Have you ever used a golf simulator and struck the ball so perfectly that it must've hit the screen at a hundred kilometres per hour? Chances are that the strong, flexible fabric that you were smashing the ball into was mesh fabric. Have you sat in the outdoor area of your mates place and noticed the external blinds which protect you from the weather? Or, maybe you like to wear those really breathable meth athletic shirts. Always a good choice when you need a strong, durable material, mesh fabric serves many purposes in many environments.
What Is Mesh Fabric?
In mesh fabric, the fibres of the fabric are woven together, generating a super-strong, but also flexible weave. The most common materials used to create this mesh material fabric are polypropylene, nylon, polyester, copper, bronze and stainless steel. From these materials and types of weave, an enormous amount of products can be created. China is the biggest producer of mesh fabric, but various versions are manufactured all over the world.
How Is Mesh Fabric Created?
The process of creating mesh fabric begins with removing polyamide monomers from refined petroleum oil. These are mixed with acid to create polymers. They are then cycled through a machine that melts and spins the polymers into strands. Once they are put onto spools, they are ready to be shipped to create outdoor mesh fabric and all types of mesh fabric in manufacturing facilities worldwide.
The rest of the process - how the polymer strands are woven into the chosen material - depends on the material. The range of producible materials, from lightweight clothing and even undergarments to wall-sized sheets designed to block direct sunlight, is staggering.
What Are the Characteristics of Mesh Fabric?
The toughness of mesh is sometimes belied by its weight. A plain white undershirt made of cotton can be torn apart fairly easily. A lighter mesh nylon has a significantly higher tear threshold. A heavy-duty PVC banner mesh product can sit on the side of a building and is certainly capable of withstanding an onslaught of direct wind, while a much lighter mesh banner is even more effective at dealing with the wind because it effectively blows right through it.
Mesh fabric is renowned for several characteristics, besides being lightweight and durable. It is also easy to clean and resistant to mildew. People buy mesh fabric because it is very breathable and has high stretchability. It has middle-of-the-road moisture-wicking abilities and low heat retention abilities.
What Are Examples of Mesh Fabric Products?
Applications for mesh fabric include blinds and awnings, sportswear and other apparel, net products and many other industrial uses. Wire mesh, for instance, can be used to make park benches and wastebaskets, vandal and otherwise protective screens, as well as tennis court screens. It can also be made into live traps and animal cages or protective fencing for livestock.
Contact us at Ricky Richards to help you with all of your print media, sun control fabric and technical textile needs including mesh fabrics. We're a family business that has grown into Australia's leading supplier of specialised textiles.