Typical Properties of Filter Papers and Glass Fiber Filters

Flow rate, particle retention, and thickness are some of the aspects you need to consider when choosing the most suitable filter paper for your application. The selection tree and tables on this page help you identify the appropriate product.

1. Use the decision tree below to identify the filter paper that meets your needs.

2. Use the tables in the tabs below to choose the most suitable product for your filtration needs. The tables provide overviews of typical properties of different types of filter papers and glass fiber filters.

Quantitative Filter Papers Qualitative Filter Papers Glass Fiber and Quartz Fiber Other Filter Papers

Ashless quantitative filter papers

Grade	Nominal Thickness (µm)	Nominal Basis Weight (g/m²)	Nominal Ash Content*	Typical Water Flow Rate (normalised for 9 cm diameter)^**	Typical Particle Retention in Liquid at 98% Efficiency (µm)***
40	210	95 g/m²	0.007%	25 ml/min	8
41	215	85	0.007%	254 ml/min	20
42	200	100	0.007%	5 ml/min	2.5
43	220	95	0.007%	62 ml/min	6
44	176	80	0.007%	11 ml/min	3
589/1****	190	80	0.01%		12 to 25
589/2****	180	85	0.01%		4 to 12
589/3****	160	84	0.01%		< 2

Hardened ashless quantitative filter papers

Grade	Nominal Thickness (µm)	Nominal Basis Weight (g/m²)	Nominal Ash Content¹⁾	Typical Water Flow Rate (normalised for 9 cm diameter)**	Typical Particle Retention in Liquid at 98% Efficiency (µm)***
540	160	85	0.005%	97 ml/min	8
541	155	78	0.005%	359 ml/min	22
542	150	96	0.005%	13 ml/min	2.7

Hardened low ash quantitative filter papers

Grade	Nominal Thickness (µm)	Nominal Basis Weight (g/m²)	Nominal Ash Content*	Typical Water Flow Rate (normalised for 9 cm diameter)**	Typical Particle Retention in Liquid at 98% Efficiency (µm)***
50	115	96	0.015%	10 ml/min	2.7
52	175	96	0.015%	66 ml/min	7
54	185	90	0.015%	453 ml/min	22

*Ash content is determined by ignition of the cellulose filter at 900°C in air

**Measured under gravity for comparative purposes

***Particle retention rating at 98% efficiency

****Please note that this data may be based on historic performance, which was established before Whatman was acquired by GE Healthcare.

Standard qualitative filter papers

Grade	Nominal Thickness (µm)	Nominal Basis Weight (g/m²)	Typical Water Flow Rate (normalised for 9 cm diameter)*	Typical Particle Retention in Liquid at 98% Efficiency (µm)**	Prepleated grade
1	180	87	57 ml/min	11
2	190	97	38 ml/min	8	Grade 2V
3	390	185	28 ml/min	6
4	210	92	247 ml/min	25
5	200	100	5 ml/min	2.5	Grade 5V
591***	350	161	+	12
595***	150	68	+	7	Grade 595 ½
597***	180	85	+	7	Grade 597 ½
598***	320	140	+	10	Grade 598 ½
6	180	105	22 ml/min	3
602 h***	160	84	+	< 2	Grade 602 h ½

Wet strenghtened qualitative filter papers

Grade	Nominal Thickness (µm)	Nominal Basis Weight (g/m²)	Typical Water Flow Rate (normalised for 9 cm diameter)*	Typical Particle Retention in Liquid at 98% Efficiency (µm)**	Prepleated grade
113	420	125	774 ml/min	> 15	Grade 113V
114	190	75	333 ml/min	25	Grade 114V
1573***	170	88	+	25	Grade 1573 ½
1575***	140	92	+	< 2
588***	205	80	+	-
91	205	65	274 ml/min	10
93	145	65	194 ml/min	10

*Measured under gravity for comparative purposes

**Particle retention rating at 98% efficiency.

***Please note that this data may be based on historic performance, which was established before Whatman was acquired by GE Healthcare.

