Stainless steel wire mesh is a popular and widely used material in many different industries. It is featured for its strength, durability, and resistance to corrosion. When it comes to choosing the right grade of stainless steel wire mesh and wire cloth, there are many options available.

Two of the most commonly used stainless steel wire mesh grades are 304 and 304L. Understanding the differences between these two grades is important to ensure that you select the right type of stainless steel for your specific needs.

Stainless steel 304 mesh, also known as 18/8 mesh, is the most widely used type of stainless steel mesh product. It contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel, making it highly resistant to corrosion and staining. This type of stainless steel wire mesh is also known for its good formability and weldability, making it a versatile choice for many different applications.

Stainless steel 304L wire mesh, on the other hand, is a low-carbon variant of 304 mesh. This means that it has a lower carbon content, making it less susceptible to intergranular corrosion. This is particularly important in applications where the steel will be exposed to high temperatures, as it reduces the risk of carbide precipitation and the formation of chromium-depleted zones. The lower carbon content also makes 304L wire screen products easier to weld and form, making it a good choice for applications that require these processes.

When it comes to physical properties, 304 and 304L are very similar. Both have a high resistance to corrosion and staining, making them ideal for use in a wide range of applications, including food and beverage processing, chemical processing, and marine environments. They also have excellent strength and hardness, making them suitable for use in construction and infrastructure.

The main difference between 304 and 304L woven and wire welded wire mesh products lies in their carbon content and the associated effects on their corrosion resistance. While both grades are highly resistant to corrosion, 304L is slightly more resistant to intergranular corrosion due to its lower carbon content. This makes it a better choice for high-temperature applications, where the risk of carbide precipitation is higher.

Both 304 and 304L are highly versatile and widely used grades of stainless steel. The main difference between them is the carbon content, with 304L having a lower carbon content, making it more resistant to intergranular corrosion and better suited for high-temperature applications. 

Stainless steel 304 and 304L wire mesh are commonly used in various applications due to their excellent corrosion resistance, strength, and durability. Some of the most common applications of 304 and 304L stainless steel wire mesh are:

Filtration: 304 and 304L stainless steel wire mesh and its further processed products are widely used for filtration in various industries, including chemical, pharmaceutical, and food and beverage processing, due to its ability to filter out particulates and retain their strength and integrity.

Sifting and Sorting: 304 and 304L mesh products are often used for sifting and sorting applications, such as sorting minerals or gravel, due to their strength and resistance to corrosion.

Security Screening: Both of these two stainless steel grades can be used in security screening applications, such as privacy screen infill mesh, balustrade infill mesh panels, etc.

Architectural Design: Both of them are often used in architectural design for decorative elements, such as suspended ceiling tiles infill mesh, partition screen infill mesh, and wall cladding wire screens, due to their attractive appearance and durability

Food Processing: These two wire meshes are commonly used in the food processing industry for equipment such as strainers, baskets, and filters due to their resistance to corrosion and staining.

Industrial Processing: SS304 and SS304L mesh are used in various industrial processing applications, such as heating and cooling coils, as it has good resistance to corrosion and high-temperature resistance.

Automotive: 304 and 304L wire mesh is used in the automotive industry for various applications, such as catalytic converters and mufflers.