filter you are going to choose. It is important to choose the right and proper filter. The stainless steel filter cartridge filters industrial fluids such as oil, syrup, liquor, sugary fluids, fruit juices, and alcoholic products. Because the stainless steel filter cartridge has a very small micron rating, so you can filter sediments such as yeast sediments, and bacterial sediments. However, filtering liquid at high temperature is also one of the widely used.
4. Design Parameters of Stainless Steel Filter Cartridge
The micron grade range of stainless steel filter cartridge includes:
I. 5 microns responsible for fine filtration
II. 10 microns responsible for medium filtration
III. 50 microns responsible for pre-filtration as it traps larger particles of the sediments At the same time, the design of stainless steel filter can meet the application needs of some harsh environment industries.
I. Applications that involve fluids at very high temperatures
II. Applications that deal with chemicals that can react with polypropylene
III. Applications with flow fluids with very high pressure
Of course, in addition to accurately filtering the particles in the fluid, resistance to high pressure, high temperature and chemical corrosion is also a characteristic of stainless steel filter cartridge.
The stainless steel material can either be SS304, SS 316L or SS316. To increase the area of filtration, the elements can either be cylindrical or plain.
5. The Features of Stainless Steel Filter Cartridge
Since you knew what is stainless steel filter cartridge, you should take care of the features for your own application.
You can choose the stainless steel filter cartridge depending on your application. The stainless steel filter cartridge has different sizes and features. The different features and sizes allow it to perform different functions.
Some of the main features of the stainless steel filter cartridge are in the following paragraphs.
5.1 Design-Cylindrical or Pleated
Manufacturers have two designs of the stainless steel filter cartridge which can either be cylindrical or pleated. The difference between the two is basically on the mode of application for different industries and composition. You can choose the proper one that conforms to your devices.
It is widely known that the cylindrical design provides a sleeve of filter media in support of a central core. Apart from that, the cylindrical design has a sintered wire mesh with five layers sintered in a vacuum. The finest micron filters rating range from 3 to 300 microns. It has many advantages such as good permeability, high strength, high resistance, and durable of a longer life.
The pleated design of the stainless steel filter cartridge uses a pleated media in support of a central core. Therefore, it can provide twice the efficiency of the cylindrical stainless steel filter cartridge.
In terms of welding technology, both of the two designs rely on ultra-clean, modern plasma and TiG welding systems. This method will guarantee the integrity of the cartridge as it eliminates bypass risks. Besides, it can also eliminate the presence of the extractable matter that is available in any of the boding agents.
5.2 Material Type
As the name suggests, stainless steel is the main material for making stainless steel filter element, which is composed of a variety of different types of metals, which constitute a series of corrosion-resistant steel. It basically consists of 8% nickel, and customers can choose other high corrosion resistant alloys such as Inconel, Hastelloy and Monel according to their needs. According to atmospheric conditions, safilter’s stainless steel components can be used at temperatures up to 540 ° C (1004 ° f), with intermittent peak values up to 650 ° C (1202 ° f), and resistant to most chemicals. Because of its durability, high temperature and high pressure, safilter is also the preferred material for many industrial products.
Generally, S304 or s316 stainless steel is the most commonly used material by manufacturers.
5.3 Length
The length of a stainless steel filter cartridge directly affects flow rate and pressure drop. Measured in millimeters, the nominal length refers to the distance from the top to the bottom of the cartridge. Longer cartridges generally offer a larger filtration area, which improves efficiency in high-volume applications.
5.4 Diameter (Inner / Outer)
Inner diameter determines how the cartridge fits into the housing, while outer diameter affects the available surface area for filtration. A larger outer diameter provides more space for fluid contact, improving throughput. Always match both dimensions to your system’s filter housing to ensure compatibility and optimal performance.
5.5 Micron Rating
The micron rating defines the particle size a filter can retain. A smaller micron value captures finer impurities—e.g., 5 µm for fine filtration, 50 µm for pre-filtration. Stainless steel filter cartridges are available in a wide range of ratings to suit applications from coarse sediment removal to high-precision fluid purification.
5.6 Sealing Configuration
Before you decide to seal the final stainless steel filter cartridge, the necessary step you should to know the sealing configuration. The sealing configuration will guide you to make the necessary measurements before complete sealing.
The stainless steel filter cartridge will go through the heat or melting sealing systems in many cases. In this case, the sealing configuration of the stainless steel filter cartridge will be very strong. You should have a strong seal or high integrity that will not break under very high pressure and temperature when you seal it. Under this circumstance, if you want to get a good sealing, you should specify the diameter and shape of the stainless steel filter cartridge before making the seal.
