Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the function of a flame arrestor?
- Do all batteries use flame arrestors?
- What material is used to product flame arrestors?
- How is the airflow determined for flame arrestors?
- What is the pore size of a flame arrestor?
- How is the airflow tested?
- Do you have distributors for flame arrestors?
- How can we obtain samples of flame arrestors for testing?
- What if we need a size that is not listed on your data sheet?
- Do porous plastic flame arrestors stop acid leaks?
The materials we use, polyethylene and polypropylene, are naturally hydrophobic. This means they naturally repel water and most liquids. While the flame arrestors will assist with acid leaks they should not be solely relied on to stop acid leaks.
- Who are some of your customers?
- Do you ship overseas?
- Is M.A. Industries ISO Certified?
Yes, M. A. Industries is ISO 9001:2015 certified.
The porous flame arrestor serves as a vent to allow gases inside the battery to escape to the outside at a controlled rate. At the same time the pores of the flame arrestor do not allow a spark or flame to have a direct path into the battery causing a possible explosion.
All batteries have to vent gases that build up within a battery. Some batteries still use mechanical vents for this instead of a porous plastic flame arrestor. Mechanical vents do not eliminate the possibility of having a direct path for a spark or flame to enter a battery allowing a possible explosion.
We manufacture flame arrestors out of polypropylene, polyethylene and combinations of polyethylene and polypropylene.
The battery manufacturer is responsible for determining the amount of gas that is needed to pass through the flame arrestor during a given period of time. This is determined by the size and design of the battery, and the size and thickness of the flame arrestor. Samples are available for testing and design purposes.
The average pore size of flame arrestors varies from approximately 30 micron to 150 micron. We do not specify the pore size in our specifications because it is not a functional characteristic. Instead of pore size we test the parts for airflow, which is a functional characteristic.
The airflow is tested in liters per minute using 10 inches of water pressure.
We manufacture and ship all flame arrestors at our plant in Peachtree City, Georgia USA.
Samples are available of all of our standard parts. For a nominal fee will also make a prototype mold for a custom size.
Typically we charge a one-time setup fee to cover Engineering expenses for developing a custom size. This charge will vary depending on the complexity of the design and the annual quantity required, but typically averages $2000 to $3000 US dollars.
We consider our customer base proprietary, however, we provide flame arrestors to all the major battery manufacturers and suppliers to battery manufacturers. We are the world’s largest supplier of flame arrestors. In many cases we are single source suppliers.
Yes, we ship to over 30 countries.
