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The Basics of Metal Wire Mesh
Wire Mesh is a common material found across a large number of different industries. It is also something that people may use for personal hobbies or home improvement.
However, everybody may not have a strong understanding of what Metal Wire Mesh is or the potential applications it can have.
We’ve created a brief guide with some of the more important details that you need to know about it. Discover how to implement Wire Mesh into your next project; keep reading for more details!
Woven Wire Mesh used as cabinet inserts.
What is Wire Mesh?
Also referred to as wire fabric, wire cloth, or hardware mesh, Wire Mesh is a material that has a wide variety of uses. As the name suggests, it’s created by weaving or welding wire into a screen-like product.
The Woven construction type is more flexible, easier to shape, and available in smaller openings. Whereas Welded construction provides a flatter, cleaner appearance that maintains its shape and integrity when cut.
The size and number of the openings will often dictate their intended and applicable uses. In filtration or mining settings, Wire Mesh with smaller openings allows only the smallest substances, such as water or fine minerals, to pass through the metal. On the other hand, larger openings in infill panels for railings can allow light and air to pass through while also providing safety.
As you might guess, it’s a common sight to behold in many different industries. These include the machining, mining, security, and automotive spaces, just to name a few!
Wire Mesh display in a McNICHOLS® showroom.
How is Wire Mesh Made?
The way Wire Mesh is made is dependent on whether it is a Woven or Welded construction type. Weaving strands of metal wire over and under each other makes Woven Wire Mesh. Welding the strands of metal at points of intersection makes Welded Wire Mesh.
The result is a screen that has either rectangular or square gaps between the wires. Also, decorative Wire Mesh is available with more intricate woven patterns, producing openings in a variety of shapes and a total open area.
Popular material types include Stainless Steel, Carbon Steel, Galvanized Steel, and Aluminum. You can also find a wide range of non-ferrous and other specialty metals in the Wire Mesh construction type.
The type of material used will depend on the desired application for the mesh.
Common Applications
As previously mentioned, there are a large number of different applications for Wire Mesh. In most cases, it can prove to be one of the most integral parts of a particular project.
Welded Wire Mesh being used to create an infill panel for a safety gate.
Some of the most notable uses include:
Infill panels are non-load-bearing walls or dividers used to create railings, risers, fencing, cabinets, partitions, and more. They create a modern and sophisticated look and bring functionality to any project.
Infill panels typically act as a barrier of some sort that allows light and air to pass through, which offers security without completely blocking sight or sound.
The benefit that Wire Mesh has over other railing alternatives or materials is that it is lightweight and easy to handle during installation. Because of the extensive selection of mesh and opening sizes, wire diameters, patterns, and materials, Wire Mesh offers a superior set of qualities for a variety of construction, manufacturing, or design projects.
It should come as no surprise that Wire Mesh is a versatile material in a wide array of signage applications. In addition to offering plenty of utility, it can also help increase aesthetic appeal.
For instance, it's possible to create an entire sign solely out of Wire Mesh.
You could incorporate this material in alternative ways, such as using it to enclose the sign itself. Regardless of how Wire Mesh is used within signs, it serves as an eye-catching and unique way to convey a message through signage.
Windows and doors are also common structures that incorporate Wire Mesh. In this context, Wire Mesh often serves as an additional security measure. This function is similar to metal bars over these structures without giving off such an industrial appearance.
Another use of Wire Mesh is to replace screens, frequently made from plastic. As long as the openings are relatively small, they create an appearance similar to that of a common screen that you would find on a door or window. As you might assume, this is a great option for keeping unwanted pests out of your home during the warmer months of the year.
In Conclusion
The guide above will help you understand a little more about Wire Mesh and its applications. Be on the lookout for our more extensive dive into Wire Mesh through our official Wire Mesh Guide coming soon!
We invite you to visit our main website to see what McNICHOLS® Wire Mesh can bring to your next project. We carry a wide variety of Hole Products to meet your metal needs, from Perforated and Expanded Metals to Wire Mesh, Bar Grating, Plank Grating and Fiberglass Grating.
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This article will take an in-depth look at metal mesh.
The article will bring more detail on topics such as:
This chapter will discuss what metal mesh is, how it is made, and the design considerations.
