Wire Cloth Perforated Metal or Expanded Metal

Wire Cloth for Fine Work

Wire cloth is used where the rating matters. It covers 1 mesh to 635 mesh and is the media of choice for miniature strainers.

On its own it has limited structural strength at fine counts, which is why it is usually lined onto a support.

Perforated Metal for Coarse Duty and Support

Perforated metal is used for coarse filtering in larger strainers, with holes from 0.4mm up to 1 inch and sheet from 0.3mm to 5mm.

It is also the support layer behind fine wire cloth. Perforated metal lined with stainless steel mesh is the construction commonly used in fine filtration.

Expanded Metal for Strength

Expanded metal is slit and stretched from sheet without any waste, which gives a strong continuous structure with no welds or joints.

It serves as filter media and as support for filter elements, strainer screens, filter baskets and air filters, in thicknesses from 0.3mm to 8mm.

How They Combine

Strainer screens are built in three constructions. A single layer of wire mesh, a single layer of perforated mesh, or perforated metal lined with stainless steel wire mesh.

The third construction is the one that carries fine ratings under pressure, and it is the reason a filter maker needs all three media families in house.