What’s the Best Filament for Your Application?

If you can think of a use for a brush, we can probably create it for you. But what kind of filament should you choose? This decision begins with analyzing your desired application.

• Is the brush going to be in contact with chemicals?
• Will it be used in a dry or wet application?
• Will the brush be used in extremely high or low temperatures?
• Is the brush going to be moving?
• Are other elements going to be moving against the brush?
• Does it need to bend, or is it stationary?
• Will it be used aggressively, as in scrubbing, or more gently, such as in guiding parts along a conveyor?

Precision Brush has created design sheets to help you answer these and other application questions in order to create the ideal brush for your purposes. As you follow along and answer the questions, the design sheet guides you to a determination of the brush specifications we recommend.

Your answers to these questions will help determine filament diameter, length, and raw material. Natural animal-hair or plant-based filaments, for example, don’t do as well in wet or sticky applications; they absorb a lot of moisture, which may not be ideal for certain uses. The more moisture a filament absorbs, the less stiff it becomes. If you need a lot of bend and flexibility, though, these brushes may be the way to go. Polypropylene brushes, on the other hand, will retain their stiffness even under water.

Precision Brush’s onsite engineers can help you figure out which filament will be best for your particular application. For most cases, nylon or polypropylene will work well, and in some cases animal-hair or plant-based filaments will be recommended.

We also create wire brushes for high-temperature applications and a variety of brushes with specialty filaments, such as those that transfer static electricity or brushes used for grounding.

If you currently have a brush in use and you’re not sure if it has the ideal filament setup in terms of longevity and output, consider reaching out to our brush experts to take a closer look at the issue and brainstorm solutions. Reevaluation may save you money in brush replacements and improve the quality of your production.

Learn more about choosing your filament by watching our video: Types of Brush Filling Material.

Watch more videos.

Would you like to brainstorm with a brush professional?

We’re available to help you determine which brush will work best for your needs. Have an idea in mind? Try our online interface to design your custom brush. Ordered from Precision Brush before? You can reorder brushes here.