The phrase "wire mesh" describes two- or three-dimensional structures constructed of two or more metallic wires connected by various techniques. In a wide range of settings, wire mesh products are frequently used for carrying, displaying, fencing, and armoring. As a result, wire mesh is a necessary component of both industry and daily life.
The materials used to create metal mesh sheets include stainless steel, galvanized steel, plain carbon steel, aluminum, copper, bronze, brass, and other specialty metals. Wires of different thicknesses are intertwined, woven, or joined to form parallel rows and intersecting columns that are proportionately equal in size.
The process of creating wire mesh (sometimes referred to as wire fabric, wire cloth, or hardware mesh) entails weaving wire on commercial looms while leaving square or rectangular gaps between the wires. An electric welder is used to join parallel longitudinal wires where they intersect to create welded wire mesh or cloth.
Iron is used to make steel, which has unique and desirable properties. In particular, stainless steel is entirely rust-resistant and extremely durable, making it the ideal choice for a variety of functions in the economy. Steel wires are more useful for creating wire mesh and other products due to their excellent ductile (the ability to be formed into wires) quality combined with their tensile strength and flexibility.
Wire mesh is one of the earliest and most straightforward things made from steel. Steel wire mesh has been used for millennia in one form or another. The world's social economies, which are constantly expanding, have discovered new applications, such as fencing and barricading, safety covers for operating machines, cages, grills, sifters, and shelves.
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Iron welded wire mesh is used as concrete reinforcement, which serves another significant purpose. Steel wire maker firms cater to the secondary level ancillaries that utilize these wires to create the mesh through welding or weaving.
The considerations include:
Understanding temperature limits is crucial when using a fireproof wire mesh in high-temperature applications. Given that any malleable metal or alloy can be used to create woven wire mesh, you should select the best one for a particular procedure. Here are some of the highest working temperatures: stainless steel grade 304 (1500 °F or 815.5°C); Inconel (1800°F or 982°C); nickel (2700°F or 1482°C); and tungsten (5000°F or 2760°C).
Although most wire cloths are prone to corrosion, some materials, including titanium and alloys like Hastelloy, Inconel, and Nichrome, can tolerate more corrosive conditions.
Viscosity is crucial in wastewater treatment, oil handling, and other petrochemical filtering. Filters can handle thinner, less dense fluids more quickly. Consider what kind and size of wire mesh are required to process very viscous materials to get the best outcomes. Viscosity frequently has a direct relationship with temperature.
Particle size is an obvious factor to consider when selecting the ideal wire mesh. The mesh count, aperture size, and wire diameter can all be determined using the size of any retained particles. It is important to purchase test sieves to achieve the requirements for retained particulate matter sizes.
When materials pass through a filter, the pressure decreases and impurities are eliminated. The filter media you select for your filter significantly impacts the pressure drop rate. The filter will eventually need to be replaced when the pressure decrease reaches a certain level. Effective wire mesh solutions that match your pressure drop criteria decrease costs and contamination hazards.
Viscosity, pressure drop, and flow rate are closely connected. You should consider the percentage of open area when choosing the appropriate mesh product for procedures that specify a required flow rate.
Certain pollutants will influence the material to be utilized, the wire diameter, the density of the wire mesh, the tolerance, the opening size, and the type of weave.
Depending on the purpose, wire cloth parameters must frequently be adjusted. Wire cloth mesh baskets and sieves are used for numerous manufacturing processes to gauge and test the specific gravity of a filtered material. These items, which are often made of brass or stainless steel, must be ordered in accordance with your particular gravity testing requirements.
The different types of metal mesh include:
Expanded wire mesh is made by placing metal sheets in an expanding machine that cuts the pattern of the wire mesh into the sheets and spreads or expands the pattern. The uniform contour of the holes creates a strong, sturdy, and uniform mesh. The process produces a heavy duty and durable wire mesh.
The various forms of expanded wire mesh are easy to weld and have a long lifetime of use. Unlike perforated metals, expanded wire mesh allows for more airflow, which makes it ideal for projects that need thermal regulation. It is also widely used due to its low cost, lightweight, and the small amount of waste produced during production.
