Applications Of Galvanised Steel Wire Mesh In the Industry

Galvanized Steel Wire

Galvanised wire or GI wire has unique properties of corrosion resistance, structural rigidity and cost-effectiveness. It is used in various applications like reinforcement inside a plastered wall, gabion covering the hillside highway, screen guard at a factory machine, cage for poultry birds and more.

Galvanised wire mesh is a grid structure made using galvanised wires by welding or weaving at the intersections. GI stands for the galvanising process in which the steel wire is coated with zinc to prevent corrosion and rust. The mesh has open spaces, which balance the structural strength and material/weight efficiency. The mesh allows visibility, airflow, and drainage while maintaining a physical barrier. Solid steel sheets cannot provide these properties.

The galvanising process can be done before or after the welding of the wires to form a mesh. Galvanised-Before Woven (GBW)  is the standard process and costs less. The Glavanised-After-Woven (GAW) process provides zinc coating on the welded parts but costs more.

Technical parameters of GI wire mesh

Diameter of the wire - The diameter of the Galvanized Steel Wire ranges from 2 mm to 8mm.

Opening of the mesh - It is the gap between the wires and ranges from 25mm to 200mm.

Roll width - 3 feet to 9 feet

Grades of the raw materials - Galvanised wire, mild steel wire, high carbon wire and stainless steel wire.

Standards - IS 432 (Part II)1982/2002, IS 1566, BS 4483/1969

Application of GI wire mesh

●     GI wires are widely used in the construction industry in India. The mesh is used to reinforce the concrete, plaster and masonry and provide high tensile strength and control cracking. It is increasingly being used to replace TMT bars in slab reinforcement in floors and road pavements. It is used behind plaster in walls and ceilings to prevent cracking, especially at the joints of different materials.

Wire mesh filled with stones, called a gabion basket, is used for slope stabilisation, retaining walls and erosion control. The wire mesh is used for reinforcing bridge deck overlays.

●     The most visible application of GI wires is fencing, and it is used across residential, agricultural and industrial sectors. Chain link fencing is the most popular fencing solution in India, where the GI wires are woven into a diamond pattern. GI wires can be used to make a welded mesh panel fencing that offers higher security, as it cannot be pulled apart. GI mesh fencing can be combined with barbed and concertina wires for layered security.

●     One of the most demanding applications of GI wire mesh is poultry farming. In this, the mesh is continuously exposed to bird pecking, ammonia from bird waste and moisture. In the agricultural sector, the GI wire mesh is used to protect the fields from animals. It also serves as a tree guard for saplings and as a support structure for climbing plants.

●     It is used as a guard in factories to protect the workers from the moving parts, pinch points and flying debris. The mesh provides strength and airflow and allows the workers to operate the machinery.