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Stainless steel wire mesh is a versatile material that delivers durability that countless industries rely on. Stainless steel in itself has dozens of classifications and specifications that can sometimes make it hard for lab technicians and floor engineers to pinpoint the best solution.
Of all the stainless steel classifications, type 304 and type 316 stand as the most popular. So whats the difference?
W.S. Tyler has worked with woven wire mesh of various alloys for over 140 years and is here to ensure you apply the right one to your operation.
In this article, we establish what stainless steel is, what low carbon alloy is, how 304 and 316 stainless steel mesh compare, and which alloy you should use.
What Is Stainless Steel Alloy?What Is Stainless Steel Alloy?
Stainless steel has become one of the most widely used materials throughout the world. There are centuries of research standing behind its manufacturing processes.
Now, no matter which type of steel you are working with, it is most likely classified by the quality of the alloy. That said, a stainless steel alloy must consist of a certain level of carbon and chromium to be considered stainless.
To put this into perspective, this article will compare 304 stainless steel to 316 stainless steel.
Low Carbon Alloy Steel
As stated above, most steel classifications are dictated by the level of carbon that they contain. When an alloy contains less than .03% carbon, it then carries the classification of a low carbon steel, or L-grade.
Having such a limited amount of carbon in the alloy reduces the amount of carbide precipitation. This heightens the alloys resistance to corrosion.
This is particularly beneficial for applications in which the stainless steel wire mesh is exposed to moisture. In other words, the more carbon that is present in the alloy, the more likely it is to rust and corrode when water is present.
How Do 304 and 316 Stainless Steel Compare?
The main differences between 304 and 316 stainless steel mesh come down to their corrosion resistance, durability, heat resistance, and formability.
Now, 304 stainless steel mesh is an alloy that contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. On the other hand, 316 stainless steel mesh is an alloy that contains 16% chromium, 10% nickel, and 2% molybdenum.
Because 316 has more nickel and contains molybdenum, it is higher quality than 304. These added benefits allow it to be more resistant to corrosive environments, more stable and durable, and more resistant to extreme temperatures.
That said, there are little to no differences between the two alloys visually. They also carry the same ability to be welded and customized during fabrication.
When it comes to cost, 316 stainless steel wire mesh stands as the most expensive of the two. But these margins are not that significant.
To put this into perspective, if a piece of 304 stainless steel mesh costs $1.00 per square foot then 316 stainless steel mesh would cost somewhere around $1.15 per square foot.
This remains the same regardless if you are using 304/316 regular or L-grade 304/316.
Which Alloy Should I Use?
The alloy that should be used depends on the application. If the mesh is going to be subjected to harsh conditions that introduce corrosive substances, 316 should be applied.
This is because the molybdenum that is added to 316 stainless steel wire mesh, allows it to withstand more corrosive applications.
With that, if you are simply using it to sift non-corrosive materials, such as food particles or aggregates, then a 304 stainless steel mesh will get the job done.
Low carbon steel, whether its 304 or 316, should be applied when welding is needed during fabrication. This is because carbon naturally absorbs heat and may hinder any sort of welding or heat treating process.
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So, the higher the carbon content of the alloy the harder it is to be fabricated.
An Effective Operation Starts With Selecting The Right Alloy
The durability of stainless steel wire mesh has made it one of the most versatile materials available. 304 and 316 stainless steel may be the most widely used of the dozens of stainless steel specifications.
As with all alloys, 304 and 316 stainless steel mesh are classified by the quality of the steel as well as the amount of carbon and chromium it contains. That said, the alloy you choose is only one of the many specifications that go into selecting the right woven wire mesh.
If welding is required, stainless steel that contains less than .03% carbon is ideal.
Having worked with woven wire mesh for over 140 years, W.S. Tyler has the expertise needed to guide towards the perfect mesh specifications.
For more information about which mesh specifications work best for you, refer to our article: How to Pick the Right Woven Wire Mesh (Mesh Count, Wire Diameter, and Micron Rating).
Description
Fine Wire Mesh
0.233mm hole stainless steel fine wire mesh in top quality 304 grade made from 0.14mm wire. As you can see from the image, this is a fine mesh specification. The holes are very small and not especially visible by naked eye. It is of interest to anyone who needs a fine mesh for any application. You would be able to bend and fold this mesh by hand very easily.
Stainless steel fine wire mesh is an excellent choice for a variety of industrial applications due to its superior strength, longevity and resistance to corrosion. The fine mesh structure and weave of this material makes it convenient for sieving particles or fine filtering, while high temperatures can be tolerated without causing any damage. In fact, fine wire mesh is used in many industries such as electronics, aerospace and automotive manufacturing due to its intricate fine filter capabilities and strong durability.
