Glossary

Apparent Percent Opening (APO)

Percent Open Area of a mesh that is viewed at an oblique angle.

Area Moment of Inertia

A property of a shape that is used to predict its resistance to bending and deflection.

Aspect Ratio (AR)

The ratio of the larger pattern repeat distance to the smaller pattern repeat distance. Useful for mesh with non-square openings or repeat patterns.

Asymmetric

For our purposes, any fabric that is woven with a flat top crimp style wire will have two surfaces with different textures - a front and a back, or a top and bottom.

Austenitic

Having a particular crystalline structure frequently associated with ferrous metals.

Crimp

The manner in which the wire is formed. See Crimp Styles

FOB

Short for Free on Board, it describes when ownership changes hands when material is shipped. For example, ownership may change when an item leaves the seller's building or when it arrives at the buyer's location.

Galvanize

To coat iron or steel with a layer of zinc. This provides the base material with corrosion resistance.

Gauge

A numerical integer method of designating wire diameters. Many different gauges exist. To avoid confusion, use decimals of an inch or mm to designate wire diameter.

Heat Treat

To subject a specific material to controlled heating and cooling to change its physical characteristics.

LTL

Short for Less than Truckload. Used to distinguish smaller quantities of freight that are not heavy enough or large enough to require a dedicated truck.

Mesh to Diameter Ratio (MD)

The mesh spacing (center to center) divided by the wire diameter. The MD can be used to determine appropriate crimp styles and percent open area.

Mesh Spacing, Mesh Count

Generally refers to the repeat pattern of the woven material. Defined either as a measured distance expressed in inches, or as the number of opening per lineal inch expressed as a count. For example, 2 mesh has 2 openings per inch (1/2" center to center) while 2" mesh has openings of 2" center to center. Diligence is required when specifications are given, these two methods of measuring spacing are often confused.

Metallurgy

The general science of metals.

Mill Certs

Material certification documents.

Modulus of Elasticity

An elastic modulus, or modulus of elasticity, is the mathematical description of an object or substance's tendency to be deformed when a force is applied to it. For our purposes, when a light force is applied to a piece of wire, of same diameter and length, it will deflect differing amounts depending on material. Aluminum and copper based alloys will deflect approximately three times the amount of steel based alloys. Modulus is different from strength.

Opacity

The degree to which a particular mesh is opaque.

Patina

A chemical compound formed on the surface of metal.

Percent Open Area

The ratio of hole area to total screen area at a 90° angle of incidence to the plane of the material, expressed as a percentage. Material with 40% open area will have 40 square inches of opening for every 100 square inches of material. Percent open area helps in comparing various materials as to how readily a product, whether it be corn, air, or light, will pass through the screen.

Pickling

Immersing metals in a solution to remove surface scale and oxidation.

Scale

For our purposes, the ability to create larger or smaller weaves without changing any proportions or crimp styles.

Shute (or Fill Wires)

Wires that lie perpendicular to the direction in which the fabric is being woven.

Stiffness

Resistance to deflection by an applied force. How firm, or, conversely, how springy does an object feel.

Strength

For our purposes, how much load will a piece of wire withstand before:
a) Permanent bending (yield strength)
b) Breaking (tensile strength)

Striation

A thin line or band, especially one or several that are close together.

Warp Wires

The wires that lie parallel to the direction in which the fabric is being woven.