Technical Material EngineeringEN 1.4301 / 1.4404 / 1.4539

Find the right wire mesh grade for your operating environment.

Match alloy composition to thermal load, chemical exposure, and mechanical stress. Our engineers help you verify the exact stainless steel specification for reliable filtration life.

Operating Temperature

From cryogenic to 1150°C continuous service limits

Corrosive Medium

Acids, chlorides, caustics, and process gases

Differential Pressure

Yield strength requirements under mechanical load

Regulatory Compliance

FDA, 3-A Sanitary, DIN EN 10204 3.1 certification

Core Alloy Selection Matrix

Recommended for critical filtration processes

ASTM / AISI
AISI 304 / 304LVersatile Standard

Standard industrial grade

General filtration, mild chemical exposure, dry environments

Max temp: 870°C (1600°F)
Moderate atmospheric & organic acid resistance
AISI 316 / 316LProcess Standard

Molybdenum-bearing grade

Chloride exposure, marine air, pharmaceutical & food processing

Max temp: 925°C (1700°F)
Superior pitting & crevice corrosion resistance
Specialty (904L / Alloy 20)Severe Service

High-alloy performance

Sulfuric acid, high chloride brine, severe chemical processing

Max temp: 1000°C+ (1832°F)
Maximum resistance to stress corrosion cracking

Full chemical composition & PMI test reports with each batch.

Quality standards
Engineering Materials Guide

Stainless steel alloy selection guide

Compare operating limits, corrosion resistance, and cost factors across wire mesh grades to specify the right alloy for your filtration process.

AISI 316L
Low-Carbon Molybdenum
Nominal Chemistry: 16-18% Cr / 10-14% Ni / 2-3% Mo / <0.03% C

The premier specification for critical life sciences, API manufacturing, and heavily welded fine-micron filter elements.

Corrosion Resistance
Superior (Chloride + Intergranular)
Max Continuous Temp
800°C (1472°F)
Relative Cost Index
1.45x
Fabrication / Sintering
Exceptional (Ideal for sintered laminates)
Typical Process Environments: Pharmaceutical filter discs, sterile liquid filtration, offshore polymer packs

Side-by-side alloy matrix

Technical parameters for standard woven wire cloth and sintered filter media.

All materials & specs
Alloy GradeNominal ChemistryCorrosion ResistanceMax TempCost IndexPrimary Applications
AISI 304
18% Cr / 8% NiGood (Atmospheric & Fresh Water)870°C (1600°F)1.0x (Baseline)Food processing, general screening, architectural, basic liquid filtration
AISI 304L
18% Cr / 8% Ni / <0.03% CGood (Intergranular Resistance)800°C (1472°F)1.1xWelded filter cylinders, sintered multi-layer packs, chemical filter housings
AISI 316
16-18% Cr / 10-14% Ni / 2-3% MoHigh (Chloride & Acid Resistance)870°C (1600°F)1.4xMarine straining, chemical processing, fuel filtration, brine filtration
AISI 316LStandard
16-18% Cr / 10-14% Ni / 2-3% Mo / <0.03% CSuperior (Chloride + Intergranular)800°C (1472°F)1.45xPharmaceutical filter discs, sterile liquid filtration, offshore polymer packs
AISI 904L
20% Cr / 25% Ni / 4.5% Mo / 1.5% CuExtreme (Sulfuric / Phosphoric Acids)400°C (752°F)2.8x – 3.2xFlue-gas desulfurization, fertilizer processing, paper pulp bleaching, sour gas

Selection decision criteria

Core rules for matching stainless alloys to plant conditions and mechanical requirements.

Chloride Exposure
Choose 316 or 316L

Molybdenum content inhibits pitting caused by saline solutions, brackish water, and chlorinated cleaning agents.

High Welding or Sintering
Choose 304L or 316L

Carbon content below 0.03% prevents chromium carbide formation along grain boundaries, protecting joint strength.

Aggressive Acids (H₂SO₄)
Choose 904L

Copper and high nickel addition provide stable passivation against reducing mineral acids and high-chloride liquors.

Dry Food & Ambient Screening
Choose 304

Provides the optimum balance of mechanical rigidity, cleanability, and overall procurement economy.

Need custom alloy validation?

Our materials engineering team provides positive material identification (PMI) and acid bath testing reports.

B2B Direct SupplyASTM E2016 & ISO 9044 Compliant

Request custom mesh specifications and pricing

Send your aperture, weave style, and stainless steel grade requirements. Our application engineers review drawings and deliver technical quotes tailored to your filtration setup.

24-hour turnaround

Receive detailed line-item technical quotes and material availability within one business day.

Certified alloys

Full mill test certificates (MTR 3.1) and ASTM / ISO compliance validation with every batch.

Custom fabrication

Slit coils, stamped discs, welded cylinders, and multi-layer sintered screen packs engineered to print.