Provided is a composite
fuel filter material which comprises (A) a support layer made of wet laid
cellulose and / or synthetic fibers, (B) a
barrier layer having wet laid glass fibers for providing increased efficiency to the
filter material, (C) a thermosetting bonding agent dispersed through the composite and in an amount sufficient for bonding the composite into a strong, tear resistant and pleatable material, and (D) a water repellant agent dispersed in the composite for removing and coalescing water dispersed in a fuel to be filtered. In a preferred embodiment for a
diesel fuel filter, the glass fibers have an
average diameter of about 0.1 to 2.0 microns and the thermosetting bonding agent is an
epoxy resin in the composite in an amount of between 1 and 5% by weight. A filter efficiency of at least 90% or even 99% can be achieved, along with a water removal of 90 to 99.9%. Preferably, the
barrier layer has a small amount of synthetic fibers therein and an interface between the support layer and the
barrier layer is mechanically interlocked.