Good industrial filter element manufacturers can use high-quality sealing materials to ensure that leakage will not happen. Of course, the cost will become higher.
5.7 Working Pressure and Temperature
You know the stainless steel filter cartridge usually work under great pressure and very high temperatures. All these conditions determine the type of material when manufacturers use in making the fiber.
Therefore, it is important for you to understand the industrial application where you will use the filter cartridge. Manufacturers use different materials to produce different types of stainless steel filter cartridge. They also can produce the filters within a given pressure and temperature.
In order to determine how strong the material should be, you have to specify the working pressure and temperature through experiment. While manufacturers will specify the working temperature and pressure when they produce the normal stainless steel filter cartridges. They will display the maximum temperature where you can operate the filter cartridge comfortably without damages. They will also show the maximum pressure where the filter cartridge can work well at the first time without hitches. At the same time, the experiment will also show the maximum pressure that the filter can work normally when it is installed for the first time. These tests will help you grade different types of stainless steel filter elements.
5.8 Construction Method
Generally speaking, they are two common construction methods for the stainless steel filter cartridge. There is an adhesive or welded joint method.
5.8.1 Welded Joint Method
By connecting two or more stainless steel filters together, a complete structure can be formed. According to the geometric shape and size, the different parts of the cartridge are welded, including the welded joint, which can be divided into five types: tee, butt, corner, lap and edge.
5.8.2 Adhesive Joint Method
This construction should use an adhesive to joining the different parts of the stainless steel filter cartridge. An adhesive can either be glue, mucilage, paste, and others for joining the parts strongly. The strength of the adhesive bond will depend on the distribution and direction of the stress within the joints due to the load on it.
There are six main types of adhesive for you to choose. They include butt joint, scarf joint, single lap joint, double lap joint, single strap joint, and double strap joint. The typical forces in adhesive joints are compression, tension, shear, bending involving compression plus tension and torsion.
When doing adhesive joints you should follow the basic rules:
I. Small cleavage and peeling stress.
II. Shear stress should be greater than tension
III. The area of bonding should be as large as possible
IV. The layer of adhesive thickness should be uniform and on the minimal
You should guarantee a strong bond between the elements and put them together when you take the two methods. It should be very strong when the stainless steel works under high temperature and pressure.
To avoid any breakage or destruction, welding the joints is the best method of constructing the stainless steel filter cartridge. But you should pay attention to the methods you choose when you apply them into practice.
5.9 Effective Filtration Area
Effective Filtration Area is the area for the stainless steel filter cartridge to filter. You will find a wider or larger filtration area provides a bigger surface area for the filtration of the fluids. If the filtration areas are small, it will provide a small effective filtration for the fluid when passes through the stainless steel filter cartridge.
If you want a wide effective filtration area, you need to give pressure to control the flow rate. In case you want to order a custom stainless steel filter cartridge, please make sure the filtration area is wide enough. The wide filtration area will increase the effective filtration area and make the device more reliable.
5.10 End Type
Most of the stainless steel filter cartridges have double open ends where both ends are open. You will find some of them only have one open end, so you need to identify them as the single open end filter cartridge.
There are five main end types of the stainless steel filter cartridge as follows:
I. Double open end with the grommet type of seal
II. Single open end with the grommet type seal
III. Single open end with the male NPT connection
The end types vary in size according to the type of machine that you choose. Customers should order stainless steel filter elements of the right size to suit different applications.
6. Advantages and Disadvantages of Stainless Steel Filter Cartridges
When selecting a filtration solution for industrial environments, it’s essential to weigh both the benefits and limitations. Stainless steel filter cartridges are known for their robust performance, but understanding their full range of pros and cons will help you determine if they meet your specific operational needs.
Advantages
Stainless steel filter cartridges offer several strong benefits that make them ideal for demanding filtration applications:
- High pressure resistance: Excellent tensile strength allows them to perform under high-pressure systems without deforming.
- Temperature stability: Stainless steel remains stable at elevated temperatures, unlike some plastic or fiber alternatives.
- Easy to clean and reuse: The material resists stains and buildup, and is suitable for repeated cleaning cycles.
- Strong mechanical integrity: Withstands both pressure and temperature stress without losing shape or function.
- Extended service life: Especially for pleated versions, the expanded filtration area allows for more dirt-holding and longer usage between replacements.
- Flexible sizing options: Available in various lengths, diameters, and sealing configurations to match industrial needs.