Specification Of This Mesh:
- Holes / Wires Per Linear Inch = 70
- Holes / Wires Per Square Inch = 4,900
- Wire Thickness = 0.14mm
- Hole Size / Aperture = 0.223mm
- Open Area % = 38%
- Cut With Standard kitchen scissors or fingers alone. We would use fingertips to tear this mesh to size
Wait!! Before you order your mesh please first check out our clearance listing which is where we put all of our over-run bargain rolls at reduced prices. You never know, you might find just the roll that you need for your purposes.
Why Choose The Mesh Company?
Our group have been in the mesh industry for over 150 years. We are one of the UKs most trusted mesh suppliers because:
- Quality products: We offer high-quality products that are designed to meet the needs of a wide range of customers.
- Wide range of products: We are known for offering a wide range of products, including mesh, fencing, netting, and other related products.
- Experienced staff: Our staff are knowledgeable, experienced, and can provide expert advice and assistance to customers. This can be especially helpful for customers who are unsure about which product to choose or who have specific requirements. We also regular write blogs and help guides to help explain what our materials can be used for.
- Competitive prices: We are sure that our prices are always the lowest around. This makes us an attractive option for customers who are looking for a cost-effective solution.
- Customer service: The Mesh Company place a high priority on service and offer excellent support and assistance to our customers. This can help to ensure that you will have a positive experience when working with The Mesh Company.
We also offer a massive range of 304 stainless steel perforated metal sheet options from immediate stock. In order to produce stainless steel perforated metal sheet, flat sheet metal is punched with round or square holes. Perforated sheets are commonly often used in applications where the passing of air is required. Because the holes are punched, it is possible to have a far stronger finished metal product than it would be for the equivalent thickness in woven or welded mesh.
The Mesh Company has an enormous range of wire mesh products. We truly are an industry leader among suppliers of weld mesh and woven wire materials. With the capabilities we have in-house, we can provide virtually anything you require. Chicken wire, insect meshing and rodent mesh materials are also available in large stock quantities at bargain prices.
FAQs For This Product
What Is Defined As A Fine Wire Mesh?
A fine wire mesh is a type of woven wire mesh that features a small opening size relative to the wire diameter. The exact definition of fine can vary depending on the intended application, but typically refers to mesh sizes with openings that range from around 5 microns to 500 microns (or 0.005mm to 0.5mm).
Fine wire meshes are commonly made from materials such as stainless steel, brass, or other metals, and are often used in applications where precise filtration or separation of small particles is required.
Woven mesh has the benefit of being able to be weaved to far finer hole sizes than other mesh types.
Can Fine Mesh Be Used For Filtration?
Fine wire mesh is commonly used for filtration applications where the removal of small particles is required. The size of the openings in the mesh determines the size of particles that can be effectively removed from a fluid or gas. For example, if the mesh has an opening size of 10 microns, it will effectively filter out particles that are 10 microns or larger in size.
In order to effectively filter particles, the mesh material must be able to withstand the pressure and flow of the fluid or gas being filtered. Stainless steel is a popular material for fine wire mesh filtration due to its strength, durability, and resistance to corrosion.
It is important that the mesh selected can withstand the pressure needed to force through the media that is intended to pass through.
How Can I Make This Calculation?
Calculating the mesh size you will need for filtration depends on the size of the particles you want to remove and the desired flow rate of the fluid or gas being filtered. Here are the general steps to calculate the mesh size:
- Determine the particle size: The first step is to determine the size of the particles you want to remove from the fluid or gas being filtered. This will determine the minimum opening size of the mesh.
- Choose the mesh material: Select the material for the mesh based on the properties required for your application, such as strength, durability, and chemical resistance.
- Estimate the flow rate: Estimate the maximum flow rate of the fluid or gas being filtered in litres per minute or cubic meters per hour.
- Calculate the mesh size: Once you have the particle size, flow rate, and mesh material, you can use an online calculator or formula to calculate the mesh size needed.
Check out our blog everything that you need to know about woven filter mesh for more information on this range of products.
Our goal for our blogs and help guides is to answer as many questions as possible to help to explain the possibilities of mesh to our customers. Contact our team today if you have any questions at all. We are always really keen to help in any way that we can.
We also have an ever expanding Youtube channel. We created this channel to help showcase our products, inform our customers on the wire mesh market, and use our position as a trusted authority in our industry to help all to understand exactly what metal mesh can offer.
We also offer similar products through our highly popular eBay store, check us out there too.
The company is the world’s best Stainless Steel Wire Mesh Manufacturer supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.