Stainless Steel Filter in Loop

WantoN · 21 Oct 2018 at 00:00

Quick question.

I was looking at installing an Inline Filter in my upcoming WC loop, I've never used one before but it's second hand kit and you never know if somethings sitting in the rad waiting to kill my poor little DDC. From what I can understand copper will be corroded in a loop with 304 stainless steel, and whilst the type of steel isn't specified, the XSPC Inline Filter uses a stainless steel mesh, and I'm wondering if it might cause a problem over a long enough time.

It's only the tiniest amount of steel, but it's there nonetheless. Has anyone run one of these long-term without problems? Am I being ridiculous?

Distracted · 21 Oct 2018 at 01:22

Hah! I had exactly the same dilemma.

In the end i used the filter while running mayhems blitz pt 2 through the loop - after the rad and before the pump - then i removed it.

I may add it as a permanent fixture when i change my loop in the near future, but I'm undecided. As far as i can tell it should be fine.

WantoN · 21 Oct 2018 at 01:24

Distracted said:
Hah! I had exactly the same dilemma.

In the end i used the filter while running mayhems blitz pt 2 through the loop - after the rad and before the pump - then i removed it.

I may add it as a permanent fixture when i change my loop in the near future, but I'm undecided. As far as i can tell it should be fine.

Well at least I'm not the only one

There must be someone on the forum who's run one of these and let us know.

Distracted · 21 Oct 2018 at 01:32

Ikr.

What's worse is when you start looking at things like what the pumps are made of, and they list aluminium oxide as a material that comes into contact with the fluid in the loop.

"But my loop has copper in it..."

:rolleyes:

Oh well. Cant be bad if everyone is using them, presumably the oxide layer makes a difference.

Re. the steel mesh, as you say, hopefully someone will come along and let us know. I do expect it is fine, but i agree it would be nice to hear from someone that has tried it.

LuckyBenski · 21 Oct 2018 at 04:00

Aluminium generally always has an oxide layer.

I wonder if the steel mesh can be replaced with brass. Is the rest of the filter made of steel too? Brass gauze is readily available for pipe filters and the like.

Smffy · 21 Oct 2018 at 08:20

Same thought, I ordered one but also noted that other brands use the stainless filter... Presume they would only do so if it was ok, given the filter is brass body like the other elements and brass/copper are fine.

It seems unlikely it would corrode the copper or vice versa, when you think about it you probably have a stainless steel sink in your house which is being serviced by copper pipes and it’s not melted. With the added inhibitors in a loop I would think it’s ok?

This aside the filter is simply a circle of the mess which can be removed, looking on rainforest I can buy an A5 sheet of brass mesh and just replace it for £4.

Distracted · 21 Oct 2018 at 08:30

LuckyBenski said:
Aluminium generally always has an oxide layer.

Which is why it seemed odd to me that it is listed as coming into contact with the fluid on both d5 and ddc pumps. But that's a thread I don't want to tug on right now.

Jokester · 21 Oct 2018 at 08:43

For galvanic corrosion to occur you need two things, a connection via water to transfer metal ions between the two metals and an electrical connection to transfer electrons between them (either in direct contact or wired together somehow).

WantoN · 21 Oct 2018 at 15:51

Jokester said:
For galvanic corrosion to occur you need two things, a connection via water to transfer metal ions between the two metals and an electrical connection to transfer electrons between them (either in direct contact or wired together somehow).

I didn’t think you needed an electrical current, just an electrolyte.

WantoN · 21 Oct 2018 at 15:55

LuckyBenski said:
I wonder if the steel mesh can be replaced with brass. Is the rest of the filter made of steel too? Brass gauze is readily available for pipe filters and the like.

Smffy said:
This aside the filter is simply a circle of the mess which can be removed, looking on rainforest I can buy an A5 sheet of brass mesh and just replace it for £4.

