Jan 8, 2006 14:43
18 yrs ago
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English term
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Native in: Chinese 
Works in: English to Chinese, Chinese to English, German to Chinese, and 3 more.
diaphragm and membrane
English
Tech/Engineering
Mechanics / Mech Engineering
In a technical document about pumps, I saw sometimes it is "diaphragm" and sometimes it "membrane". I am wondering whether the two mean the same thing or different things. It is not in native English and is from Europe. Can somebody give me some suggestion? :-)
Context? Here they are: "Change the diaphragms every 1000 hours";
"xxx recommended to change the membranes"
Context? Here they are: "Change the diaphragms every 1000 hours";
"xxx recommended to change the membranes"
Responses
| 3 +3 | membrane slightly more general |
David Knowles
|
| 3 +1 | see explanation |
Ken Cox
|
Responses
+3
14 mins
David Knowles
Native in English
&
English
Specialist in Civil Law & Contracts
Native in: English 
Works in: Russian to English, English, Ukrainian to English
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membrane slightly more general
I think a diaphragm is a specific sort of membrane (but don't ask me precisely how)! It's obviously confusing to use two words, and from your example I would say they are being used synonymously.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you all for kind help!"
+1
18 mins
see explanation
In your context, the main differences between a diaphragm and a membrane are in thickness and strength. A diaphragm is a flexible, relatively thick, quasi-self-supporting partition between two areas or volumes (something like the rubber of an inner tube for a tyre). A membrane is also a partition, but it is relatively thin (something like a plastic film) and typically not self-supporting. A diaphragm can usually withstand a certain amount of force or pressure, while a membrane can typically withstand on a very small force or pressure (if any at all).
In your case, it sounds like there is a good chance that 'membrane' is a mistranslation, but it's not possible to say for certain without knowning the specific context.
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Note added at 20 mins (2006-01-08 15:04:53 GMT)
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A further difference is that a diaphragm is designed to be able to move in normal operation (like your own diaphragm), while a membrane is intended to remain (practically) stationary.
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Note added at 21 mins (2006-01-08 15:05:43 GMT)
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In the first paragraph, that should be 'only a very small force or pressure'.
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Note added at 25 mins (2006-01-08 15:09:36 GMT)
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On further reflection, I take back the part about relative strength. IMO the key difference is moving vs. stationary, with a secondary difference being thickness (which usually results from the need to achieve the necessary strength in a flexible material).
In your case, it sounds like there is a good chance that 'membrane' is a mistranslation, but it's not possible to say for certain without knowning the specific context.
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Note added at 20 mins (2006-01-08 15:04:53 GMT)
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A further difference is that a diaphragm is designed to be able to move in normal operation (like your own diaphragm), while a membrane is intended to remain (practically) stationary.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2006-01-08 15:05:43 GMT)
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In the first paragraph, that should be 'only a very small force or pressure'.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 25 mins (2006-01-08 15:09:36 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
On further reflection, I take back the part about relative strength. IMO the key difference is moving vs. stationary, with a secondary difference being thickness (which usually results from the need to achieve the necessary strength in a flexible material).
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