Stainless Steel Wire Mesh - Technical Information

Technical Information Stainless steel mesh is the most popular woven screen in the industrial world. Weaving meets ANSI/AWCI - 01 -1992 and ASTM E 2016-99 and RRW 360.

Stainless steel wire mesh contains chromium and nickel in addition to steel. It is non-magnetic in the annealed condition. After stainless steel wire mesh has been woven, it may become slightly magnetic due to cold working.

Alloy Type 304 or Type 316

T304 is the basic stainless alloy, and unless otherwise specified it is assumed that this type is acceptable. Also called 18-8 due to 18% chromium and 8% nickel. T304 melts at 2600 degrees F (1430 C) but its maximum recommended temperature for continuous service is 1450 degrees F. (790 C) and is useful for intermediate service up to 1650 degrees F (900 C). Its' uses include: sorting and screening of abrasives, liquids, powders and other solids.

T316 is a special stainless alloy due to the addition of 2% molybdenum. This increases its resistance to corrosion by salts, acids and seawater. Also called 18-10 due to 18% chromium and 10% nickel. T316 melts at 2500 degrees F (1375 C) but its maximum recommended temperature for continuous service is 1500 degrees F. (815 C) and is useful for intermediate service up to 1650 degrees F (900 C). Its' uses include: processing of oils, chemicals, food and pharmaceuticals.

Stainless Steel Wire Mesh - Uses

• Faucet screen 60 x 40 mesh T316
• Insect screen 18x14 mesh T304
• Insect screen in a marine environment 18x14 T316
• CRT screen 50x50; 80x80; or 100x100 high transparency grade

Stainless Steel Wire Mesh - Weaving and Grades

Market Grade Wire Mesh | Bolting Cloth | High Transparency Wire Mesh | Welded Stainless Mesh | Micronic (Dutch Weaves) | Sintered (Furnace Bonded)

Market Grade Wire Mesh
These commonly used industrial wire meshes exhibit properties of high strength and square openings. Readily available for immediate shipping. These meshes have square openings straight thru openings.

Bolting Cloth
All bolting clothes are pln sq wv (over one, under one). It is a light, strong, and durable wire mesh with wire diameters lighter than market grades. Its high percentage of open area makes it useful for sifting and separating. All can be crumpled/folded easily with one's hand. These meshes have square openings straight thru openings.

High Transparency Wire Mesh
These "optical grade" precision stainless steel meshes are the world's most delicate highly transparent metal fabric. These meshes have square openings straight thru openings.

Welded Stainless Mesh
These meshes are not woven, but rather the wires are joined by resistance-welding which results in stong, consistent welds which use no filler metal in the joints. It is used when a non-toxic and non-fraying material is required. The smallest hole size is about 1/4 inch. These meshes have square openings straight thru openings.

Micronic (Dutch Weaves)
The dutch weaves (PDW, TDW) are thick, strong; light-tight meshes which are used primarily in fluid, vacuum, and pressure filtration of liquids and gases. These are woven to precise tolerances and their openings are actually tiny curved, triangular tunnels.

Sintered (Furnace Bonded)
Sintered mesh is produced by bonding wire mesh panels to produce a non-fraying material that is used where mesh must retain the aperature sizes and have no wire shifting or fallout problems. It has a rigid, unitized structure that is often made into discs for liquid and gas filtration and diffusion applications.

Stainless Steel Wire Mesh - Discs

500 standard disc diameters

• Same day delivery on stock items
• Tolerance to +/- .001 inch
• Special diameters in three days

To get a quote for stainless steel discs:
Indicate disc diameter, mesh and quantity.

Stainless Steel Wire Mesh - Cutting

Stainless steel meshes with wirediameters from .001 inch to .010 are easily cut with scissors. The heavier wire diameters from .011 up to about .047 can be cut with tin snips. Wire diameters over .047 inches are difficult to cut with hand tools but a compound aircraft-style hand shear can usually nibble its way through.

TWP has a minimum order of $150 for custom cut stainless steel wire mesh discs, rectangles, shallow cups and slit ribbons, essing of oils, chemicals, food and pharmaceuticals.

Stainless Steel Wire Mesh - Choosing

How do I choose a mesh size?
In general, our meshphoto.com site gives detailed descriptions and pictures of many stainless steel meshes.

For someone unfamiliar with wire mesh size terminology, 2 mesh has two wires in each direction in a square inch. You could easily pass a pencil through the openings.

16 mesh has 16 wires in each direction in a square inch. This mesh is used in a window or porch screens to keep out common insects.

60 mesh has 60 wires each direction in a square inch and is the size commonly used in kitchen faucets. An 80 mesh has an opening which will barely pass a human hair.

An idea of how thick the wire is can be estimated using the fact that a piece of paper is about three thousandths (.003) of an inch thick. So, a wire .018 inches thick is equal to 6 sheets of paper. (.018 divided by .003 equals 6). The total thickness of the woven meshes will be about twice the thickness of a single wire. In this case, it would have an overall thickness equal to 12 sheets of paper.

Stainless steel wire mesh samples are available and can be ordered online.

Sample Policy
TWP Inc. will provide samples for your testing and inspection. The cost is $8 per sample ordered (plus UPS Charges).

The sample sizes are as follows:

• 8 mesh and coarser: Sample size is 6 inch x 6 inch
• 10 mesh and finer: Sample size is 3 inch x 3 inch
• 635 mesh: Sample size is 1 inch x 1 inch
• Sintered meshes (Thermobonded tm): Sample size is 1 inch x 1 inch

Stainless steel wire mesh uses | Cutting instructions | Choosing a mesh | Understanding stainless steel weaving types and grades | Stainless steel wire mesh discs | Stainless steel wire mesh samples