The primary duty of Plain Weave Wire Mesh is general screening, sieving and filtration with square-aperture stainless steel wire mesh, where each wire passes alternately over and under the next — the most widely used woven wire cloth from coarse 2 mesh to fine 635 mesh. Below: the sectors that specify it in volume, the checklist used to select the right mesh and alloy for the application, handling notes, and the known limits of the type.
Typical Applications for Plain Weave Wire Mesh
Where Plain Weave Wire Mesh is specified and bought:
- Process filtration: strainer baskets, filter discs and pump-intake screens cut from stainless steel wire cloth.
- Food & beverage: sifter screens, dewatering and rinse screens in 304 and 316L.
- OEM fabrication: stainless steel mesh screens pressed, rimmed or spot-welded into appliance and machine parts.
- Laboratory & QA: routine sieving and sample screening where a certified test sieve is not required.
How to Specify Plain Weave Wire Mesh for Your Application
- Mesh count and wire diameter: Specify both — two 100-mesh cloths with different wires have different apertures and open areas.
- Aperture or micron: Quote the opening (mm or µm) you need to retain; the table converts mesh count to micron for every size.
- Alloy & supply form: 304 for general use, 316L for chlorides and food CIP; rolls of 1–1.5 m width, cut sheets, discs or slit strip.
- Standard: Quote ISO 9044 / ASTM E2016 and the size designation from the table on the product page, plus any value you changed in the technical drawing.
Handling & Installation Practice
- Cut on a guillotine or with sharp shears and bind or weld the edges of fine cloth so wires do not unravel.
- Support fine stainless steel wire mesh with a coarse backing screen whenever it filters against pressure.
Common Selection Mistakes with Plain Weave Wire Mesh
- Ordering by mesh count only and receiving a heavier or lighter wire than expected.
- Using plain weave below about 40 µm, where twill or dutch weave carries the fine wire far better.
Where Plain Weave Wire Mesh Is Not the Right Choice
Not the choice for filtration finer than about 25 µm or for very high pressure — use dutch weave, sintered mesh or a filter element instead.
