Stainless steel wire mesh is a top-rated product used across several industries. Due to its strength and durability, you can use it in several ways, but remember, it can also be fragile. Any corrosion can significantly impact the quality and appearance of the mesh, and it is critical to know how much you should worry about this. Today’s blog gives you an insight into how rusting can effect the appearance and performance of woven wire mesh and what we can do to prevent rusting in it.
Stainless steel tends to rust when it is exposed to moisture and oxygen. As soon as your woven mesh panels are exposed to excessive moisture, they will start to erode. Remember, the corrosion is irreversible, and once your mesh rusts, it will be completely unusable. In many cases, corrosion occurs when the metal comes in direct contact with salt water. Since salt water does not mix well with acidic acids, it has no ionic charge.
Corrosion usually starts at the contact point and spreads throughout the mesh.
How to Prevent Stainless Steel from Rusting
Stainless steel rusts easily if not taken care of. Rusting can pose a significant safety hazard because the steel tends to become thin and brittle after rust. It can easily break, creating sharp corners and edges that could cause serious injuries. If you wish to prevent your woven steel mesh from rusting, follow these tips:
Use vinegar to clean your
woven mesh panels, and then rinse them with water to remove any residue. It is one of the most popular ways used to prevent stainless steel from rusting.
Try to wash your stainless steel using water and soap at least once a week. It should help you eliminate any oil or dirt on the surface. However, it is best if you don’t use harsh chemicals since they may damage your metal’s surface.
You must store your woven steel mesh where there is little or no moisture or sunlight. This should help prevent any rust from getting onto your metal sheets. Stainless steel
woven mesh panels are popular products used across industries because of their ability to resist rust. However, if you are in a particularly humid area, your mesh can develop rust, even if it is stainless steel.
Another popular method to help avoid rust is applying a thin layer of oil or wax. You should also put a small amount of lemon juice onto your stainless steel before you store it away.
If you want your stainless steel to look great and stay safe from rusting, you need to maintain it regularly. The most effective way of doing this is by using an acidic liquid to help you eliminate any oxidation that might be taking place on your mesh.
All methods in this article are trusted and have been used by our professionals for a long time to save meshes from rusting.
Need More Tips On Caring For Your Woven Wire Mesh Panels? Contact Our Team From CaWire
Stainless steel rusting can be a severe problem. You need to take care of it as soon as the initial signs are visible. Our professionals from CaWire are experts in the field and can provide you with the best tips to help prevent rusting. We also offer pure, high-quality stainless steel wire mesh that has passed a series of quality tests. If you wish to understand the best way to care for your stainless steel, feel free to read other blogs on our website.
In the early 1800s, chemist Sir Humphry Davy discovered that a piece of wire cloth could help the functionality of miners' safety lamps. This increased the demand for woven wire mesh and projected the wire mesh industry.
During the initial years, wire mesh was woven using materials like brass, which was relatively inexpensive compared to alloys like stainless steel. But as time went on, we saw a changing of the guard, and stainless steel became the more affordable and widely used alloy used to weave wire mesh.
But just because it is widely used doesn't necessarily mean it's the right choice for you. To achieve the best result, you must understand how stainless steel compares to other alloys, such as aluminum.
W.S. Tyler has been a respected entity within the wire mesh industry for over 140 years. We take pride in educating those interested in wire mesh on everything they need to know to create optimized solutions tailored to their needs.
With that, we wrote this article to help you better understand the differences between aluminum and stainless steel wire mesh. You will learn:
What aluminum is
The benefits of using aluminum wire mesh
What stainless steel is
The benefits of using stainless steel wire mesh
Which of the two alloys makes sense for you
What Is Aluminum?
Much like nickel wire mesh, aluminum is an alloy that naturally exists within the periodic table of elements. It is known to bind with other chemicals easily; thus, aluminum in its pure is not seen naturally despite being one of the most prominent elements on the planet.
When using aluminum to weave wire mesh, W.S. Tyler will use one of three variants: 1100 aluminum (pure), alclad 5056, and 5056 aluminum.
What Are the Benefits of Using Aluminum Wire Mesh?
One of the most widely known benefits associated with aluminum is the fact it is lightweight. This is particularly true compared to other, more widely used alloys like stainless steel.
This can help reduce the stress inflicted on and throughout your machinery.
Aluminum also has the ability to create a protective layer of aluminum oxide when subjected to oxygen. This, in turn, helps aluminum resist various forms of corrosion.
Wire mesh woven from aluminum will also deliver better heat conductivity than stainless steel. To that end, aluminum features properties that make it a great electrical conductor.
Along with being lightweight, aluminum is widely known for its malleability. This allows aluminum wire mesh to be formed in customized components with ease.
What Is Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel is a steel alloy that meets the required carbon composition threshold while also containing chromium. The chromium within all stainless steel alloy does not generally exist in steel by itself.
Instead, it is incorporated on a molecular level when steel is in a molten state.
With properties experimentally calculated over the course of several decades, stainless steel is one of the most widely used alloys used to weave wire mesh. That said, W.S. Tyler will typically use a 300 series or 400 series stainless steel to weave wire mesh.
300 Series Stainless Steel Alloys:
304
309
310
316
317
318
321
330
347
400 Series Stainless Steel Alloys:
With a handful of different stainless steel variants to choose from, it should be noted that 304 and 316 are the most widely used.
What Are the Benefits of Stainless Steel Wire Mesh?
As stated above, all stainless steel contains chromium. Not only does this allow the alloy to be categorized as stainless, but it also makes it highly resistant to corrosion.
This includes corrosion from various alkaline and acidic substances present during industrial applications.
Stainless steel also has the capability to withstand high-heat conditions. It can maintain its performance when subjected to extreme heat as it combats oxidation.
But possibly the most critical property of stainless steel, compared to aluminum, is its durability. Whether subjected to high-impact situations or variations in temperature, the individual wires of stainless steel wire mesh will maintain their integrity for much longer than nickel.
What Alloy Should I Use?
The alloy you use to weave your wire mesh is critical to its performance and longevity. This is why it is critical that you choose the right one.
As it is a fairly soft alloy, aluminum is typically reserved for applications that value a corrosion-resistant mesh that is lightweight over strength. But if durability is essential to the success of your operation, stainless steel may be the better choice.
That said, stainless steel's high threshold for heat can make welding difficult if a low-carbon stainless steel is not used.
Weave Your Wire Mesh With the Right Alloy
While stainless steel is the most widely used alloy used to weave wire mesh, it's not always the right choice. Sometimes applications call for specific requirements, and alloys, such as aluminum, must be used to accommodate these requirements.
Now, if your application will subject your wire mesh to high-impact, corrosive conditions, the durability of stainless steel may perform best. But if your application can benefit from a lightweight wire mesh without sacrificing corrosion-resistant capabilities, you can consider using an aluminum alloy.
But, as stated above, the needs of your process dictate what alloy you use to weave your wire mesh. For this reason, you should understand how each alloy available to you fits within your process and industry.
Having helped engineers, system operators, and everyone in between navigate the wire mesh industry for over 140 years, W.S. Tyler strives to ensure your wire mesh solutions produce efficient results you can proudly stand behind.
To learn more about the other alloys you can use to fabricate your wire mesh solutions, read the following article: