Filter housing materials compared
The housing around a membrane matters as much as the membrane itself for chemical compatibility and pressure tolerance. Here's how the common housing materials differ.
Polypropylene (PP)
The most common housing material for disposable capsule and bottle-top filters. Broad chemical resistance across acids, bases, and many solvents, lightweight, and inexpensive—part of why it dominates single-use formats. Not the top choice for very aggressive solvents or high-temperature applications, where PTFE or stainless steel housings are more appropriate.
Polycarbonate (PC)
Common in reusable syringe filter holders and some vacuum filtration hardware, valued for its clarity (you can see the sample and check for bubbles or completeness) and mechanical toughness. Polycarbonate has narrower solvent compatibility than PP—it can craze or degrade with some organic solvents and ketones, so it's better suited to aqueous and mild-solvent applications.
Stainless steel
Used in reusable, high-pressure, or high-temperature filtration hardware—process-scale housings, autoclavable holders, and applications where broad chemical resistance and mechanical durability outweigh the cost and weight. Stainless housings are typically reusable rather than disposable, shifting the economics toward cleaning/validation labor instead of per-use consumable cost.
Matching housing to the job
Chemical compatibility with your actual sample and any cleaning/sterilization solvents comes first—a housing that's fine mechanically but degrades chemically will fail regardless of its pressure rating. After compatibility, weigh disposable convenience (PP capsules) against reusable-hardware economics (stainless, polycarbonate) based on your run volume and cleaning-validation requirements.
Choosing hardware for a new filtration setup?
Tell us your solvent, temperature, and pressure requirements and we'll help you match the right housing.