Brass Wire Mesh: C230, C260 & C280 Alloy Supplier
Source brass wire mesh in C230, C260, and C280 alloys. Compare woven, crimped, expanded, and knitted constructions, check mesh counts and tempers, and request a factory quote.
View SpecificationsBrass Wire Mesh Alloys and Specifications
ASTM B134 defines brass wire composition and temper, while ASTM B36 covers brass sheet and strip used for expanded mesh. CDA alloy designations state the copper-zinc ratio. State the alloy, temper, construction, mesh opening, wire diameter, dimensions, and quantity in every brass wire mesh RFQ.
C230 red brass, C260 cartridge brass, or C280 Muntz metal in half-hard, hard, or spring temper per ASTM B134
Woven wire cloth, crimped screen, expanded mesh, or knitted brass wire mesh
Woven cloth from 20 to 200 mesh; crimped screens from 1/4 inch; expanded and knitted mesh in standard stock widths
0.05 mm fine filter wire through 2 mm heavy decorative and screen wire
Rolls 1 m or 48 in wide, sheets, discs, and cut-to-size pieces
Bright mill finish standard; antique, brushed, or lacquered finishes on request
| Alloy | Copper content | Typical temper | Character and RFQ note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C230 red brass | 84-86% | Half-hard to spring | The default brass wire mesh alloy: bright warm tone, good formability, and proven EMI shielding performance. State the mesh count and wire diameter in the RFQ. | |
| C240 low brass | 79-81% | Half-hard to hard | General-purpose brass wire mesh for filtration and vent screens where exact color matters less. | |
| C260 cartridge brass | 68.5-71.5% | Hard and spring | The classic 70/30 alloy for fine woven cloth with precise apertures and consistent spring back in gaskets and shields. | |
| C270 yellow brass | 63-68.5% | Half-hard | Economical yellow brass mesh for decorative panels, insect screens, and craft duty. | |
| C280 Muntz metal | 59-63% | Half-hard | The strongest and most golden 60/40 alloy for heavy decorative and architectural mesh panels. |
Common Stock Specifications: Brass Woven Wire Mesh
Typical stock mesh counts in C230 and C260 wire. Rolls are commonly 1 m or 48 in wide; cut-to-size sheets and discs are available on request. Confirm wire diameter tolerance and temper at RFQ.
| Mesh count | Wire diameter (mm) | Aperture (mm) | Open area | Typical use | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mesh | 0.35 | 0.92 | 53% | Vent screens, decorative panels, and coarse guards | |
| 40 mesh | 0.25 | 0.385 | 36.8% | EMI shielding panels and general screening | |
| 60 mesh | 0.15 | 0.273 | 42% | Filter backing and RF shielding | |
| 80 mesh | 0.12 | 0.198 | 38.8% | Fine filtration and shielding gaskets | |
| 100 mesh | 0.10 | 0.154 | 37% | Ultra-fine filter cloth and precision screens | |
| 120 mesh | 0.08 | 0.132 | 39% | Fine sifting and EMI-critical assemblies |
Brass vs Copper vs Stainless Steel Wire Mesh
The three mainstream choices when you need conductive or decorative mesh. Start from the environment and the duty, then let cost decide between candidates.
| Factor | Brass | Copper | Stainless 304 / 316 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First cost | Medium; tracks copper prices | Highest of the three | Low to medium | |
| Electrical conductivity | Good; about 23-28% IACS by alloy | Excellent; about 100% IACS | Poor; about 2-3% IACS | |
| Outdoor and coastal life | Tarnishes; dezincification risk in seawater | Patina forms but metal stays sound | Decades; no coating to fail | |
| Hygiene and antimicrobial | Antimicrobial copper-alloy surface | Antimicrobial copper-alloy surface | Cleanable but not antimicrobial | |
| Spark resistance | Spark-resistant; safe for hazardous zones | Spark-resistant | Can spark on impact | |
| Appearance | Warm gold that ages to antique tones | Salmon-pink that darkens to patina | Bright metallic that stays clean | |
| Best for | EMI shielding, décor, filtration, and spark-safe duty | High-conductivity bus and RF work | Marine, food, chemical, and architectural duty |
Brass Wire Mesh Standards Quick Reference
Match the standard to the product form: wire before weaving, or sheet before expanding. Confirm the standard edition, alloy, and temper in the purchase order.
