Microporous plates are stainless steel sheets featuring tiny perforations with diameters equal to or smaller than the sheet thickness; in the strictest sense, hole diameters can be as small as 0.1 mm. Key manufacturing processes include laser drilling, chemical etching, CNC punching, and electrical discharge machining (EDM). Laser drilling offers high processing speeds and is suitable for mass production of thin sheets (generally up to 30 mm thick); etching enables high-precision hole diameters as small as 0.08 mm; punching technology is primarily used for mass-producing holes with diameters ranging from 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm; and EDM is suitable for processing irregularly shaped workpieces. Relevant industrial clusters are located in Shanghai and Tianjin (laser), Anping in Hebei (etching/punching), and the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region (EDM).
This technology has matured alongside industrial demand, with different processes complementing one another in terms of cost, precision, and application scenarios. For instance, etching avoids issues such as stamping burrs and laser-induced taper, making it ideal for precision filtration equipment; punching technology leverages CNC equipment to boost efficiency and meet standardization needs in sectors like chemical processing and noise suppression. Microporous plates are widely used in industries such as biomedicine, mechanical filtration (e.g., engine filters), aerospace, and electronic hardware; their high-pressure resistance and high open-area ratio support critical functions in precision instruments and industrial equipment.