Filtration and screening is a process that has been around for thousands of years. From ancient water filtration via rags and cloth to sieving for gold during the gold rush, the process is a part of the world's foundation.
Now, through the years, we have seen technology be leveraged to develop media to improve the performance of the filter and screening systems used to produce the commercial products we rely on. Having said that, you understand certain media, such as woven wire mesh and knitted wire mesh, have a lot in common.
This can be overwhelming when attempting to furnish your production line with the best possible equipment and material.
W.S. Tyler has been helping countless industries achieve their filtration and screening goals for over 150 years with woven wire mesh. We do so by sharing the knowledge we have within our four walls to ensure you know how woven wire mesh stacks up against like products.
For that reason, we wrote the following article to help you make heads or tails of whether woven wire mesh or knitted wire mesh better fits your process. You will learn:
- The definition of woven wire mesh
- The definition of knitted wire mesh
- How woven wire mesh is made
- How knitted wire mesh is made
- How woven wire mesh and knitted wire mesh compare
What Is Woven Wire Mesh?
Woven wire mesh is a metallic cloth that is made up of individual wires in the warp and weft direction. A centuries-old weaving technique is applied to these wires to interweave them, forming them into weave patterns furnished with precise pore openings.
What Is Knitted Wire Mesh?
Knitted wire mesh is a metallic fabric that is constructed using a metal wire that is knitted. This leaves you with a screen/filtration media made up of hundreds of loop openings interlocked together.
How Is Woven Wire Mesh Made?
Wire weavers must use specialized looms designed to handle the metallic wires used to fabricate woven wire mesh. Warp wires in the vertical direction must be threaded through frame systems referred to as heddle frames as well as a read to ensure the mesh specification meets tight tolerance standards.
As the loom begins weaving, a small portion of wire is fed through the loom. A mechanism at the front of the loom called the front take-up mechanism winds the woven wire.
Now, at the exact moment the portion of warp wires is fed through the loom, the first set of heddle frame pulls a specific portion of warp wires up, and the second set of heddle frames pull the other portion of warp wires down.
When this occurs, a weft wire is shot between the sets of wires via a rapier band. The rapier band will then snap back to its resting position, at which point the read slams the weft wire into position.
This leaves you with the precise cross-section woven wire mesh is known for.
At this point, the read snaps back to its original position, more warp wire is fed through the loom, and the heddle frames swap position. This cycle is repeated until the weaving process is complete.
For a more in-depth breakdown of the process involved with weaving wire mesh, read the following article:
How Is Knitted Wire Mesh Made?
Similar to woven wire mesh, knitted wire mesh requires the use of specialized knitting machines that can handle metallic wire. These machines hold spools of wire, and these wires are fed through the machine.
The wire is fed to a cylindrical knitting mechanism that is furnished with needle hooks. As the wire is fed, it is spun around the knitting mechanism and is pulled down as it passed each individual hook.
This works to incorporate the wire into the knit. The knitting process is repeated until a continuous sleeve of mesh is formed.
What Are the Differences Between Woven Wire Mesh and Knitted Wire Mesh?
The most critical difference when comparing woven wire mesh to knitted wire mesh, has to do with the profile of the openings.
Woven wire mesh is woven with rigid wires and to tight tolerances, resulting in pore openings that are relatively permanent and extremely precise. Knitted wire mesh, on the other hand, have more sleazy characteristics meaning the loop openings tend to vary in size and spacing.
Another key difference between the two media comes down to their overall formability.
While woven wire mesh is rigid, there are processes you can apply to deep draw, roll, bend, and otherwise form the mesh to fit a specific application. That said, the knitted profile of knitted wire mesh allows it to be stretched, rolled, bent, etc., with far fewer limitations.
But what is right for me? Well, you must consider the needs of the application.
If your process requires a durable screening media that can provide precise screen/filtration for prolonged periods of time, woven wire mesh will most likely be a better fit. However, if the formability requirements of the media outweigh the accuracy requirements, knitted wire mesh will best suit your process.
Know What Is Available to You Before Investing
Woven wire mesh is a series of wires interwoven together to form permanent pore openings that are highly precise. It's known for its balance between durability and cost-effectiveness and is primarily used when prolonged accuracy is necessary.
Knitted wire mesh is a knitted media that can use one or multiple wires for loop openings that can vary in size. It is particularly known for its stretchable and flexible characteristics.
So, if you come to the conclusion that woven wire mesh is a better fit than knitted wire mesh, you must continue to weigh your options. Again, a lot of filter and screening media have similarities.
For example, you will find that metal fiber felt offers similar flexibility as knitted wire mesh with superior screening capabilities.
Having helped customers weave wire mesh into their operation for over 150 years, W.S. Tyler is here to learn the functions of your operation so we can guide you toward the filtration and screening results you seek.
Read the article below to learn more about how woven wire mesh and metal fiber felt compare: