Particulate filters

A technical challenge

Saint-Gobain has been involved in many R&D projects involving car pollution, and how to counter it, since 1998. Ceraclean®, the result, is a high-tech particulate filter.

Sizeable advantages

Saint-Gobain has become a key player in this strategic industry on the strength of a number of advantages.

Established expertise: Saint-Gobain is the world’s leading silicon-carbide manufacturer. This raw material is used to make Ceraclean® filters, which deal with more than 99% of the harmful particles that diesel engines release.

Limited competition: the production process behind these filters is among the materials field’s most sophisticated.

The full chain: Saint-Gobain handles everything – from the engineering up the line to sales all the way down the line – in-house. So it can streamline quality, costs and production timeframes.

A technical breakthrough

The main issue developing Ceraclean® was that the filters had to be robust, last a long time, and handle extreme temperatures and merciless mechanical constraints. These filters have to withstand up to 1,500°C during regeneration phases (periodical built-up particle combustion).

Consuming less, lasting longer

Ceraclean® particulate filters are ceramic units built onto vehicles’ exhaust systems, and just over three litres in size. They intercept and burn 99.9% of the carbon particles that the engine releases (the finest ones included).
Their honeycomb structure explains their efficiency, and their specific duct layout lengthens the intervals between regeneration operations – lengthening the system’s useful life.