- Fixed pore structure: Offers consistent, repeatable filtration and minimizes particle release back into clean fluid.
- Corrosion resistance: Withstands exposure to harsh chemicals and environments without contaminating the process.
- Supports backflushing: Enables thorough cleaning and maintains flow efficiency.
Over time, these advantages can significantly reduce total maintenance and replacement costs.
Disadvantages
While highly durable and reliable, stainless steel filter cartridges do have some limitations:
- Higher initial cost: More expensive upfront than disposable filter media like paper or fiberglass.
- Limited dirt capacity: If improperly sized, filters may clog faster and require more frequent cleaning or replacement.
- Replacement cost: Although reusable, severely clogged or damaged cartridges can be costly to replace.
If your system operates under high pressure, temperature, or handles corrosive fluids, stainless steel filter cartridges provide unmatched performance and reliability. Despite the initial investment, their reusability and longevity make them an economical choice for long-term use.
7. How Many Structural Types Does the Stainless Steel Filter Cartridge have?
Stainless steel filter cartridges have different forms that depend on the application and design. You can choose different types of stainless steel filter cartridge from a wide range. You can get the most efficient device at a fair price. There are the most significant types of stainless steel filter cartridges:
7.1 Stainless Steel Mesh Filter Cartridge
Stainless steel mesh filter cartridges are made from high-quality woven wire mesh. The mesh is created by interweaving metal wires using precision looms, then formed under high heat and pressure. These cartridges are widely used in demanding environments due to their excellent strength, durability, and chemical resistance.
Key Features:
- Precise structure with uniform mesh
- High filtration accuracy and corrosion resistance
- Withstands high temperatures and harsh chemicals
Applications: Ideal for filtering acidic or alkaline fluids, including mud filters in oil industries, sieves in chemical fiber production, and acid pickling in electroplating.
Specifications:
- Materials: Stainless steel (SUS 302, 304, 304L, 316, 316L), brass, nickel wire
- Wire dimensions: Weft and warp
- Weaving types: Plain, twill, Dutch, double Dutch, mat-type, five-heddle
7.2 Stainless Steel Sintered Filter Cartridge
These cartridges consist of multiple layers of stainless steel woven mesh—typically 316—that are sintered together into a solid, durable filter medium. Their multilayer structure provides excellent support and filtration efficiency, especially for high-dirt or high-temperature applications.
Advantages:
- Strong support layers for high-pollution filtration
- Customizable structure for various pressure and temperature ranges
- Sealing options: PTFE, fluororubber, copper alloy
Types of Sintered Filter Media:
- Metal Powder: Deep filtration with robust self-supporting structure
- Metal Fiber: Randomly laid fibers sintered into uniform porous media
- Woven Mesh: Standard twill or square weave for defined micron accuracy
- Multilayer Sintered Mesh: Custom shapes (cones, plates, cylinders) with additional support layers like perforated plates
7.3 Stainless Steel Pleated Filter Cartridge
Pleated filter cartridges are made from stainless steel woven mesh, sintered fiber web, or fiber felt. The pleated design maximizes surface area, allowing for high dirt-holding capacity and low pressure drop.
Benefits:
- High filtration area with pleated media
- Reusable after ultrasonic or chemical cleaning
- Available micron range: 3 to 200 µm
- Low initial pressure drop
Materials & Options:
- SS304, SS316, SS316L
- End connections: DOE, threaded, SOE 222/226
Typical Uses: High molecular polymer filtration, hot gas systems, hydraulic oil filtration, and water treatment.
7.4 Stainless Steel Wedge Wire Filters
Wedge wire filters feature V-shaped stainless steel wires welded into a rigid screen. These filters are exceptionally durable and ideal for challenging applications requiring high mechanical strength and low clogging risk.
Notable Features:
- Slot widths: 50 microns and above
- Open area: 2% to 40%
- Continuous slots reduce clogging and support high flow rates
- Durable welds withstand pressure and vibration
Advantages:
- Optimal structural strength under heavy load
- Excellent corrosion resistance
- Suitable for high-temperature and high-pressure applications
- Long lifespan with easy cleaning
Applications: Wastewater treatment, petrochemicals, food-grade filtration, and solids separation in coatings or adhesives.
7.5 Stainless Steel Filter Baskets
These filter baskets are housed in cast iron or stainless steel containers and are designed to collect solid contaminants from liquids. They are typically used for coarse filtration in high-flow industrial systems.