| Standard | Scope | RFQ note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASTM B134 | Brass wire specification | The default wire standard for brass wire mesh; state alloy and temper | |
| ASTM B36 | Brass plate, sheet, strip, and rolled bar | Applies to expanded brass mesh produced from sheet | |
| CDA alloy designations | Copper Development Association numbering for copper alloys | Use CDA numbers such as C230 or C260 to avoid trade-name ambiguity |
Pain Points Solved by Brass Wire Mesh
Start from the buying pain, not the product. Each row names the typical procurement problem, how brass wire mesh answers it, and when the alternative material wins.
| Buyer pain point | Brass wire mesh answer | When the alternative wins | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel mesh rust stains products and the work area | Brass resists corrosion in its own body; there is no coating to fail or flake | Long outdoor or coastal life still belongs to stainless steel wire mesh | |
| EMI fails certification or disrupts nearby equipment | Conductive woven mesh shields while keeping airflow and visibility | Extreme frequency bands need a tested custom mesh count, not a stock guess | |
| Hazardous zones forbid sparking materials | Brass strikes no impact sparks, so mesh guards stay safe in ATEX-style areas | Structural loads still use steel frames behind the brass mesh | |
| Enclosures and vents must double as grounding paths | Brass carries about 23-28% IACS, enough for screen, guard, and ground in one part | High-current bus work upgrades to pure copper mesh | |
| Bacteria build-up in public and food-adjacent spaces | Brass is an antimicrobial copper-alloy surface | Heat-sterilized or chemical-washdown duty prefers stainless steel | |
| Paint and plating peel off decorative metal parts | Brass is gold in its own metal; no lacquer or plating is required | Color-stable outdoor panels favor powder-coated aluminum mesh | |
| Fine filtration needs a contaminant-free, non-rusting medium | Precision woven brass cloth sieves powders and liquids without rust particles | Direct food contact typically specifies 316 stainless steel wire mesh | |
| Galvanic staining where mesh meets steel frames | Correct isolation in installation prevents the contact pair | Seawater assemblies go straight to phosphor bronze or copper-nickel | |
| Mixed mesh counts and gauge confusion in the RFQ | State mesh count plus wire diameter in millimeters to remove ambiguity | None: the spec discipline applies to every material | |
| Copper price shocks make fine copper mesh unaffordable | Brass delivers most copper performance at a lower alloy cost | Ultra-low-cost duty still uses galvanized steel wire mesh |
EMI Shielding Mesh Selection Guide
A practical starting point by target frequency and airflow. Shielding performance depends on mesh density, wire diameter, and contact continuity, so verify with samples before bulk production.
| Shielding target | Recommended mesh | Selection note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 100 MHz: general rooms and cabinets | 40 mesh (0.385 mm aperture) | The balanced starting point between shielding and airflow | |
| 100 MHz to 1 GHz | 60-80 mesh | Smaller apertures block more; check that thicker wire does not cut the open area | |
| Above 1 GHz: sensitive electronics | 80-120 mesh, or double layers | Stagger double layers to avoid resonant slot effects at seams | |
| Airflow first: ducts and filter faces | 20-40 mesh | Start at 40 mesh and open up only if the airflow budget fails | |
| Serviceable openings and gasket joints | Knitted brass strip | Flexible knitted mesh keeps continuous contact that foil cannot hold | |
| Ventilation windows on shielded doors | 60 mesh framed panel | Frame the mesh with a conductive gasket; the seam leaks more than the mesh | |
| Test enclosures and lab Faraday cages | 40-80 mesh by band | Seam and door treatment dominate the result; plan a full-enclosure test |
Brass Wire Mesh Weight Chart
Theoretical weight for freight and budget estimates: kg/m2 is roughly 0.34 x mesh count x wire diameter (mm) squared for brass at about 8.5 g/cm3. Actual weight depends on alloy, temper, and tolerances; confirm on the packing list.
