WIRE CLOTH MATERIALS

Wire cloth (wire mesh) can be manufactured from any metal or alloy than can be drawn into wire that is suitable for weaving.
Industrial requirements to meet specific applications have resulted in the development of a broad spectrum of wire cloth materials. Each type of material has its own distinct properties that effect its performance in the particular application.
The selection of the material is dependent on the intended usage and consideration of various factors including:
(A) The final application of the wire cloth pertaining to requirements of strength, abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, corrosion resistance, heat resistance or the suitability for use in food production etc.
(B) Secondary processing such as suitability for forming, welding, heat treating, or the application of coatings.
The most commonly utilized materials in wire cloth weaving are listed here for reference purposes.
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STEEL

Low Carbon
Low Carbon steel (C1008) is frequently used in the manufacture of industrial woven wire screens due to its tensile strength and impact resistance. Low resistance to abrasion, chemical attack and corrosion may limit its usage although several types of special coatings such as galvanizing (before or after weaving) can be applied to increase its suitability in a given application.
High Carbon
High Carbon hard drawn steel is used when resistance to abrasion and impact is required. This material is commonly utilized in agriculture, coal, gravel, mining, sand and stone separating, sizing and sorting applications.
Oil Tempered
Oil Tempered wire is specially tempered high carbon steel wire to provide greater strength and abrasion resistance, although its resistance to impact is somewhat lower than regular high carbon steel.
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MAGNETIC ALLOYS

TYPE 410
The general purpose alloy of the martensitic class containing 12.5% chromium. Heat treated T-410 has mechanical properties comparable to alloy steels such as SAE 4130.
Type 410 possesses mild corrosion resistance as well as heat and oxidation resistance up to 1400?Fahrenheit.
Type 430
The general purpose alloy of the ferritic class and the most popular of straight chromium (17%) stainless steels. More commonly used for wire cloth production, T-430 is not heat treatable but is more resistant to chemical attack and high temperature than T-410.
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COPPER AND COPPER ALLOYS

Copper
Copper offers excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. It is non-magnetic, anti-sparking and is resistant to atmospheric corrosion, salt air and brine.
Copper applications are limited due to its low tensile strength, poor resistance to abrasion and common acids.
Brass
High brass (70% copper, 30% zinc) and low brass (80% copper, 20% zinc) have much better abrasion resistance, better corrosion resistance and lower electrical conductivity when compared to copper.
Bronze
Superior to low brass in resistance to corrosion, this alloy contains 90% copper and 10% zinc. The combination of lower tensile strength and better formability when compared to brass make bronze a popular alloy for window screening.
Phosphor Bronze
This copper-tin (4% to 9% tin, approximately 0.25% phosphorous with the balance copper) alloy is corrosion, wear and tear resistant was frequently used in the past for fine mesh cloth.
Phosphor Bronze is not suitable for exposure to hydrochloric acid or strong oxidizing agents.
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ALUMINUM AND ALUMINUM ALLOYS

A unique combination of properties makes aluminum one of our most versatile wire cloth weaving materials. It is light in mass, yet some of its alloys have strengths greater than that of structural steel. It has high resistance to corrosion under the majority of service conditions and no colored salts are formed to stain adjacent surfaces or discolor products with which it comes into contact.
A word of caution should be mentioned in connection with the corrosion resistant characteristics of aluminum. Direct contacts should be avoided in the presence of an electrolyte; otherwise galvanic corrosion of the aluminum may take place in the vicinity of the contact area. Where other metals must be fastened to aluminum wire cloth the use of a bituminous paint coating or insulating tape is recommended.
1100
Pure Aluminum in the woven form is typically used where its light weight and corrosion resistance is more important than strength.
5056
Containing magnesium, manganese and chromium, this non-heat treatable alloy is used most often for weaving wire cloth. 5056 contains 5% magnesium providing good corrosion resistance (particularly in marine atmospheres) and greater strength.
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NICKEL AND NICKEL ALLOYS

Nickel
Nickel is noted for its corrosion resistance, good electrical conductivity and high heat-transfer properties. Wire mesh woven of nickel is used in pure food and drug processing among several other applications although nickel wire cloth is replaced frequently with stainless steel.
Monel 400
This nickel-copper alloy contains approximately 67% nickel, 28% copper and 5% other elements. It is essentially non-corrodible. Monel is more resistant to oxidation than copper and more resistant to reducing conditions than nickel.
Hastelloy B
This nickel based alloy is recommended for corrosion resistance to hydrochloric acid and hydrogen chloride gas, although it is usually not used for high temperature applications.
Hastelloy C
Offering good corrosion resistance to strong oxidizing agents, this alloy performs well at elevated temperatures in the range of 1600?to 1800? Fahrenheit.
Inconel 600
This alloy is high in nickel content (76% to 80%), combined with a chromium content of 14% to 16% is suitable high temperature applications where resistance to corrosion is required. Inconel is the preferred material for heat-treating baskets fabricated of woven wire cloth.
Incoloy 800
Similar to T-330 stainless steel, Incoloy has superior corrosion resistance and strength.
Nichrome I (60/16)
A high nickel (60%) alloy containing 16% chromium and 24% iron suitable for certain chemical conditions and for temperatures up to 1700?Fahrenheit.
Nichrome V (80/20)
A higher nickel chromium alloy containing 80% nickel, 20% chromium, this material is suitable for severe chemical conditions and for elevated temperatures up to 2000?Fahrenheit.
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OTHER METALS

Rare metals such as columbium, gold, molydbenum, platinum, titanium and tungsten can be provided as specified.