Pumps With Solid Body Construction Ideal for Solar-Cell Manufacturing

E-Series pumps are constructed of superior materials — specifically polyethylene (PE) and polytetraflurorethylene (PTFE) — that are able to withstand the demands of the harsh applications found in the manufacture of solar cells.

All Series housing and pump components, even the internal parts, including valves, are made with PE or PTFE in a solid-block design. These plastics set the standard in solar-cell applications. PE has a high abrasion-resistance, as much as seven times higher than polypropylene (PP) and 1.6 times higher than steel. E-Series constructed with PE are particularly suitable for slurry applications. In addition, the high chemical resistance E-Series pumps constructed with PTFE allows for compatibility with the solar-cell manufacturing process’s chemical supply, including acids and caustics, so that the pump’s internal parts will not become corroded by abrasive media or dry particles.

In addition, only a solid-body pump supplies the weight that is required for use in applications where oscillation — and its high levels of alternating stress — will occur. E-Series pumps are created from a solid plastic block that is mechanically machined, not molded, as some competitive pump brands are. This heavier construction allows the E-Series pumps to operate without “wandering,” which can occur to lighter models during oscillating-pump use and lead to product leakage.

E-Series pumps also consist of just three solid housing parts: a center housing and two side housings that are held together with bolts that are tightened against a diaphragm-sized ring on each side. This increases pump safety by evenly distributing the bolt force throughout the housing.