Coating to Stainless Steel mesh

[Robert Alford]

Hello
I am working for a filtration company as a student from Loughborough university on a ongoing project into coatings to Woven wire mesh.

I am currently looking into coatings/surface finishes for woven wire mesh packing using in scrubbing towers.

The situation is this:
Customer uses mesh as a form of gas scrubbing unit, I am unsure exactly what gas we are talking about (I understand this is quite important to offer advice) I don't believe it is anything highly corrosive or that any extreme temperatures/pressures are involved.

The current mesh although offering a reasonable surface area the customer requires a greater area.

My question to you is can you recommend any surface finishes that will successfully increase the surface area for this applications.

Current ideas I have had include
Acid etching (HF)
Shot blasting

Would these two be suitable, is there anything else you can recommend
Thank you

Robert

[djewell]

The two methods you indicated would slightly increase the surface area, but not much. With the limited information you gave, a rough arc spray coating would give you even more surface area. There could be some problems that are created with this approach, which you would have to investigate. This is just an idea for brainstorming.

[durkie]

How does the customer know they need more surface area? What is that based on?

You make it sound like something about the mesh reacts with these gases, and that it's not just acting as a mechanical filter. So if that's the case, it seems like coating it with anything would reduce the surface area. Some sort of surface treatment might be an option, but why not just use finer wires?

[Gordon]

Hi Robert

to the Surface Engineering Forum.

Difficult to answer without much more information. The obvious one being the use of a finer mesh.

[Robert Alford]

Thank you all for your advice.
I am sorry I am unable to provide much information.
The finer mesh is an option but that will increase pressure drop.
I will endeavour to obtain more information and get back to you
Thank you again for your help

Robert

[joncro55]

http://www.bwire.com/

I would ask them there. They seem to have a very knowledgable staff when it comes to coating and/or heat trearing stainless steel wire mesh. I recently had them heat treat some monel wire cloth for me and they did it quickly and effectively.