Porous Transport Layers (PTL)

Knitwire Trading (PTY) Ltd manufactures and supplies knitted wire mesh Porous Transport Layers (PTL) for electrochemical systems where controlled fluid transport, gas removal, and electrical conductivity are essential. Knitted mesh PTLs offer a unique combination of compressibility, high surface area, and tunable porosity, making them well suited to hydrogen production and fuel cell technologies.

Our PTLs are engineered to support stable, efficient operation in demanding electrochemical environments.

Unlike many rigid porous materials, knitted wire mesh can be compressed to adjust pore size and increase surface contact. This allows precise control of transport and electrical properties while maintaining mechanical compliance.

Key benefits include:

• Adjustable porosity and permeability
• High surface area for improved electrochemical performance
• Good electrical conductivity
• Controlled compressibility

Water Distribution

PTLs assist in delivering water evenly to the catalyst layer, helping to prevent dry areas and maintain consistent reaction conditions. Uniform water distribution also supports thermal management by reducing localised hot spots.

Gas Removal

Efficient removal of oxygen and hydrogen from the catalyst layer is essential to avoid flooding and pressure build-up. Knitted mesh PTLs provide open pathways that allow gas bubbles to escape readily.

Electrical Conduction

PTLs provide a conductive pathway between components, minimising resistive losses. Material selection and surface area optimisation are critical to achieving low contact resistance.

Mechanical Support

PTLs provide structural support to delicate membranes while remaining compliant enough to avoid tearing or crushing. The balance between rigidity and compressibility is carefully controlled during design.

PTLs can be manufactured from stainless steel and other conductive alloys. Wire diameter, mesh density, thickness, and overall geometry can be tailored to suit specific system requirements.

The engineering team at Knitwire Trading (PTY) Ltd works closely with customers to define PTL performance targets such as porosity, density, compressibility, and conductivity. In-house tooling and manufacturing allow rapid prototyping and production of custom PTL designs.

• Fully customisable to your electrochemical system
• Rapid prototyping and sample turnaround
• High-performance knitted mesh optimised for water, gas, conductivity, and mechanical support
• Expertise in PEM electrolysis and hydrogen production applications