500 mesh denotes 500 wires per inch in each direction. For plain weave wire mesh the governing document is ISO 9044 / ASTM E2016; the specification row, aperture-micron conversion and selection guidance for this count follow.
500 Mesh Specification Row (ISO 9044 / ASTM E2016)
| Mesh count | Wire diameter (mm) | Aperture (mm) | Micron rating (u00b5m) | Open area (%) | Weight SS (kg/mu00b2) | Reference standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500-Mesh | 0.025 | 0.026 | 26 | 25.8 | 0.16 | ISO 9044 |
500 Mesh to Micron & Aperture
| Openings per inch | 500 |
|---|---|
| Aperture (opening width) | 0.026 mm |
| Micron rating | 26 µm |
| Standard wire diameter | 0.025 mm |
| Open area | 25.6 % |
Aperture = (25.4 mm ÷ mesh count) − wire diameter. The micron rating equals the aperture in micrometres; actual retention also depends on particle shape and cake formation.
Wire Diameter Options at 500 Mesh
| Option | Wire dia | Aperture | Micron | Open area | Weight (SS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy wire | 0.033 mm | 0.018 mm | 18 µm | 13.0 % | 0.27 kg/m² |
| Standard wire | 0.025 mm | 0.026 mm | 26 µm | 25.8 % | 0.16 kg/m² |
| Fine wire | 0.019 mm | 0.032 mm | 32 µm | 39.8 % | 0.09 kg/m² |
Heavier wire adds strength and abrasion life but closes the aperture; finer wire opens the aperture and raises throughput at the cost of durability. Specify mesh count AND wire diameter to fix the aperture unambiguously.
Open Area & Flow at 500 Mesh
The standard 500 mesh weave presents an open area of about 25.6%. At this fineness, pressure drop rises quickly as cake builds — size the element area generously and plan a cleaning or backwash cycle.
500 Mesh Cloth Weight
Standard 500 mesh stainless cloth weighs approximately 0.16 kg/m² (density 7.93 g/cm³ basis; brass and copper weave roughly 10% heavier, aluminum about one third). Use this figure for roll handling and freight estimation.
Typical Applications for 500 Mesh Plain Weave Wire Mesh
500 mesh plain weave wire mesh is commonly specified for micro-filtration of process liquids and gases, catalyst recovery, fine chemical and pharmaceutical processing, and precision laboratory analysis.
When to Step Up or Down from 500 Mesh
Move to 635 mesh when particles are passing that must be retained; drop back to 400 mesh when the element blinds too quickly or the pressure drop is excessive. In a multi-layer pack, pair this count with a coarser support mesh downstream to carry the pressure load.
What Plain Weave Wire Mesh Does
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.
Fitting & Care
- 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.
