Typical Applications
Automotive, Electronics, Packaging, Portable Electronic Devices, Printing

Performance Notes
Optimal combination of performance characteristics, plus long service life for high value-in-use. Can be easily installed.

Typical Applications
Automotive, Semiconductors, Electronics, Optics, Packaging, MEMS, Switches

Performance Notes
Expensive. Difficult to service. Vulnerable to pressure fluctuations due to temperature changes.

Typical Applications
Water and Sewage Processing, Mining, Power Generation, Oil, Gas and Petroleum Processing, Packaging, Food Manufacturing, Chemical and Plastic Manufacturing

Performance Note
Can let devices breathe, but are vulnerable to mechanical failure; often can become stuck. Only work in one direction at a given activation pressure. Can keep fluids in or let them out.

Typical Applications
Automotive, Electronics, Packaging, Portable Electronic Devices, Printing

Performance Notes
Equalizes pressure but allows full access to water, dust, dirt, debris and insects.

Typical Application
Automotive, Electronics

Performance Notes
Inexpensive. Foam insert blocks larger particulates, but ineffective at blocking water and small particulates. Convective flow is difficult to ensure in early design stages.

Typical Applications
Automotive, Electronics

Performance Notes
Relatively inexpensive. Contaminants and fluid can become trapped in the cap and hinder airflow needed for pressure equalization.

Typical Applications
Automotive, Electronics

Performance Notes
Blocks contaminants, but can correspondingly reduce airflow and restrict pressure equalization, especially when liquids become trapped in the cap.

Typical Applications
Electronics

Performance Notes
Cannot equalize pressures since mechanically stable compound can neither expand nor contract. Can be prone to quality issues due to filling process. Compound may crack and trap water in the cracks. Thermal cycles may damage components.

Typical Applications
Portable Electronic Devices

Performance Notes
Inexpensive. Single-layer grid only blocks particles larger than holes in mesh; smaller particles can easily enter and contaminate transducers.

Typical Applications
Portable Electronic Devices

Performance Notes
Inexpensive. Not breathable; cannot equalize pressures or prevent condensation. Fragile; embrittles easily. Vulnerable to UV degradation and thermal shock.

Typical Applications
Portable Electronic Devices

Performance Notes
Excellent immersion protection. Fails to equalize pressure distortions on front and back side of housing; creates transducer bias, which degrades sound quality and transducer performance.

Typical Applications
Electronics, Packaging

Performance Notes
Not breathable. Can’t vent device-generated heat, or equalize pressures caused by sudden changes in temperature/altitude. Vulnerable to seal failure and ingress of water/contaminants.

Typical Applications
Packaging

Performance Notes
Increased durability, with increased manufacturing and shipping costs. No pressure equalization, which can cause even “ruggedized” containers to panel, bloat and leak.

Typical Applications
Automotive, Electronics, Packaging, Portable Electronic Devices, Printing

Performance Notes
Relatively inexpensive. Completely open system allows contaminants to enter. Contaminants trapped in pathways block airflow and hinder pressure equalization.