Design Options:
- Flat or round bottom
- Flat or inclined top
- Customizable sizes and shapes
Key Features:
- Made from SS304 or SS316L
- Micron range: 10 to 300 µm (most common: 30 µm)
- Welded construction for structural integrity
- Easy cleaning with high-pressure rinse
Applications: Pre-filtration for pumps, debris protection in lubrication systems, and general industrial liquid clarification.
8. What is the Application of the Stainless Steel Filter Cartridge?
There are many applications where you can use the stainless steel filter cartridge in the filtration of fluids. But most of them are industrials as they need high temperature and pressure.
Here are some of the major applications in the following:
I. Pressurized gases-for protecting the equipment from oil, water, dirt and other impurities in compressed air.
II. Fluidized-bed combustion-it is vital to eliminating impurities from the system that involves chemical reactions and rapid heat transfer.
III. Water treatment-used for the large scale passing water and stainless steel can prevent elements such as rust, chemicals, algae, decaying sediments, and organic matter.
IV. Condensate water-helps iron from corrosion and removes it to enhance the movement and safety of the whole system.
V. Gearbox and bearing oil lube filtration-cleaning the oil or lubricants that might have contaminations as a result of abrasion from moving parts, therefore enhance the efficiency of the system function.
VI. Seal protection-helps to eliminate the impurities which will get to the rotating parts of the system.
9.How to Clean the Stainless Steel Filter Cartridge?
When you have used the stainless steel filter cartridge for a long time, it is important to clean it. As you know the most durable device for industries is the stainless steel filter cartridge, but the durability of it depends on how you clean the device.
You should know how to clean your devices in a proper way. Here we will provide the process of cleaning the sintered stainless steel mesh filters. You can use this method to clean other types of filter cartridges, for the process is similar.
However, this method will not fit some types of stainless filter cartridges, so you should make it clear when you begin to clean your devices.
The sintered stainless steel filter element can be divided into the following three types according to the filter material:
I. Sintered mesh filter elements
II. Sintered felt filter elements
III. Sintered metal powder filter elements
This is the type of stainless steel filter cartridge that many industries choose to use. Before cleaning, you first need to check which type of structural material the component belongs to, and then make sure that you have worn protective clothing and gloves.
It will protect you from the leakage of dangerous chemicals. In addition, you need to prepare the following items to help you clean:
I. Baking furnace filters on the excess impurities of grease in continuous temperature at 380℃ degrees.
II. You should prepare an NC ultrasonic machine for cleaning.
III. You can easily adjust the spray equipment, so you need a cleaning tank for you can heat the filters.
You should provide a powerful cleaning agent and a highly efficient water based agent. It should not contain chloride which will easily cause corrosion of the stainless steel. You should clean your devices at the 5 millimicrons filtration equipment, and the water for cleaning should be deep and clean.
You should check the differential pressure after you securing all the cleaning equipment. Please make sure that the pressure is very low to avoid any accidents that may occur when you dismantle the cartridge. You should also check the surface of the filter cartridge and ensure everything goes well before you remove the filter cartridge.
You need to put the stainless steel filter cartridge in a nitrogen protection furnace and heat it to a temperature of 380℃. You should heat it for two hours as it filters out the impurities and dirt sticking to the cartridge. Then remove the filter and cool it to desired temperatures.
You should put the filter in the ultrasonic cleaning slot of the cleaning machine. The slot should have a strong liquid for cleaning inside and then heat it for an hour till 80℃. At the same time, the cavitation on the filter and the cleaning liquid will easily penetrate the filter from every corner. You will find the dirt disappear gradually after you do these processes. You can use the hanging piece method to check corrosion in the cleaning tank.
You can use the cleaning agent to get rid of the corrosion conditions, and it is better to use the water to rinse the filter cartridge as much as possible to remove the residues. Then blow the filters to dry the water from the cartridge for 20 seconds. You can also put the stainless steel wire mesh into the oven, and dry it at a temperature of 50℃.
You can also use a magnifying glass to check whether there are any impurities on the stainless steel filter cartridge. Due to the features of magnifying glass, you can easily identify impurities. On the contrary, if you find nothing, it means the stainless steel filter cartridge is clean and you can reinstall it.
10. How to Replace a Stainless Steel Filter Cartridge
Replacing a stainless steel filter cartridge is essential when cleaning no longer restores its performance. Follow these simple steps to ensure a safe and proper replacement:
Step 1: Shut Down the System: Turn off the filtration system completely. Make sure no fluid is flowing through the filter during replacement.
Step 2: Release Pressure: Check the pressure gauge and ensure all internal pressure is fully released before opening the housing.