+ Not measured under these conditions

Glass fiber filters without binder

Grade	Nominal Thickness (µm)	Nominal Basis Weight (g/m²)	Typical Particle Retention in Liquid at 98% Efficiency (µm)*	Nominal Particle Retention Efficiency in Air (for 0.3µm)	Nominal Air Flow Rate	Typical Water Flow Rate (normalised for 9cm diameter)**
GF/A	260	53	1.6	≥ 99.95%	4.3 s/100 ml/in²	143 ml/min
GF/B	675	143	1.0		12 s/100 ml/in²	81 ml/min
GF/C	260	53	1.2		6.7 s/100 ml/in²	105 ml/min
GF/D	675	121	2.7		2.6 s/100 ml/in²	681 ml/min
GF/F	420	75	0.7		19 s/100 ml/in²	41 ml/min
934-AH	435	64	1.5		3.7 s/100 ml/in²	341 ml/min
TCLP	420	75	0.7		4.7 s/100 ml/in²	60 ml/min
EPM 2000	-	85		≥ 99.95%	5.6 s/100 ml/in²
GMF 150 (multilayer)	730	145	>1 µm		4 s/100 ml/in²	222 ml/min
GMF 150 (multilayer)	750	145	>2 µm		1.6 s/100 ml/in²	887 ml/min

*Particle Retention Rating at 98% efficiency

**Measured under gravity for comparative purposes

Glass fiber filters with binder

Grade	Binder	Typical Thickness (µm)	Basis Weight (g/m²)	Air Flow Rate
GF 3362	Inorganic binder	500	130	34 s/100 ml/1.56 cm²
GF 6	Inorganic binder	350	80	40 s/100 ml/1.53 cm²
GF 8	Inorganic binder	350	80	12 s/100 ml/1.56 cm²
GF 9	Inorganic binder	350	70	27 s/100 ml/1.56 cm²
GF 92	Inorganic binder	350	70	27 s/100 ml/1.56 cm²
GF 10	Organic binder	350	70	12 s/100 ml/1.56 cm²

Please note that the data in the table above may be based on historic performance, which was established before Whatman was acquired by GE Healthcare.

Quartz fiber filters

Grade	Nominal Thickness (µm)	Nominal Basis Weight (g/m²)	Nominal Particle Retention Efficiency in Air (for 0.3µm)	Air Flow Rate
QM-A	475	85	≥ 99.95%	6.3 s/100 ml/in²
QM-B	950	170	≥ 99.95%	12 s/100 ml/in²
QM-H (100% pure quartz)	430	85

Filter papers for technical use

Grade	Typical Thickness (µm)	Basis Weight (g/m²)	Nominal Particle Retention in Liquid (µm)*	Prepleated Grade
0858	170	75	12	Grade 0858 ½
0860	170	75	12	Grade 0860 ½
0903	140	65	7
0905	270	75	25	Grade 0905 ½
1574	160	90	12	Grade 1574 ½
2294	1500	556	15
2589 a	430	200	12
2589 c	750	400	8
2589 d	1000	500	6
520 a	300	90	18	Grade 520 a ½
520 bII	500	135	19	Grade 520 bII ½
Shark Skin	170	44	12

*Particle retention rating at 98% efficiency.

Please note that the data above may be based on historic performance, which was established before Whatman was acquired by GE Healthcare.

Application specific filters

Grade	Typical Thickness (µm)	Basis Weight (g/m²)	Examples of Applications / Properties
3000*	160	68	Sugar industry
3459*	300	75	Venema unit
512 ½*	160	84	Soil analysis—Low phosphate
2555 ½*	170	75	Malt and beer testing
287 ½*	360	154	Kieselguhr paper
0048*	860	130	Food industry mat
72	800	195	Activated carbon loaded paper