Here at Lawrence Sintered Metals, we offer wire mesh in a variety of different alloys, but our most popular metal is stainless steel. What is stainless steel, and why does it make such an excellent wire mesh option? We’re going to explore that question in this article so that you can make a more informed purchasing decision if you are in need of wire mesh.
Introduction to Stainless Steel
You may not realize this, but steel is actually an alloy. You can’t pull steel out of the ground. You have to make it using iron and a variety of other elements. The vast majority of steel production is for carbon steel, which combines – you guessed it, iron and carbon.
Unfortunately, though iron is strong and sturdy, it also easily rusts, which can make it difficult to use for a variety of purposes. What makes stainless steel so special is that it offers rust resistant qualities.
Stainless steel is made up of iron and a minimum of 11.5% of chromium. It often includes other elements, such as carbon, silicon, manganese, and possibly also nickel and molybdenum.
What’s So Special About Chromium?
Chromium is the magical ingredient that turns regular steel into stainless steel. Why is chromium so important? As mentioned, iron has the unfortunate habit of rusting, which makes it inconvenient to use.
Rusting simply means that steel oxidizes when it is exposed to air or moisture. Once iron starts to rust, it can quickly warp and weaken. In stainless steel, the chromium actually oxidizes as well, but this passive film helps prevent more corrosion.
Stainless steel is not rust-proof, but it certainly rusts less quickly than standard carbon steel, which makes it a highly useful wire mesh option.
2×2 Mesh .063″ Wire .437″ Opening 76.4% OA
Why We Love Stainless Steel Wire Mesh
As mentioned, stainless steel wire mesh is our most popular wire mesh product. The reason is obvious. Stainless steel is strong, sturdy, and reliable. It is also rust-resistant. Many of our clients use our wire mesh to put up fencing and security barriers. Others use it for gardening or in construction. For all of these uses, our customers don’t want a metal that will oxidize and rust over time, especially after getting hit with rain or with sprinklers.
Do you have more questions about our stainless steel wire mesh or the other different metal alloy options that we offer? We’d be happy to answer all of your questions. Give us a call today!