| Mesh count | Wire diameter (mm) | Weight (kg/m2) | 1 m x 30 m roll (kg) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mesh | 0.35 | 0.83 | 25 | |
| 40 mesh | 0.25 | 0.85 | 26 | |
| 60 mesh | 0.15 | 0.46 | 14 | |
| 80 mesh | 0.12 | 0.39 | 12 | |
| 100 mesh | 0.10 | 0.34 | 10 | |
| 120 mesh | 0.08 | 0.26 | 8 |
Brass Alloy Physical Properties Quick Reference
Typical reference values for the three main brass wire mesh alloys. Actual properties depend on temper, so confirm the certified values with the mill certificate in the RFQ.
| Property | C230 red brass | C260 cartridge brass | C280 Muntz metal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Density (g/cm3) | 8.75 | 8.53 | 8.39 | |
| Electrical conductivity (% IACS) | ~37 | ~28 | ~28 | |
| Tensile strength, half-hard (MPa) | ~380 | ~425 | ~450 | |
| Tensile strength, annealed (MPa) | ~270 | ~300 | ~370 | |
| Elongation, annealed (%) | ~55 | ~66 | ~52 | |
| Melting point (deg C) | ~1025 | ~950 | ~905 |
Mesh Count to Aperture Conversion
One formula removes all mesh-count ambiguity: aperture (mm) = 25.4 / mesh count - wire diameter (mm). Cross-check the result with the stock table above before you write the RFQ.
| Mesh count | Wire diameter (mm) | Aperture (mm) | Aperture (in) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mesh | 0.35 | 0.92 | 0.036 | |
| 40 mesh | 0.25 | 0.385 | 0.015 | |
| 60 mesh | 0.15 | 0.273 | 0.011 | |
| 80 mesh | 0.12 | 0.198 | 0.008 | |
| 100 mesh | 0.10 | 0.154 | 0.006 | |
| 120 mesh | 0.08 | 0.132 | 0.005 |
Marine Copper Alloy Comparison
For seawater and splash-zone duty, brass is not the end of the copper family. Match the alloy to the exposure, and confirm the grade in the RFQ.
| Material | Seawater behavior | Strength and workability | Cost | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brass C260 / C280 | Corrodes in time; dezincification risk in salt water | Good strength; easy to form and solder | $ | Freshwater or short-term tidal service | |
| Phosphor bronze C510 / C521 | Excellent resistance; no dezincification | High strength and spring back | $$ | Marine filtration, springs, and fasteners | |
| Copper-nickel C70600 (90/10) | Best-in-class; resists biofouling and erosion | Moderate strength; good weldability | $$$ | Seawater piping, fish farming, and splash zones | |
| Stainless 316 | Resists chloride pitting in most marine air | High strength; harder to form | $$ | General marine structural mesh | |
| Monel 400 | Outstanding resistance in flowing seawater | High strength; moderate workability | $$$$ | High-performance marine components |
Tarnish and Maintenance Guide
Brass does not rust, but it does tarnish. Match the finish to the environment, and clean with the right chemistry.
| Condition | What happens | How to handle | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indoor dry décor | Slow antique-toned tarnish over months to a year or two | Accept the aged look, or polish periodically with brass cleaner | |
| Outdoor without protection | Dulling within weeks to months, with water spotting | Choose lacquered or antique finish; avoid standing water on the mesh | |
| Frequently touched areas | Fingerprints and faster darkening on contact zones | Specify clear lacquer, or plan regular wipe-downs | |
| Damp or rain-exposed service | Green patina may develop on the surface | Prevent trapped moisture; upgrade to coated or stainless mesh if aesthetics matter | |
| After welding or cutting | Heat tint and discolored zones near the work area | Polish locally or re-finish the panel; prefer soldering for fine cloth | |
| Cleaning | Harsh chemistry can etch fine wire | Mild soap and water with a soft cloth; commercial brass cleaner; never ammonia-based or strong-acid cleaners |
Constructions We Source in Brass
One alloy family, many constructions. Compare woven, crimped, expanded, and knitted brass wire mesh before you specify.
