Bronze Wire Mesh

Bronze is a metal alloy primarily composed of copper, with tin as the main additive. The most commonly used bronze alloy in wire mesh manufacturing is C220, also known as “Commercial Bronze.” This alloy is characterized by its bright caramel color, which naturally darkens over time. For those seeking a specific aesthetic, a metal finisher can chemically darken the Bronze wire mesh to achieve the desired look. Achieving a particular finish on Bronze is an art form and should be done in consultation with an experienced metal finisher.

Bronze wire mesh offers superior resistance to atmospheric corrosion compared to brass wire mesh. This makes it ideal for a wide range of applications, including marine and military uses, as well as commercial and residential insect screens. In industrial settings, bronze wire mesh is valued for its hardness and reduced malleability compared to copper wire mesh, making it suitable for separation and filtration tasks.

Bronze exhibits various characteristics that make it suitable for numerous industrial and architectural applications. Depending on the alloy composition, Bronze can withstand pressures ranging from 35,000 psi to 85,000 psi for aluminum bronze and up to approximately 119,000 psi for manganese bronze. It is a hard, brittle metal with a relatively low melting point. Over time, exposure to the environment causes Bronze to develop a protective patina, which changes its color and enhances its resistance to deterioration. Bronze can also be treated during manufacturing to develop this patina. Additionally, Bronze is fusible, making it easier to cast than some other metals, and it is harder and more corrosion-resistant than pure iron.

Bronze Chemical Composition (by Percentage)

	Copper [Cu]	Iron [Fe]	Lead [Pb]	Zinc [Zn]
Min/Max	89.0 - 91.0%	< 0.05%	< 0.05%	Balance
Nominals	90%	-	-	10%

*Materials adhere to ASTM B250 and others. Please Contact us if looking to meet a specific ASTM standard.

Bronze Wire mesh in Architectural applications:
Bronze wire is drawn bright and exhibits a caramel like color. Bronze has a subtle contrast woven together with Stainless Steel. Considered a “Living Finish”, the natural color change does occur quickly and depending on the environmental conditions, the end color will vary. In general, under exterior conditions in the presence of salt, moisture, and sunlight, Bronze will transition from bright to shades brown patina. Because of the enormous range of Bronze’s natural colors experienced through weathering, there are a number of coatings or chemicals that can be used to either speed up or slow down the process. Finishing bronze to the desired color is an art and should be done through consulting an experienced metal finisher.

Considerations when specifying Bronze wire mesh for Architectural applications:
When Banker Wire makes a woven wire mesh out of bronze wire, the bronze wire starts out “Bright” but is considered “Bare”. This means that the bronze wire will almost immediately be susceptible to color changes due to tarnishing. Banker Wire cannot guarantee the color consistency by the time it arrives to its final installation point. A chemical or physical removal of the tarnish will be required prior to a clear coat application if the desired final “Bright” finish is to be maintained.

Brass, Bronze, and Copper all contain some percentage of copper content. The reactive nature of copper towards oxygen and moisture puts this group of alloys in an ever changing state of oxidation that we know as “Tarnish”. The timing and degree of this tarnish will vary and is dependent upon the situation of both handling of the material and the environment in which this material is located. There are ways to preserve the original sheen of the metal.

Learn More About Living Finishes