The chemical industry converts raw materials into a variety of substances, playing an essential role in today's economy. Companies that produce chemicals must adhere to strict standards, not only for regulatory reasons but also because industrial chemistry is a precise operation.
Countless other industries rely on chemical production. The substances are a vital component of producing cleaning products, toys, cosmetics, paint, adhesives, rubber, textiles, clothing, electronics, and food additives, like flavoring and preservatives.
To ensure chemical production is done properly, the industry uses specific equipment, tools, and materials, including industrial metal wire mesh products.
Wire Mesh Screens Used in the Chemical Industry
What is wire mesh used for in chemical production? Metal hardware cloth has a range of purposes in the industry, though most fall under the umbrella of filtration.
Companies often use wire mesh for chemical industrial filtration to separate liquids and gases, strain acids from bases, filter substances at extreme temperatures, remove electrostatic charges, prevent contamination, and treat water. Here's what you should know.
1. Oil and Gas Filtration
Crude oil and natural gas make up a substantial portion of the raw materials the chemical industry converts into products and substances. Metal mesh is used to separate and process these hydrocarbons for chemical production.
2. Acid and Base Filtration
In chemistry, acids and bases are viewed as opposites. As such, they are often combined to neutralize each other, which is how chemical compounds like salt, chlorine, and hydrogen peroxide are produced.
Neutralization requires equal quantities of a base and an acid. Wire mesh materials are used to filter acids from bases (or vice versa) to get the exact amount needed.
3. Low to High Temp Filtration
Stainless steel wire mesh is an exceedingly durable and resistant product, especially when it's galvanized. The material holds up incredibly well in a variety of harsh environments and severe temperatures.
For this reason, it's often used for chemical filtration in applications where compounds go from exceedingly high to exceedingly low temps. Liquids and gasses may have a physical or chemical change when they become extremely hot or cold, but the filter media (stainless steel hardware cloth) will stay the same.
4. Electrostatic Charge Removal
Everything has a positive, negative, or neutral electric charge. Products and substances can develop an excessive positive or negative electric charge, sometimes referred to as an electrostatic charge or static electricity.
This can be a safety issue as well as a chemistry problem. Woven wire mesh is used by the chemical industry to remove electrostatic charges from chemicals and production materials.
5. Contamination Prevention
Like many other markets that use laboratories and factory plants, the chemical industry must be extremely cautious about contamination.
Aside from impacting chemical reactions, it can slow down production and result in profit loss. Stainless steel wire mesh with a small-micron weave is crucial in removing contaminants, refining chemical compounds, and purifying substances.
6. Water Treatment
Speaking of contamination and purification, the chemical industry also uses wire mesh to treat and filter water. H2O is a critical component of many chemistry processes, and it needs to be clean, pure, and untainted. Mesh strainers can be used to extract biological contaminants and chemical impurities from water.
Wire Mesh for Industrial Applications from TWP Inc.
TWP Inc. is one of the world's best wire mesh suppliers. As an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certified company, our products and services adhere to the highest industry standards.
Since 1969, our women-owned business has supported many commercial sectors, including the chemical industry. We're proud to carry high-quality laboratory-grade products for a wide range of applications. You can count on TWP Inc. for stainless steel mesh in virtually any size, shape, weave, and quantity. We supply galvanized hardware cloth, welded screens, and sintered mesh as well.
If you don't see what you're looking for, we can accommodate custom orders. TWP Inc. also offers expert in-house services, including measuring, cleaning, slitting, and laser cutting. Order your industrial wire mesh today or request a quote for a custom order.
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