Brass woven wire mesh
Plain and twill weave cloth from 20 to 200 mesh for shielding, filtration, and screens.
Brass crimped wire mesh
Pre-crimped heavier wire locks openings for decorative panels and guards that keep their shape.
Brass expanded mesh
Slit-and-stretched sheet forms rigid, slip-resistant brass mesh for guards, treads, and decorative cladding.
Brass knitted wire mesh
Knitted brass wire mesh strips for RF gaskets, pipe wraps, and mist eliminators that flex with the joint.
Brass Wire Mesh Products
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Where Brass Wire Mesh Is Used
Choose brass wire mesh when you need conductivity, corrosion resistance, and a warm metallic look in one product.
EMI and RF shielding
Brass woven mesh lines Faraday cages, equipment cabinets, and RF gaskets, blocking electromagnetic interference at a fraction of solid-sheet weight.
Decorative and architectural
Warm gold brass mesh panels dress furniture, elevator doors, room dividers, and lighting fixtures with a metallic accent that never needs paint.
Filtration and screening
Fine brass woven cloth sieves powders, filters liquids, and backs coarser media where spark resistance and conductivity matter.
Vent and insect screening
Brass wire mesh covers vents, louvers, and openings, keeping insects out while staying conductive for grounding and shielding duty.
Spark-resistant and hazardous areas
Brass wire mesh in explosive atmospheres, oil depots, and grain plants, where impact sparks from steel mesh are unacceptable.
Craft and retail display
Antique-finish brass mesh for frames, wreaths, display stands, and specialty packaging that buyers recognize as premium.
How to Select the Right Brass Wire Mesh
Start from the duty, then fix alloy, construction, opening, temper, and verification. A complete RFQ avoids assumptions and re-quotes.
By duty, not by looks
EMI shielding and fine filtration need dense woven cloth in C230 or C260. Decorative panels can use crimped or expanded mesh in any brass alloy.
Which alloy?
C230 red brass is the versatile default. C260 gives precise apertures and spring back. C280 Muntz metal adds strength and a deeper gold for architectural duty.
By construction
Woven brass wire mesh gives the finest openings and true shielding performance. Crimped mesh keeps heavy openings stable. Expanded mesh is rigid and slip-resistant. Knitted mesh flexes.
By opening and wire diameter
Define what the mesh must keep in or out, then set opening and wire diameter together. State both in millimeters to avoid mesh-count ambiguity.
Shielding vs airflow
Denser mesh blocks more EMI but chokes airflow and light. For cabinets and vents, balance mesh count against cooling requirements and test the finished assembly.
Temper and spring back
Spring temper holds shape in gaskets and framed panels; half-hard temper forms and curves more easily. State the temper for any part that must hold a shape.
Finish and aging
Bright mill finish tarnishes to antique tones over time. Specify lacquered, antique, or brushed finish when color stability matters in décor.
Verify the composition
State the CDA alloy number in the RFQ and request a mill certificate confirming copper content. Visual color alone cannot distinguish C230 from C260.
Brass Wire Mesh Buying Mistakes to Avoid
Six errors that shorten service life or trigger disputes. Each one is avoidable at the RFQ stage.
Ordering by color instead of alloy
All brass looks similar at a glance. State the CDA alloy number and request a mill certificate confirming copper content.
Choosing brass for seawater duty
Brass dezincifies in seawater and chloride-heavy environments. Choose phosphor bronze, copper-nickel, or 316 stainless steel wire mesh for marine service.
Ignoring temper in gaskets and frames
Soft temper relaxes out of shape in RF gaskets and framed panels. Specify spring or hard temper for parts that must hold their form.
