Some people assume that all steel is the same, but this isn’t necessarily true. Steel, by definition, is an alloy metal consisting primarily of iron and carbon as well as other trace elements. It has high tensile strength and is relatively inexpensive to produce, making it a popular metal used by manufacturing companies. However, there are different types of steel, each of which has its unique characteristics. Carbon steel, for example, is often preferred over other types of steel. What is carbon steel exactly, and is it the right choice for your company’s needs?

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Overview of Carbon Steel

Carbon steel is a special type of steel that, as the name suggests, has a higher concentration of carbon than other types of steel. Most types of steel have a relatively low carbon content of about 0.05% to 0.3%. In comparison, carbon steel has a carbon content of up to 2.5%. Two-and-a-half percent carbon may sound insignificant, but it introduces several attractive benefits that aren’t found elsewhere.

Carbon Steel Advantages

There are several advantages to choosing carbon steel over traditional steel, one of which is increased strength. The use of carbon makes iron — or steel — stronger by shuffling around its crystal latice. While carbon steel can still stress and break under pressure, it’s less likely to occur than with other types of steel. This makes carbon steel particularly effective in applications where strength is needed. Japanese bladesmiths, for example, produced swords out of high-carbon steel known as tamahagane steel many centuries ago. Today, carbon steel is used to make everything from construction materials to tools, automotive components and more.

Carbon Steel Disadvantages

But there are also some disadvantages to choosing carbon steel over traditional steel. Because it’s so strong, carbon steel is difficult to work with. It can’t be easily bent and molded into different shapes, thus limiting its utility in certain applications. Carbon steel is also more susceptible to rust and corrosion than other types to steel. To make steel “stainless,” manufacturers add chromium — usually about 10% to 12%. Chromium acts as a barrier of protection over the steel itself, thereby protecting it from moisture that could otherwise cause rusting. Carbon steel doesn’t contain chromium, however, so it may rust when exposed to moisture for long periods of time.

To recap, carbon steel is an alloy metal consisting of iron and carbon. Unlike stainless steel and other types of steel, though, it’s characterized by a high carbon content, typically around 2% to 2.5%.

How to Choose a Chain Link Fabric

Select your chain link fence fabric based on these three criteria: gauge of wire, size of mesh and type of protective coating.

1. Check the gauge:

Gauge or diameter of wire is one of the most important factors - it helps tell you how much steel is actually in the chain link fabric. The smaller the gauge number, the more steel, the higher the quality and the stronger the wire. From lightest to the heaviest, common gauges for chain link fence are 13, 12-1/2, 11-1/2, 11, 9 and 6. Unless you are building a temporary chain link fence, we recommend your chain link fencing to be between 11 and 9 gauge. 6 gauge is typically for heavy industrial or specialized uses and the 11 gauge is a heavy residential chain link that stands up better to kids and pets.

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2. Measure the mesh:

Mesh size tells you how far apart the parallel wires are in the mesh. That is another indications of how much steel is in the chain link. The smaller the diamond, the more steel is in the chain link fabric. From largest to smallest, typical chain link mesh sizes are 2-3/8", 2-1/4" and 2". Smaller chain link meshes such as 1-3/4" is used for tennis courts, 1-1/4" for pools and higher security, the mini chain link meshes of 5/8", 1/2" and 3/8" are also available.

3. Consider the coating:

Several types of surface treatments help protect and beautify and enhance the look of steel chain link fabric.

• The most common protective coating for chain link fabric is zinc. Zinc is a self-sacrificing element. In other words, it dissipates while protecting the steel. It also offers cathodic protection which means that if the wire is cut, it "heals" the exposed surface by developing a white oxidation layer that prevents red rust. Typically, galvanized chain link fabric has a 1.2-ounce per square foot coating. For specification projects requiring greater degrees of longevity, 2-ounce zinc coatings are available. The longevity of the protective coating is directly related to amount of zinc that is applied.
• There are two primary ways that chain link fabric is galvanized (coated with zinc). The most common is Galvanized After Weaving (GAW) where the steel wire is formed into chain link fabric first and then galvanized. The alternative is Galvanized Before Weaving (GBW) where the strand of wire is galvanized before being formed into the mesh. There is some debate over which is the best method. GAW ensures that all of the wire is coated, even the cut ends, and galvanizing the wire after is formed also tends to increase the tensile strength of the finished product. GAW is typically the method of choice for the larger manufacturers, since it requires a higher level of manufacturing expertise and capital investment than simply weaving the wire, and it yields efficiencies only available wit this method. GBW is a good product, provided it has a diamond size, weight of zinc coating, gauge and tensile strength.
• You also will find aluminum-coated (aluminized) chain link wire on the market. Aluminum differs from zinc in that it is a barrier coating rather than a sacrificial coating and as a result cut ends, scratches, or other imperfections are prone to red rusting in a shorter period of time. Aluminized is best suited where esthetics is less important than structural integrity. Another metallic coating sold under various trade names that uses a combination zinc-and-aluminum, uniting the cathodic protection of zinc with the barrier protection of aluminum.

4. Want color? Look for polyvinyl chloride applied in addition to the zinc coating on the chain link. This provides a second kind of corrosion protection and blends aesthetically with the environment. These color coatings come in three principle coating methods.

Extruded-the vinyl jacket encompasses the steel core-suitable for most residential/ light commercial applications.

Extruded bonded- an adhesive bonds the vinyl jacket to the core wire.

Thermally fused-the vinyl coating is fused to the galvanized steel core-suitable for all application.

Be sure that you understand both the gauge of the finished product and the steel core wire. a product that is produced in an 11 gauge finished diameter which, with most coating processes, means that the steel core is very light - not recommended for normal installations of 1-3/4" to 2-38" diamond size mesh.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of silver fabric. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.