Good points. I may do that. Though that adds a fair bit of cost. I may just give the rads a good flush and cross my fingers. In the unlikely even of something killing the DDC I would have a good excuse to upgrade to a D5 NEXT

Jokester · 21 Oct 2018 at 18:22

WantoN said:
I didn’t think you needed an electrical current, just an electrolyte.

You need to complete that circuit somehow!

WantoN · 21 Oct 2018 at 18:26

Hmmmm. So you’re saying if I took a bucket of electrolyte, put in a bar of aluminium and a bar of copper, no galvanic corrosion would occur?

I’m not being flippant by the way; I haven’t researched the topic enough to understand it properly.

Jokester · 21 Oct 2018 at 18:32

WantoN said:
Hmmmm. So you’re saying if I took a bucket of electrolyte, put in a bar of aluminium and a bar of copper, no galvanic corrosion would occur?

I’m not being flippant by the way; I haven’t researched the topic enough to understand it properly.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_corrosion

You can stop galvanic corrosion if you insulate the two metals from each other.

WantoN · 21 Oct 2018 at 19:37

Jokester said:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_corrosion

You can stop galvanic corrosion if you insulate the two metals from each other.

Thanks man. Reading that it seems to me that you don’t need an electrical current for galvanic corrosion to occur. If I do go with a filter I think I’ll use the brass mesh as suggested, mind at rest then.

Knowing me I won’t bother

Jokester · 21 Oct 2018 at 19:44

WantoN said:
Thanks man. Reading that it seems to me that you don’t need an electrical current for galvanic corrosion to occur.

Galvanic corrosion (also called bimetallic corrosion) is an electrochemical process in which one metal corrodes preferentially when it is in electrical contact with another, in the presence of an electrolyte

The electrical contact is the important part. You have a flow of dissolved ions in the electrolyte solution and a flow of electrons through the metal themselves if they are in contact with each other. If you insulate the two metals you break that circuit.

WantoN · 21 Oct 2018 at 20:44

Jokester said:
The electrical contact is the important part. You have a flow of dissolved ions in the electrolyte solution and a flow of electrons through the metal themselves if they are in contact with each other. If you insulate the two metals you break that circuit.

Ok. Why do people warn against dissimilar metals in the loop?

Jokester · 21 Oct 2018 at 20:57

WantoN said:
Ok. Why do people warn against dissimilar metals in the loop?

Becuase in most cases they don’t know any different and will have seen photos of what happens when you have aluminium waterblock tops on copper plates and then the plating fails.

WantoN · 21 Oct 2018 at 21:44

Jokester said:
Becuase in most cases they don’t know any different and will have seen photos of what happens when you have aluminium waterblock tops on copper plates and then the plating fails.

Great to know, thanks man. It’s odd because even EKWB state categorically that you can’t use their aluminium ‘gaming’ line with their copper, nickel or brass components.

Smffy · 22 Oct 2018 at 08:15

Conductive liquid connects the two though does it not, it’s not like any of what we are discussing is plated - nickel plated copper or full nickel or brass, question is whether stainless will mess it up.

I’ll prob swap in copper mesh just in case.

WantoN said:
Great to know, thanks man. It’s odd because even EKWB state categorically that you can’t use their aluminium ‘gaming’ line with their copper, nickel or brass components.

You absolutely cannot.

WantoN · 22 Oct 2018 at 09:57

Smffy said:
Conductive liquid connects the two though does it not, it’s not like any of what we are discussing is plated - nickel plated copper or full nickel or brass, question is whether stainless will mess it up.

I’ll prob swap in copper mesh just in case.

You absolutely cannot.

This has always been my understanding. I was quite sure of it, as long as the two were in a solution together that galvanic corrosion would occur. @Jokester seems quite adamant though, and it’s not a subject I’ve researched enough to disagree.

I’ve always used distilled water, as it’s my understanding that dionised water will rip the ions from the metals in your loop to re-ionise itself too. Seems to be a lot of misinformation out there, best to be cautious imo.

If I use the filter I’ll probably be putting a brass or copper mesh in just to be sure.