Wire cloth, also known as wire mesh or wire fabric, is renowned for its remarkable versatility. Wire cloth, screen, wire mesh; all interchangeable terms, are often invisible, buried deep within equipment or hiding in plain sight in an architectural accent. Wire mesh products can be made from virtually any type of metal, including stainless steel, copper, aluminum, nickel, molybdenum and many others.
Wire mesh products, also known as woven wire cloth, are woven on looms, a process that is similar to the one used to weave clothing. The mesh can consist of various crimping patterns for interlocking segments.
Mesh consists of wires or fibers woven or knitted into a grid or screen pattern to create a semi-permeable barrier. Types of mesh include screen and netting. Mesh is used in a variety of processes that require straining or sorting. Applications for mesh include filtration, material handling products, radio frequency radiation shields (e.g. microwave ovens), screen printing and surgical procedures.
Other designations for wire mesh are sieving cloth or- more generally- sieve, even if the field of application of wire mesh goes far beyond separation technology- such as when used as a filtration net in a filter system.
As mentioned, wire mesh is found and adapted in a wide variety of industrial, commercial, architectural applications, including protective screens, baskets and trays, enclosures and more. Some manufacturers are committed to produce a custom design according to your project requirements. They are able to produce sophisticated mesh for highly-specialized processes and applications.
Depending on the requirements, wire mesh can be produced in various weave types. These range from the familiar square mesh in plain weave through to complex multi-ply mesh designs.
Plus, when working with a custom design, you have the option to choose from a selection of metals, including, but not limited to:
● Stainless steel
● Aluminium
● Copper
● Brass
Here is a list of other factors you should look for when choosing wire mesh products include:
- Mesh size: It is manufactured with mesh openings ranging anywhere from a few microns to several inches in diameter and measured based on that size. Mesh size indicates the diameter of the openings in the mesh, which affects its ability to screen the materials that pass through it.
- Mesh count: The mesh count measures the number of mesh openings per linear inch. The mesh openings depend on the mesh count, that means, the higher the mesh count, the smaller the openings in the mesh will be.
- Weave type: There are two main types of wire cloth: woven and welded. Woven wire cloth is more common and generally used for filtering, while welded cloth has a smoother surface and greater strength and rigidity. The weave type is a function of the pattern vertical and horizontal wire. The wrap and weave wires can feature the same differing diameters, depending on the application.
To further enhance the properties of your wire mesh product, wire mesh manufacturers also have the ability to combine different, yet compatible, metals to make the results even more unique. In this way the consumers can benefit from cost-effective results in a timely manner.
