Filter media suitable for hydraulic applications

A filter media comprising:

• a first layer comprising fibers, wherein the fibers in the first layer comprise synthetic polymer fibers, and wherein the fibers in the first layer have a first average diameter;
• a second layer adjacent to the first layer, the second layer comprising fibers, wherein the fibers in the second layer comprise synthetic polymer fibers, wherein the fibers in the second layer have a second average diameter, and wherein the first average diameter is greater than the second average diameter;
• and
• a third layer adjacent to the second layer, the third layer comprising fibers, wherein the fibers in the third layer comprise synthetic polymer fibers, wherein the fibers in the third layer have a third average diameter, wherein the second average diameter is greater than the third average diameter, wherein the third layer has a thickness of less than about 500 microns, wherein the third layer has a mean flow pore size of between about 5 microns and about 50 microns, and wherein the third layer has an air permeability of between about 50 cfm/sf and about 250 cfm/sf as measured by TAPPI Method T251;
• wherein the filter media has a thickness of between about 5 mils and about 300 mils, an overall basis weight of between about 20 and 200 gsm as measured by TAPPI Standard T410, and an overall air permeability of between about 7 cfm/sf and about 200 cfm/sf as measured by TAPPI Method T251,
• wherein the filter media has an efficiency of at least 99.5% for 25 micron or larger particles as measured by a Multipass Filter Test, and
• wherein the Multipass Filter Test is a measurement performed in accordance with a procedure described in ISO 16889 using a hydraulic test fluid, a dust level of 10 mg/liter, and a face velocity of 0.14 meters/min, and performed until a terminal pressure of 172 kPa above a baseline filter pressure drop is obtained,
• wherein at least one layer comprises at least about 97 wt. % synthetic fibers.