Knitted Wire Mesh (Industry convention) is specified where the duty calls for gas-liquid separation (demisting), EMI shielding, cushioning and exhaust packing. The sections below cover the typical end-uses by industry, the mesh, micron and material decisions for each, installation practice, and the applications this product type is not suited to.
Typical Applications for Knitted Wire Mesh
The most common settings where this is specified:
- Process vessels: entrainment separators.
- Industrial filtration & separation: removing particulates from liquids, gases and slurries in process plant.
- OEM & fabrication: cut, formed and welded into filter assemblies, screens, guards and enclosures.
- Maintenance & replacement (MRO): matching an existing mesh, screen or element spec when servicing installed equipment.
- Oil & gas separation: demister pads and mist eliminators in vessels.
How to Specify Knitted Wire Mesh for Your Application
- Mesh count / micron rating: Match the aperture or micron rating to the smallest particle you must retain or pass. The table below lists mesh count, aperture and micron for each option — for woven cloth, specify the aperture or micron, not just the mesh count.
- Density & wire: Choose the pad density and wire diameter for the separation efficiency and the allowable pressure drop.
- Material / alloy: Select the alloy for the environment — 304 for general use, 316L for chlorides, food and chemicals, brass or copper for shielding, and Monel, Inconel or Hastelloy for marine, acid and high-temperature service.
- Environment: For damp, coastal, chemical or high-temperature service move up to 316L or a nickel alloy; for dry indoor duty 304 or a coated steel is usually enough.
- Standard: This product is supplied to Industry convention. Quoting the standard on your order guarantees interchangeable dimensions and filtration data between suppliers.
Handling & Installation Practice
- Install a demister pad with retaining grids top and bottom and the pad at its design density — over-compression raises pressure drop.
- For EMI shielding or exhaust packing, pack to the specified density: too loose leaks, too tight cracks.
Common Selection Mistakes with Knitted Wire Mesh
- Under-sizing the demister pad area, so gas velocity exceeds the design limit and the pad re-entrains liquid.
- Choosing the wrong density: too low lets mist through, too high floods and raises pressure drop.
Where Knitted Wire Mesh Is Not the Right Choice
Not for solid-particle filtration — knitted mesh is for mist and vapour separation, shielding and cushioning, not for sieving.
