Understanding When To Use Monel Wire Cloth or Nickel Wire Cloth

Most people choose stainless steel for wire cloth, but there are many other options. Two of the most popular of these are nickel alloy and monel. Here are some of the key differences between these two:

Nickel Alloy

Nickel wire cloth protects itself against corrosion by forming a passive oxide film. This helps it resist many corrosive environments. It is more costly than stainless steel, so the stainless is used when possible in modern manufacturing. Even so, there are some applications that still require nickel or nickel alloys to be used.

Monel

This is an alloy made of up to 67 percent nickel, 28 percent copper, and 5 percent other materials. It is more resistant to corrosion than copper in oxidizing conditions, and more resistant than plain nickel under reducing conditions. Traditionally, it has been used in food processing thanks to its good strength characteristics. However, like plain nickel, it has been replaced by stainless steel in modern applications when possible.

Can Steel Replace Nickel and Monel?

Plain steel cannot replace them since it can easily rust. However, steel alloys such as stainless, treatments like galvanization, and other variants can be used in many cases. These variants are corrosion resistant and have the strength of steel. Stainless steel is particularly popular in industrial applications where corrosion resistance is a must.

That said, there are certain situations in which stainless steel cannot be used. These are widely varied, but there are enough of them to make it worthwhile for manufacturers to continue to make nickel sieves, nickel wire cloth, monel wire cloth, and several other types of metal materials.

What Other Materials are Available?

We produce high-performance wire cloth in several other metals besides nickel and monel. These include titanium, molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten, brass, aluminum, hastelloy, and copper alloys. We also produce a wide array of steel-based materials. Some of these are stronger, some are more corrosion resistant, some last longer in general, and some combine these elements to provide unique benefits. Each one has specific situations in which it is the best choice.

Do You Need Help Determining Whether You Need Specialized Metal Cloth?

If you are unsure of whether you need a specialized form of wire cloth, just give us a call. We will be glad to consult with you and suggest the best solution based on the materials you’re processing, the processing environment, and other key factors.

Takeaways

• Nickel is corrosion resistant and is good for specialized applications
• Monel is a nickel alloy that resists corrosion in more situations than nickel alone
• Both nickel and monel can be replaced by stainless steel in many situations
• Stainless steel is not able to take over in all applications
• A monel woven wire cloth supplier like Newark Wire Cloth can help you determine which metal is best for your application and specifications

Newark Wire Cloth has been producing wire-based solutions since 1911. Whether you need basic galvanized steel or durable exotic alloys for your application, our trusted experts can handle it. Contact us today.