Ceramic Foam Filters


Lanik, developing business since 1991, is the purely Czech private company. The core activity is represented by manufacture and sale of ceramic foam filters, used under the trade name VUKOPOR® in the foundry industry in the sector of primary aluminium production, in petrochemical and food industry as well as for miscellaneous decorative applications. Manufacture of refractory ceramics is the complementary production to filters. Typical products are as follows: different filtering shaped pieces and systems, e.g. filtration carousels and grates, filtration boxes, transport channels, ceramic funnels and other shaped refractory concrete products used mainly in foundries. Products for the precision investment casting technology represent a complete product line. We are speaking about pressed ceramic funnels, injection mold ceramic cores, support crosses, ceramic bars and other auxiliary materials. Production of lubricants and separators for die casting has a long-time tradition in the company.

Seramik köpük filtreler

Advantages of Ceramic Foam Filters

  • Filtration of impurities such as slag, sand, oxide films, ceramic inclusions
  • Calm filling converts turbulent flow to laminar flow and minimizes reoxidation of metal
  • More space on the model plate and fewer metal cycles
  • Reduction of the risk of mold erosion in the gating system
  • Simplifying the gating system
  • Reduction of human factor effects (foundry experience, unskilled labor, process safety)
  • Increased physical properties and surface quality of castings

Types of ceramic foam filters


Types of ceramic foam filters are conditioned in particular by requirements for their application. Filters for filtration of nonferrous metal alloys (casting temperature up to 1000 °C), filters for filtering  cast iron with flaky and spheroidal graphite and filters intended for steel filtration are therefore used  in practice. Depending on the cast material, Al2O3, SiC, ZrO2 or graphite based filters are applied.

VUKOPOR ® LD

VUKOPOR® LD ceramic foam filters are designed for filtration of aluminum and aluminum alloys up to the temperature of 850°C especially for gravity casting into sand, ceramic or metal dies. A typical feature of VUKOPOR® foam filters is the three dimensional network of opened pores forming a labyrinth of their ceramic body.

VUKOPOR ® HTX

The Al2O3 – C based filters are intended for filtering ferrous metals (nodular iron, steel) up to the temperatures of 1700 °C. High filter stability during casting, outstanding thermal conductivity and low weight create the preconditions for fast filter heating/priming and minimize pressure losses. By their features they are predetermined for direct casting through the exothermic sleeves and for filtering larger nodular iron castings.

VUKOPOR ® S

VUKOPOR® S ceramic foam filters are designed for filtering castings of cast iron, bronze, brass and copper-alloys. The maximum recommended temperature of the application is 1480°C. VUKOPOR® S can be used in “filter prints” of the gating system as well as for direct pouring on the filter in combination with exothermic sleeves.

Technical Specification
Chemical Composition SiC, Al2O3, SiO2
Bond Ceramic
Color Gray
Porosity 10,20,30 ppi
Application Temperature max 1480° C
Basic Shapes square, circle, rectangle
Special Shapes according to customers request
Tolerance of Dimensions

Note: measured with callipers equipped
with flat contact elements (46×30 mm)

 + 0,5 / – 1,5 mm (up to 99 mm)

+ 0,5 / -2,5 mm (100 – 150 mm)

Dimensions(mm) Thickness (mm) Capacity (kg) Flow Rate(kg/s) Capacity (kg) Flow Rate (kg/s) Capacity (kg) Flow Rate (kg/s) Capacity (kg) Flow Rate (kg/s)
10 ppi 10 ppi 20 ppi 30 ppi
Nodular Iron Gray Iron
40x40x 15,18,22 32 3 74 4 52 3 43 2
50x50x 15,18,22 50 4 115 6 81 3,5 67 3
55x55x 15,18,22 60 5 139 7 98 5 82 4
60x60x 15,18,22 72 6 166 9 117 6 98 5
67x67x 15,18,22 89 7 206 11 145 8 121 6
75x50x 15,18,22 775 6 173 9 122 6 102 5
75x75x 18,20,22 113 9 259 14 182 10 152 8
80x80x 18,20,22 128 11 295 16 208 12 173 10
100x50x 18,20,22 100 8 230 12 162 9 135 7
100x75x 18,20,22 150 12 345 18 243 13 203 11
100x100x 20,22,25 200 16 460 24 324 18 270 15
125x125x 22,25,30 312 12 718 38 506 28 422 23
133x133x 22,25,30 350 18 813 43 573 32 478 26
150x100x 22,25,30 300 24 690 36 486 27 405 22
150x150x 22,25,30 450 36 1035 54 729 40 608 33
ø 35x 15,18,22 19 2 44 2 31 2 26 1,5
ø 40x 15,18,22 25 2 58 3 41 2 34 2
ø 50x 15,18,22 39 3 90 5 64 4 53 3
ø 60x 15,18,22 56 5 130 7 92 5 76 4
ø 70x 18,20,22 77 6 177 9 125 7 104 6
ø 75x 18,20,22 88 7 203 11 143 8 119 6,5
ø 90x 20,22,25 127 10 293 15 206 11 172 9
ø 100x 22,25,30 156 13 361 19 254 14 212 12
ø 125x 22,25,30 244 20 565 30 398 22 331 18
ø 150x 22,25,30 352 29 813 43 573 32 477 26

VUKOPOR ® HT

VUKOPOR® HT ceramic foam filters are determined for filtering of steel and steel alloys up to the temperature of 1700 °C. Filters are recommended especially for high quality grades of alloys.

Technical Specification
Chemical Composition partially stabilized ZrO2
Bond Ceramic
Color Ochre to orange
Porosity 10, 15, 20 ppi
Application Temperature max. 1700° C
Basic Shapes square, circle, rectangle, cone frustum
Special Improvements sealing gasket cf.g. 3 or 6,4 mm
Tolerance of Dimensions

Note: measured with callipers equipped
with flat contact elements (46×30 mm)

 + 0,5 / – 1,5 mm (up to 99 mm)

+ 0,5 / -2,5 mm (above 100 mm)

Dimensions(mm) Thickness (mm) Pouring Rate (kg/s) Total Capacity (kg)
Carbon Steel High-Alloyed Steel
40x40x 18,20,22 1,5 2 35
50x50x 20,22,25 2 3 55
55x55x 20,22,25 2,5 3,5 65
60x60x 22,25 3 4 80
75x50x 22,25 3 4 85
75x75x 22,25 4,5 7 120
100x75x 22,25 6 8 160
100x100x 22,25,30 8 10,5 220
125x125x 22,25,30 12,5 16 340
150x150x 25,30,38 18 23 490
ø 50x 22,25 1,5 2,5 50
ø 60x 22,25 2 3,5 70
ø 70x 22,25 3 4,5 90
ø 75x 22,25 3,5 5,5 110
ø 85x 22,25 4,5 6 130
ø 90x 22,25 5 7,5 150
ø 100x 25,30 6,5 9,5 180
ø 125x 25,30 9 12 280
ø 150x 25,30,38 13 17 400