The array of intersecting wires in woven wire mesh resembles the weave of a fabric. Usually, a sturdy sheet is created by weaving the wires over and under the perpendicular wires. Weaved wire mesh is also known as Plain Weave Mesh. A "Twill Weave" can be utilized in applications where a more flexible sheet is needed. This includes weaving wire over two parallel wires, then beneath the following pair of parallel wires, and so on.
Instead, they are fed into a device resembling a loom that weaves a straight wire across the pattern of the user’s choice. The next straight wire is then run through the pattern once the wires have been bent in the other direction. The finished wire mesh sheet is then trimmed to the required size after the machine repeats this procedure until the desired dimensions are achieved.
Steel welded wire mesh is created using precise, semi-automatic welding equipment. This machine features a chamber that can supply welds at predicted intersections, which in the case of a mesh are the spots where steel wires aligned horizontally and vertically cross.
One alignment of parallel stainless steel welding wire is fed into the machine, followed by another set of parallel wires perpendicular to the first. Then, the machine welds the 90-degree junction of the two wires together.
Electrical resistance is used to produce enough heat to form the weld. Once the welding is complete, another length of the parallel wires is fed into the apparatus to continue the welding. The operation is stopped once the desired length of welded mesh is generated, and the mesh is trimmed to the required dimensions.
Mechanical Positioning — Cut wires are laid out level across wires fed from spools. The wires are at right angles and perpendicular to one another during mesh welding. Once the wires are in position, the programmed welding technique begins and performs a uniform weld at each cross-section.
Final Steps — after welding, the resulting wire mesh can be rolled up like in wire weaving or cut into the appropriate size sheets that can be stacked in rows to create wire mesh panels. Welded mesh is heavier, more robust, and stronger than woven wire mesh and can only be produced with larger wires that can withstand the welding process.
A sturdy barrier is made for very flexible wire mesh by applying a vinyl coating to welded or woven wire mesh. Vinyl-coated wire mesh is resistant to impacts, scrapes, and abrasions and maintains stability across a wide temperature range.
Wire mesh is sometimes referred to as plastic mesh because of the vinyl covering that gives the appearance that the mesh is composed of plastic. Vinyl-coated wire mesh is resilient, long-lasting, rust- and corrosion-resistant, and has a pleasing look. Furthermore, it protects the wires from contaminating factors like water.
The raw or carbon steel wire used to create galvanized wire mesh is coated with zinc during the galvanizing process. The zinc layer serves as a shield to prevent corrosion and rust on the wire mesh. Galvanized wire or plain steel wire that has been woven or welded and then galvanized can be used to create galvanized wire mesh.
Galvanizing the wire mesh after it has been prepared results in a higher-quality wire mesh but costs more than the other two processes. Galvanized wire mesh is perfect for window guards, infill panels, greenhouse fencing, agricultural and gardening fencing, building and construction fencing, and security fencing. It is one of the more often utilized varieties of wire mesh because of its price.
Stainless steel wire mesh offers superior performance and protection and has all the benefits of stainless steel. Wire mesh is frequently made of steel; however, steel rusts quickly when exposed to air. With the addition of chromium, stainless steel, which is made of the same components as steel, is resistant to rust and shielded from oxidation.
Stainless steel is renowned for its dependability, sturdiness, and longevity in producing wire mesh. Any outdoor application can use stainless steel because of its resistance to rust. In addition, its durability and strength make it the most widely used type of wire mesh. Stainless steel can be welded or woven, as with all types of wire mesh. The stainless steel grades used to make wire mesh include 304, 316, and 316L, with wire diameters ranging from 0.22 to 0.105 inches (0.55 to 2.66 mm) and apertures ranging from 0.25 inch to 1 inch (6.35 to 25.4 mm).
For maritime purposes, a superior alloy called grade 316 stainless steel is employed. It is available in fine, medium, or coarse diameters, has great corrosion resistance, and is unaffected by acids, salt water, or seawater. Although grade 304 stainless steel is workable and less expensive than grade 316, it is not as corrosion resistant as grade 316.
The so-called wire netting fences are one type of wire netting. Examples include the common rectangular nettings used to surround properties. In forestry and agriculture, hexagonal netting is used to fence woodland plantations and safeguard them from animals. Such netting also acts as a slope reinforcement and safeguard against avalanches and rock falls. Another unique category of nettings, circular braids, is used to insulate wires from electromagnetic interference or to reinforce hoses and cables.
