Plain Steel

Plain Steel Wire Mesh – Alloy Overview

Plain Steel Wire Mesh is the most common plain steel alloy used in manufacturing industrial wire cloth screens due to its tensile strength and high impact resistance. Primarily comprised of iron, low carbon grades 1005, 1006, and 1008 are the most frequently used, and contain small percentages of carbon (0.0-0.1%), manganese (0.0-0.5% – which increases its strength), phosphorous (0.0-0.04%), and sulfur (0.0-0.05%). Low abrasion resistance and low corrosion resistance may limit usage in certain applications, however a wide variety of special protective coatings may be applied to improve resistance. Galvanizing (before or after) is the most economical way to protect against corrosion. Alternatively, a protective tin coating is often used on mud grade screens (tinned mill). In addition, steel wire cloth can be protected with epoxy coatings, PVC/vinyl coatings, and our electrostatic application of powder coating. Some characteristics of low carbon steel wire cloth which dictate its wide use are:

• Low carbon plain steel alloy.
• Relatively low cost and high strength material.
• Magnetic in all conditions.
• Not corrosion resistant; rusts in most atmospheric environments.
• Protective coatings can be applied to improve resistance.
• Can be cut, formed, and welded.