This operation does not require oil so there is less maintenance requirement. The diaphragm may need replacing annually or even less often depending on usage.
Diaphragm pumps do not achieve as low vacuums as Rotary Vane pumps but are a popular choice for everyday use with filtrations, desiccators and for aspiration of waste liquid in microbiology. Larger diaphragm pumps are also available to use with rotary evaporators or vacuum ovens.
Care should be taken when choosing a Diaphragm Pump on the diaphragm material – those with PTFE seals have better chemical resistance and can be used even when acidic or solvent vapours are present – they are often called “chemical duty” pumps. Some more basic models are only suitable for working with aqueous (water based) vapours, these are commonly used for basic filtration work.
See our full range of vacuum pumps here and try out the application tags to narrow down the selection.