This chapter will discuss the types of materials used to make metal mesh including the mesh patterns.
Wire is the primary component of wire mesh and is produced from various ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Wire used to make wire mesh is available in a variety of gauges, which are measurements of a wire's thickness. Lower numbers in gauge numbering indicate larger wires, while higher numbers indicate thinner wires.
The wire gauge for shute or weft wires and warp wires made of plain and crimped wire is the same. The weft and warp wires of dutch weaved wire have various gauges. Very thin gauge wires that have been twisted together make up the bundles for stranded wire mesh.
The type of wire mesh and its application depend on the metals used to form it, in addition to the wire gauge. By pulling raw metal through a die or draw plate, wire for wire mesh is created. In addition to cylinder-shaped wires, rectangular, square, and hexagonal wires are also utilized to produce wire mesh.
Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. Depending on the temperature, it can take either the body-centered cubic or the face-centered cubic crystalline forms (allotropic forms). Steel and cast iron have a variety of special qualities that result from the interaction of the iron allotropes with the principal carbon alloying element.
The degree to which a material may be stretched or compressed without breaking is known as the elongation (or ductility). It lies between the tensile and yield strength and is given as a percentage of the length being evaluated (i.e., what percent does the material bend before breaking). This property of steel enables it to be drawn into wires used to make metal mesh.
Copper wire mesh has exceptional thermal and electrical conductivity and is ductile and bendable. As a result, it is frequently utilized in electrical applications and Faraday cages as a screen against radio frequency interference. Similar to how aluminum is rarely utilized in its pure form, copper is typically alloyed to improve and enhance its inherent qualities.
When copper is subjected to salt, moisture, and sunlight, its color changes from salmon-red to brownish-gray to blue-green or gray-green at the end. Copper wire mesh is coated with coatings and chemicals that either speed up or slow the oxidation process to prevent color change.
Bronze is a 90% copper and 10% zinc alloy of copper. It shares several characteristics with copper, including malleability, ductility, and toughness. In addition to being tougher and less pliable than copper, bronze has stronger corrosion resistance than brass. It is utilized in industrial settings for filtering and architectural purposes.
The more common types of wire used to create wire mesh are those made of the alloys and metals mentioned above. Additionally, titanium, Hastelloy, Monel 400, nichrome, Inconel, and tungsten are utilized to create bespoke wire mesh. Basically, wire mesh can be made from any ferrous or non-ferrous metal that can be shaped into a wire.
Aluminum is inexpensive, lightweight, malleable, flexible, and resistant to corrosion. It is the most often used non-ferrous metal for making wire mesh; aluminum grade 1000, or pure aluminum, is rarely used to make aluminum wire mesh. To boost aluminum's strength and enhance some of its other features, most aluminum is alloyed with other metals like copper, magnesium, zinc, or silicon in certain amounts. The three alloys 1350, 5056, and 6061 are used most frequently to make aluminum wire mesh.
Brass is a copper and zinc alloy. In the production of wire mesh, it is a soft, malleable metal known as 270 yellow brass or 260 high brass. 270 yellow brass is 65% copper and 35% zinc, while the chemical make-up of 260 high brass is 70% copper and 30% zinc. Brass wire mesh has great tensile strength, excellent abrasion resistance, and is toughened due to the higher zinc content. Industrial grade brass wire mesh is a common decorative artistic element in architectural projects because of its yellow hue.
The types of metal mesh patterns include:
The twill weave pattern is perfect for weaving heavier and larger diameter wires. Warp wires are woven over and under two weft wires to create the pattern or vice versa. The warp wire is reversed at the intersections to produce a highly rigid, strong, and stable wire mesh. The pattern becomes staggered as it grows, giving the impression of parallel diagonal lines.
Wire mesh with a twill weave may filter tiny particles and support greater loads. It is a fundamental part of the manufacturing process for filters, food colanders, chemicals, shields, and mosquito nets. Due to their resistance to acids and wear, stainless steel grades 304 and 316 are used in filtration operations.
