Submicron airborne oil droplets are an unwanted by-product of many processes, for example compressed air generation. These droplets, also known as "oil mist", are removed from gas streams by coalescence filters. A coalescence filter consists of several individual layers, which are usually made of microglass fibers. Media properties such as porosity, thickness, fiber diameter and wettability influence the separation efficiency.

With conventional thick industrial filter layers (>0.60 mm), however, the oil structures and fibers cannot be observed in detail. Very thin nonwoven fiber media with a low basis weight (160 µm & 15 g/m²) are therefore required for optical observation. In addition, the thickness, the wettability (oleophilic/oleophobic) and the fiber diameter of the media are varied while keeping the porosity as constant as possible.

                               A very thin filter layer,                                                                  Sheet-forming machine
                           installed in the filter holder

Scope of the thesis:
This work covers the production of such filter media on the sheet former and their characterization. First, very thin nonwoven fiber media are to be produced and then made oleophobic with an agent. Suitable methods for characterizing these thin media in terms of thickness, basis weight, porosity, pore size distribution and degree of oleophobicity are to be developed or further developed.
The scope can be adapted to your interests and available time (Master's or Bachelor's thesis).

What you should bring:

• Interest in the topic and enjoyment of experimental work
• A high degree of independence and the ability to develop new methods based on literature research
• Goal-oriented working style and flexibility
• Communication skills

What I can offer you:

• Regular meetings and supervision
• Regular and felixible support with problems and questions
• Insight into a DFG-funded research project

If you are interested in this project, I would be happy to hear from you. Feel free to send me an email telling me a bit about yourself, what you expect from the work and when you would like to start. I will then send you an appointment where we can discuss everything in person and you can see the sheet former.

Contact:
M.Sc. Özge Yavuz
Email: oezge.yavuz∂kit.edu
Phone: +49 721 608-42515
Straße am Forum 8
Building 30.70, Room 111
76131 Karlsruhe