Porous substrate materials are essential for desiccant wheels that typically act as the carrier of desiccant. The study investigated the performance of three types of promising porous substrate materials including wood pulp filter paper (WPFP)

ceramic fiber paper (CFP)

and glass fiber paper (GFP). The elementary properties of the three types of materials were measured via a hot disk

scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

mercury injection apparatus

and a micromeritics gas adsorption analyzer (ASAP2460). The materials were repeatedly immersed in JN-30 silica sol to obtain the gluing rate. The dynamic adsorption experiments were conducted at a constant temperature and humidity chamber under high temperature and high humidity conditions to evaluate the gluing adsorption ability while the desorption ability was compared via desorption experiments. The results indicate that a similar influence is induced by increasing the number of gluing times. Unnecessary over-gluing leads to a reduction in the every-time gluing rate and enhanced saturated adsorption quantity. The suggested maximum gluing times corresponds to 5. Furthermore

the hydrophilicity of WPFP leads to a stronger adsorption and desorption capacity when compared with those of CFP and GFP

and the gluing rate of the WPFP exceeds that of the other two candidates. Therefore

the hydrophilicity dominates the gluing rate as opposed to the porosity. Finally

the highest adsorption quantity per unit area and the saturation time of WPFP during the whole process are observed in the adsorption experiment

and this is in good agreement with the LDF model fitting results. Given that the results of the study verify the numerous advantages of the WPFP

it is the most suitable material that can be applied in a desiccant wheel.