Expanded Metal Products

Expanded Metal Products

Expanded metal products are used in various fashions, depending on how specifically they were made. For example, expanded metal mesh and screen products allow the free passage of light, air, liquids and sound offering improved ventilation, visibility and acoustics in factory and warehouse environments. Often stronger, more rigid and lighter weight than the solid sheet metal or coils from which they are produced, expanded metal products are useful in a number of industrial, commercial and residential settings. Military, medical, aquarium, automotive, aerospace, desalinization, shipping, power generation, water treatment and electronics industries use expanded metals for such varied applications as filtration, drainage, construction, decoration, window coverings, electronic enclosures, partitions, walkways, machine guards, anti-dazzle screens, railings, ramps, bridges, fencing and more. For each of these uses it is important to consider the material used as this will determine the strength and mechanical capabilities of the product. Expanded aluminum, copper expanded metal, expanded steel, stainless steel expanded metal and titanium expanded metal are commonly used as they are durable with high weight to strength ratios. Several of these materials are also anti-corrosive and hygienic, making them especially viable for use in chemical and food processing industries. Finishing treatments such as galvanization, painting, enamel coating and plastic coating further the practical and aesthetic qualities of expanded metal products.

Metal expansion begins with flat metal sheets or plates. These stock forms are fed into an automated expansion machine. Manual expansion is still used in some instances, though most manufacturers use computer programmed and operated equipment as it provides faster turnaround and often a more precise finished product. In the machine, a series of knife-like dies slit the sheet hundreds or even thousands of times. The cuts are evenly spaced in an offset alternating pattern moving up and down the width of the material. At the same time, the machine continues to draw the metal through a hot rolling press that stretches the metal, causing the pre-cut holes to swell. The heat and pressure transform the solid sheet into a web of thin strands and bonds creating a structural network that distributes weight evenly along the entirety of the sheet. One of the most important considerations when selecting an expanded metal product is the percentage of open area, or the size and density of the holes. Apertures may be circular, hexagonal or specialty shapes, though diamond is the most popular pattern. The dimensions of an expanded metal sheet should also be carefully considered with regards to the finished product. While the sheets themselves are often used, expanded metal is highly versatile and easily shaped, cut or bent as needed.