A crimping mesh machine is used to weave crimped wire mesh with a square or rectangular weave. Compressing the wire for the warp wire to wrap over the weft wire and vice versa is one of the steps used to create crimped wire mesh. The wires are bent during the crimping process, causing them to wrap around one another.
Pre-crimped weaves are crimped before the wire is woven with the addition of tiny folds or ridges to strengthen the rigidity and strength of the wire mesh. The procedure keeps the weft and warp wires secure and stops them from shifting.
This pre-crimping technique locks the weave together at the points where the weft and warp wires connect by using the grooves left over from the crimping process. The final weave is stronger and immovable, similar to pre-crimping.
With inter-crimp, the weft and warp wires are each given a second crimp in between the intersections. This procedure uses fine wire with wide apertures to ensure the weft and warp wires are securely locked to offer more rigidity.
Non-crimped wire is a plain wire mesh made from a straightforward over-under weave of the weft and warp wires. The finished item has a consistent, smooth surface and a simple appearance. Traditionally, plain wire or wire that has not been crimped has a higher mesh count. The most widely used type of wire mesh is plain weave. A plain weave pattern is used in wire mesh with waves that are 3 x 3 or smaller. It is frequently employed for screening purposes, such as window and screen door screens.
Flat top weave produces a strong, locking wire mesh with a flat surface using crimped weft wires and non-crimped warp wires. Since no wires protrude from the top of the mesh to wear, it has a long abrasive life. Due to its low flow resistance, flat top weave wire mesh is preferred for architectural and structural applications requiring a smooth surface. For example, vibrating screens are a typical use for flat top weaves.
Compared to twill weave and plain weave wire mesh, dutch weave is unique. The weft wires of dutch weave wire mesh are a different diameter from the warp wires, which are coarser to provide higher tensile strength. To improve filtering efficacy, weft wires are finer and have smaller diameters. Dutch weave wire mesh is preferred as a filtering material due to its higher strength and smaller openings. Both plain and twill dutch weaving techniques have unique properties to meet the demands of various applications.
Wire mesh with a plain dutch weave has a plain dutch weave mesh that combines a plain wire weave with the dutch weave technique. The weft wire travels over and beneath the coarse warp wire using two different diameter wires, while the reverse is true for the warp wire. Its key benefits are its mechanical stability, smaller wire holes, and extraordinarily high tensile strength of plain dutch weave wire mesh.
Wire mesh with a twill dutch weave pattern combines a standard twill weave pattern with a dutch weave pattern. The weft wire forms a thin mesh in the direction of the warp wire by passing over and under two warp wires alternately, while the warp wires make a coarser mesh in the same weave. Due to its ability to sustain larger loads for filtering purposes and finer apertures than regular twill weave, twill dutch weave is preferable.
Dutch woven wire mesh in reverse is identical to dutch woven wire mesh in plain form. However, with the warp and weft wires switched, the two weaves differ in how the weft and warp are woven. The warp wires have more strength because they are tightly woven with heavier weft wires and positioned close together. Applications requiring wire mesh with acoustic characteristics, mechanical strength, and throughput filtration use the reverse dutch weave.
Wire mesh edges come in two different varieties: raw and selvage. The weft wires provide an edge along the length of the roll when weaving wire mesh cloth, preventing the mesh from unraveling. These weft wires are exposed at the edge of the wire mesh in the case of a raw edge.
To strengthen the stability of the mesh and safeguard workers when handling the mesh, selvage edge wire mesh has a completed border. There are several ways to make selvage edges, one of which is to loop the wires at the cloth's edge.
This chapter will discuss the benefits and applications of metal mesh.
Two- or three-dimensional structures made of two or more metallic wires joined by a number of methods are called "wire meshes." Wire mesh items are frequently used for carrying, displaying, fencing, and armoring in various environments. Thus, wire mesh is an essential part of both industry and everyday life.
Stainless steel, galvanized steel, plain carbon steel, aluminum, copper, bronze, brass, and other specialty metals are among the substances used to make metal mesh sheets. To create parallel rows and crossing columns that are roughly similar in size, wires of various thicknesses are braided, entangled, or connected together.
Before deciding on an application, it is vital to understand the metal mesh type and pattern, including the type of wire.
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