Using coarse mesh where shielding is the goal
Open mesh may look like a shield but pass the frequencies you need to block. Define the target frequency band and verify with the supplier.
Mixing brass with steel in wet contact
Dissimilar-metal contact corrodes the brass and stains the steel. Separate brass mesh from steel fasteners and frames in outdoor or humid duty.
Expecting a finish that never changes
Bright brass tarnishes naturally. If color stability matters, specify a lacquered or antique finish instead of accepting field aging.
Why Buyers Choose Brass Wire Mesh
Brass wire mesh is the conductive, decorative workhorse of the copper alloys: golden looks with real engineering duty.
Conductive by nature
Brass carries about 23-28% IACS conductivity, letting one mesh serve as screen, guard, and grounding or shielding element at once.
Spark-resistant safety
Brass does not strike impact sparks, making brass wire mesh the safe choice in explosive atmospheres, oil depots, and grain plants.
Antimicrobial surface
Brass surfaces are antimicrobial copper alloys, a useful property in food, retail, and healthcare screening and décor.
Warm metallic finish
The natural gold tone suits furniture, architecture, and displays with no paint, plating, or coating to chip or fade.
Good formability
Brass wire bends, weaves, and solders cleanly, so panels, gaskets, and custom shapes fabricate without special tooling.
Recyclable and traceable
Brass scrap retains value, and mill certificates per ASTM B134 confirm alloy and temper for every production lot.
Protect the surface and the temper. Cut cleanly, solder or clamp rather than weld, and clean with the right chemistry.
Working with Brass Wire Mesh
Cut along the wire line
Cut woven brass cloth along a wire and crimped mesh between crimps, using shears or a fine-tooth blade. Deburr edges so loose wire ends cannot catch or tear.
Fasten with solder, rivets, or clamps
Brass solders and brazes cleanly with lead-free silver solder. Rivets and formed clamps suit heavier mesh. Avoid oxy-fuel welding on fine cloth, which anneals and distorts it.
Keep it isolated from steel
In humid or outdoor service, separate brass mesh from steel frames and fasteners with paint, tape, or non-metallic washers to prevent galvanic staining.
Clean without harsh chemistry
Wash with mild soap and water, or brass cleaner for tarnish. Avoid ammonia-based cleaners, which attack brass and leave etching marks on fine wire.
Brass Wire Mesh Packing for Export
Packing protects fine wire from crushing, keeps surfaces from scratching, and preserves traceability through transit and receiving inspection.
Rolls on cores, wrapped
Fine woven rolls wind on cores, wrapped in kraft and waterproof film with protected edges to prevent kinking.
Flat packs for panels
Rigid panels pack flat with interleaving paper and edge protection, strapped on pallets or in plywood cases.
Label by alloy and mesh
Each bundle carries alloy, temper, mesh count, wire diameter, dimensions, quantity, and finish.
Mill certificates
Composition certificates per ASTM B134 accompany the shipment when requested, confirming alloy and temper.
Share destination details
State destination port, trade term, container plan, and inspection requirements. Pre-shipment inspection by SGS, BV, or TÜV is available on request.
Brass Wire Mesh in Service
Use scenarios show how alloy and construction change by duty; they are not customer claims.
EMI shielding enclosure
C230 woven brass cloth fitted to a shielded enclosure frame, sized for the target frequency band and verified before release.
Architectural room divider
C280 crimped brass mesh panels installed as a lobby divider, combining open sightlines with a durable gold-toned finish.
Fine filtration duty
C260 woven cloth at 80 and 100 mesh supplied for a liquid filtration line where spark resistance ruled out steel screens.
Cabinet and furniture inlays
Antique-finish brass mesh set into cabinet doors and display furniture, matching a warm interior palette with no coating to fail.
Brass Wire Mesh Sourcing Resources
Compare alloys and constructions, and confirm the standard edition before ordering.
Last updated: 2026-08-05
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Brass Wire Mesh FAQ
Common procurement questions about alloys, constructions, and ordering brass wire mesh.
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