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Brass Wire Mesh – Alloy Overview

65-35 yellow brass wire mesh (aka C270 brass wire mesh) is the most extensively used brass alloy in the industrial wire cloth world. As its common industry name suggests, 65-35 yellow brass is comprised of 65% copper and 35% zinc, with small additions of lead (0.045%) and iron (0.035%). When compared to copper wire cloth, C270 brass wire cloth possesses much better abrasion resistance, hardness, and tensile strength; it also exhibits improved corrosion resistance and lower electrical conductivity. As a higher zinc content results in a stronger, more ductile brass material, 65-35 yellow brass is stronger and more ductile than 80-20 low brass and 70-30 cartridge brass, but weaker and less ductile than 60-40 muntz brass. In comparison to phosphor bronzes, C270 brass is a softer material. Some characteristics of 65-35 yellow brass wire cloth which dictate its wide use are:

• The most widely used brass alloy for cold-forming.
• Non-magnetic in all forms.
• Golden yellow in color.
• Withstands outdoor exposure without rusting.
• Corrodes when exposed to ammonia and other salts.
• Good thermal and electrical conductivity.
• Antimicrobial.
• Can be cut, formed, and welded.

Copper Wire Mesh – Alloy Overview

Copper wire mesh is an infrequently used copper alloy in the world of wire cloth. copper is a pure, phosphorized copper with a minimum copper content of 99.9% and a nominal phosphorus content of 0.008%. As with other pure coppers alloys, copper wire mesh possesses excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, and is very malleable, pliable, and ductile. In comparison to bronzes and brasses, C12000 copper wire cloth possesses lesser abrasion resistance, hardness and tensile strength.

Following weaving, copper wire cloth is reddish-brown in color. Over time, the surface will slowly patina to a greenish/blue color known as verdigris. The environment plays a primary factor in the pace at which C12000 copper wire mesh will patina. In dry conditions, it can take years for the patina to take full effect, whereas in outdoor, seaside settings, copper wire cloth will fully patina in as little as six months.

If desired, you can speed up the patina effect by removing surface oil with a mild household cleaner, or can slow down the patina effect by applying a lacquer, wax, or occasional oiling to protect the copper wire cloth from the environment.

Some characteristics of copper wire cloth which dictate its use are:

• An infrequently used copper alloy for wire cloth (CDA 102 copper being the most commonly used).
• Non-magnetic in all forms.
• Reddish-brown in color following weaving; will slowly patina to a greenish/blue color known as verdigris.
• Withstands outdoor exposure without rusting.
• Superior resistance to atmospheric corrosion vs. bronze & brass alloys.
• Corrodes when exposed to ammonia and other salts.
• Excellent thermal and electrical conductivity.
• Antimicrobial.
• Can be cut, formed, and welded.