Galvanized Wire Mesh

Banker Wire offers wire mesh in two types of Pre-Galvanized wire; “Regular coating” and trademarked “Galfan”. The term pre-galvanized means that the wire already has the zinc coating applied to it prior to the manufacture of wire mesh. This is different than “Galv-after” where the galvanizing is done after manufacturing in a tank of molten zinc. Also known as “Hot Dip” galvanizing, the entire finished product emerges from the molten tank fully coated with a layer of zinc.

Regular coating “Pre-Galv” wire is carbon steel which has been coated with a very thin layer of Zinc during the wire drawing process. Pre-galv wire is only slightly more expensive than plain steel wire, but offers improved corrosion resistance. Pre-galv wire is a great base material if considering a wire mesh with a powder coated finish in an exterior application.

Considerations when specifying Pre-Galv wire mesh:
For exterior powder coated wire mesh applications, pre-galv wire should be specified so that there is a layer of zinc protecting the bare steel under the wire intersections. The powder coating process does not fully cover this area of the wire mesh, which is why the pre-galv wire is recommended.

The corrosion resistance offered by zinc is good, but the thicker the coating the longer it will take for the zinc layer to corrode away leaving the bare steel unprotected. With pre-galv wire, the coating is very thin and not really suitable as a long lasting stand-alone finish for exterior applications. The performance however is greatly increased when used under a powder coated finish.

Galvanization Coating Chemical Composition (by Percentage)

Zinc	Aluminum
95%	5%

*Materials adhere to ASTM A641, A856 and others. Please Contact us if looking to meet a specific ASTM standard.

Galfan® Wire Mesh

Hot-dipped galvanized wire mesh undergoes a galvanizing process after being manufactured to enhance its durability and resistance to corrosion. This process involves immersing the steel wire mesh into a molten zinc bath, forming a robust, protective coating on the surface. The zinc coating acts as a barrier against moisture, rust, and other environmental factors that can cause degradation. This makes hot-dipped galvanized wire mesh an ideal choice for outdoor applications, such as fencing, gabions, and protective barriers, where exposure to the elements is a concern.

Hot-dipped galvanizing, otherwise known as Galfan®, is a carbon steel wire with a coating of 95% zinc and 5% aluminum. The thicker zinc coating makes this wire more corrosion resistant than “Regular Coating” pre-galv wire. The coating is allowed to be much heavier because of the added aluminum in the mixture. The aluminum allows the wire’s flexibility to remain high, preventing the coating from cracking off during wire mesh manufacturing.

The benefits of hot-dipped galvanized wire mesh extend beyond its corrosion resistance. The process also improves the mesh’s overall strength and longevity, ensuring it can withstand heavy use and harsh conditions. Additionally, the uniform coating provides a smooth and aesthetically pleasing finish, which is important for applications where appearance matters. This type of wire mesh is available in various forms, including welded, woven, and crimped, catering to a wide range of industrial, agricultural, and residential needs.

Considerations when specifying Galfan wire mesh:

Galfan has a coating thickness similar to that of “Hot Dip” galvanizing; therefore, the performance in an exterior environment would technically be comparable. Galfan does have the ability to “Self Heal” small scrapes and blemishes. The coating however, can only protect the steel if there is zinc present. If the Galfan coating is compromised due to further fabrication and processing of the wire mesh, then you could expect rust at those areas. If there is additional heavy fabrication to be done to the wire mesh, consider hot dipping the entire fabricated assembly afterwards instead.