Step 3: Wear Protective Gear: Use safety gloves and goggles to prevent contact with hazardous fluids or high-temperature components.
Step 4: Remove the Cartridge: Use the appropriate tools—usually a wrench—to open the housing and take out the old filter cartridge carefully.
Step 5: Inspect the Housing: Check for any wear, corrosion, or damage around the housing and sealing areas. Clean the interior if necessary.
Step 6: Install the New Cartridge: Insert the new stainless steel filter cartridge, ensuring the end type and dimensions match your system.
Step 7: Seal and Secure: Tighten all fittings, gaskets, and clamps. Make sure everything is sealed properly to prevent leaks.
Step 8: Restart the System: Gradually restore pressure and monitor the system for any abnormal pressure drops or leakage.
11. Why do you Choose Stainless Filter Element?
There are some benefits of the stainless filter element. The first one is high strength resistance, it can withstand high differential pressure. The second one is it can use for larger surfaces and pleats for stainless steel filters, clean and reusable for long service time. The third is it has excellent heat and corrosion resistance. It can also apply to a variety of configurations for various applications.
Saifilter stainless steel filter element is also named SS filter element and stainless steel filter element. According to different process technology, it mainly consists of stainless steel mesh filter element, stainless steel filter basket, stainless steel pleated filter element, stainless steel sintered filter element, and wedge line filter element.
High-quality stainless steel cartridge provides a micron rating from 1 to 5000 microns, which is very suitable for high temperature, high pressure, heavily polluted liquid, and corrosive environment.
In order to meet your special application and existing filter elements, stainless steel water filter elements, stainless steel air filter elements, and stainless steel filter elements for liquids are designed in different shapes and sizes, with different lengths or end caps for easy installation.
In Saifilter own stainless steel filter element production plant, we can mass-produce in emergency delivery time no matter using epoxy bonding, welding, sintering, and crimping construction. We have the most extensive warehouse, with more than 500 kinds of standard stainless steel filter elements, which can be delivered quickly.
Saifilter stainless steel filter elements will cost you a lot of money at the beginning compared with glass fiber or paper filter elements, but after a period of use, they will help you save more cost because all of our SS filter elements can be easily cleaned and reused by back-flow and ultrasonic technology.
To ensure that our stainless steel filter element can effectively remove particles, we will conduct bubble point test, burst pressure test, hydrostatic burst test, etc. Photos and videos can be taken for inspection before delivery.
12.What is Saifilter’s Sample Strategy?
You can get free samples of specific types of stainless steel filter elements you need.
All you need to do is make a sample request on the site or you can contact our direct sales representative to recommend an ideal sample for you.
The specification of Saifilter’s stainless steel filter cartridge includes six ways which are:
The filter material is mainly made of stainless steel 304 or 316. The accuracy of filtration is 1um-5000um. When your machine working, you should switch the pressure from 10bar-420bar. The temperature is from -30 centigrade to +260 centigrade. The structure for you to choose is cylindrical and pleated. The end design is DOE, 222/flat, others on request.
What’s the Difference Between HEPA Filters and Cartridge Filters?
HEPA filters are designed to trap very fine particles, typically used in air purifiers and environments requiring high filtration precision. In contrast, cartridge filters, including stainless steel types, are often used for liquids and offer durable, reusable filtration with higher capacity for larger particles. Cartridge filters are ideal for industrial settings with higher flow rates and harsh conditions.
Are Stainless Steel Air Filters Effective?
Yes, stainless steel air filters are highly effective in environments that require durability and resistance to high temperatures or corrosive substances. They provide long-lasting performance in industrial HVAC systems, air purifiers, and other air filtration systems by efficiently trapping airborne contaminants.
How Do You Determine the Best Filter Type for Your Needs?
The best filter type depends on your specific application:
- For high-precision air filtration, HEPA filters are ideal.
- For liquid filtration with higher flow rates and reusability, cartridge filters made of stainless steel are better suited.
Consider factors like micron rating, temperature, and chemical compatibility when making your choice.
Conclusion
The passage provides a brief instruction to the stainless steel filter cartridge. You can read this article according to your own needs. About what kind of filter cartridge you want to choose, this paper has made a detailed introduction to various stainless steel filter cartridges. You can compare different types of filter cartridges. According to the model of your application, select the stainless steel filter cartridge that meets the requirements. In the process of use, you should also pay attention to the use requirements, according to the instructions to use. When replacing or cleaning the stainless steel filter cartridge, strictly follow the requirements and step by step to avoid unnecessary injury.