PRODUCT INFO

Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is manufactured in a number of grades with varying characteristics and applications.

316-L is the grade used in Classic Hardware’s range of stainless steel wire mesh.


Grade 304
Grade 304 is the standard "18/8" stainless; it is very versatile and the most widely used stainless steel.

Grade 304 performs well in a wide range of atmospheric environments and many corrosive media but is subject to pitting and crevice corrosion in warm chloride environments. EG: in coastal applications.

The melting point of 304 is approx 1400°C.



Grade 316
316/316L is an 18/8 austenitic stainless steel enhanced with an addition of approx 2.5% Molybdenum to provide superior corrosion resistance compared to type 304 stainless steel. 316/316-L has improved pitting/ corrosion resistance and improved resistance to sulphates, phosphates and other salts and has better resistance than standard 18/8 types to sea water, reducing acids and solutions of chlorides, bromides and iodides.

316 is generally regarded as the standard “marine grade” stainless steel but it is not completely resistant to warm sea water. In many marine environments 316 does exhibit surface corrosion, usually visible as brown staining and gradual corrosion. This is particularly associated with crevices and rough surface finish.

Grade 316-L
316-L has the same composition as 316 but with reduced carbon content. This further improves the resistance to chloride (salt) corrosion.

The melting point of 316-L stainless steel is approx 1400°C.

Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. There are many different bronze alloys but bronze is typically 88% copper and 12% tin approx.


The melting point of Bronze varies depending on the actual ratio of the alloy components and is about 950 °C.

Typically bronze only oxidizes superficially; once a copper oxide (eventually becoming copper carbonate) layer is formed, the underlying metal is protected from further corrosion. Copper-based alloys have lower melting points than steel or iron, and are more readily produced from their constituent metals. Bronze resists corrosion (especially seawater corrosion) and metal fatigue more than steel.
Phosphor Bronze Chemical Composition
Phosphor Bronze Percentage of Weight
(maximum unless range is specified)

Phosphor Bronze
Phosphor bronze is an alloy of copper with 8 to 12% of tin and a significant phosphorus content of up to 1%. The phosphorus is added as a deoxidizing agent during melting.

These alloys are notable for their toughness, strength, low coefficient of friction, and fine grain. The phosphorus also improves the fluidity of the molten metal.

Phosphor bronze is used for various items in situations where resistance to fatigue, wear and chemical corrosion are required e.g. most architectural environments including coastal, alpine, urban, city and country.

Phosphor Bronze Wire is corrosion resistant, has high electrical conductivity and high tensile strength. Phosphor Bronze has been used extensively and successfully as a wire mesh in screens and doors in Australia for many decades.

When new, bronze mesh is a bright copper/brass color but when exposed to the elements, it becomes a dark brown color, over 1 to 2 years depending on the environment and atmospheric conditions.