I am looking for a manufacturer of a fabric that allows a high flow
rate of water (up to 8ft/s) to pass through the material only in one
direction.

This material would be used inside a pipe to restrict the flow of
water to only one direction.  The material need not be absolutely
restrictive in the reverse direction, but should significantly reduce
back-flow.

Because of the rate of flow, the material needs to have enough
strength that it does not easily tear.  It must wear well under
continuous use.

The material must be currently available for sale.  Custom ordering is
ok, as long as the fabric really is available for purchase.

A satisfactory answer will provide the name(s) and critical matching
properies of any fabric that fits these criteria, along with the name
and contact information of its manufacturer.  A highly-qualified 
manufacturer will be a member of a trade organization that
manufactures these types of materials, which should be mentioned in
the answer, if available.

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Clarification of Question by ringmaster-ga on 03 Mar 2006 10:02 PST

Here are some terms and periodicals that might help during the search:

pressure filtration
microporous membrane
aqueous filtration
The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists
Filtration News Magazine
Journal of Industrial Textiles

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 05 Mar 2006 14:12 PST

Can you clarify why it is that you specifically need a fabric for this purpose?

There are certainly one-way flow options, mostly valves.  It would
help us in our research to understand why a fabric is specifically
needed in this instance.

Thanks,

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by ringmaster-ga on 06 Mar 2006 13:56 PST

This particular need is caused by a space constraint.  The space
allowed for the filter is only about a half inch long.  The filter
could be some kind of thicker fiber, but it still has to fit in this
space.  As such, a valve will not work.

The size of the pipe could range from a few inches in diameter to two
feet.  Two feet is the maximum diameter.

Is this something like what you are asking about (see page 80 ff and p. 150 ff):
http://www.sandia.gov/wind/other/040076.pdf

8ft/s sounds like a pretty hefty throughput for any fabric.  I am
wondering about the dimensions and if some other backflow valve
couldn?t do the job, but that is your business.

This is a free comment and not an "answer" to your question.

Hi,
Almost any kind of fabric will do as long as you have the next principles.
1)Fabric must be bendable. 
2)The type of fabric is dependable on what type of solvent. 
3)The length of the fabric must be at least as 1,5-2,5 diameter of pipe with.
4)It must be mounted in such away that the cloth is roundly
woven/sewed from orriginal diameter till half of its orriginal
diameter
5)the diameter of pipe must be overdimensioned (see 4)
For further questions.
Prof. Kees