Not only does knitted wire mesh provide superior performance-with an extra measure of protection against shock and vibration-but it can be fabricated from any material that can be drawn into a wire form. The most common knitted materials are stainless steel, copper, aluminum, and Inconel.

An assortment of fibers, plastics, and other materials can also be combined with metals to provide specific, desired damping or environmental characteristics. In addition, bulk material may be flattened, calendared, corrugated, wound, or compressed to enhance its properties for specific applications. The density of the knit may also be controlled from 10 to 70%-permitting constructions of widely varying compression characteristics.

The versatility in selection of materials and their fabrication make knitted wire mesh an ideal solution for an extremely wide range of demanding industrial applications.

Metal Textiles knitted wire mesh products provide a number of significant advantages over other shock and vibration damping materials:

Applications for Metal Textiles knitted wire mesh include vibration and shock control for:

• AUTOMOTIVE
  Challenge: In the early 1970s, the automotive industry needed a mechanical support for the brittle ceramic honeycomb substrate used in exhaust system catalytic converters.
  • The support was used to fill a gap of approximately 4 mm between the ceramic monolith substrate and the metal shell in which it was housed. However, since the rates of expansion and contraction of the metal shell and ceramic element are different, the clearance space changed whenever the engine ran or was shut off.
  • The mechanical support had to compensate for this changing clearance space while protecting the substrate from road shock. It also had to withstand temperatures as high as 650° C (1200ºF), wide temperature differentials and corrosive exhaust gas emissions.The ceramic felts and other fiberglass materials previously employed lost their resiliency and became permanently compacted well before the service life required of the converter. As a result, they lost their supportive power or broke up, causing destruction of the substrate.
  Solution: To solve this problem Metal Textiles developed a knitted wire catalyst substrate support, from resilient, knitted metal.The knitted metal not only supports the monolith and compensates for the thermal expansion of the assembly, but also protects the ceramic honeycomb from mechanical shock during normal and abnormal driving.To date, over 25 million of these mounts have been manufactured by Metal Textiles Corporation.
• AIRCRAFT
  Challenge: The aircraft industry required tubing and harness clamps which could effectively dampen the high-frequency engine vibrations experienced during taxi, takeoff and in-flight operations-yet prevent them from affecting fuel, hydraulic, and electrical lines.
  
  It was also important that the clamps have low surface friction so any linear movement would not cause wear at the holding point-which could lead to in-flight failures.
  
  Solution: Metal Textiles solved the problem by developing a knitted metal pad that is spot-welded to the inside of the clamp. Due to high temperature differentials-and the potential of attack from ozone, hydraulic fluid, and jet fuel-stainless steel and Inconel were specified. Since the surface friction of the knitted metal is relatively low, it allowed for lateral motion of the assembly with full protection from the wear and vibrational stresses.The use of knitted metal also allowed a degree of electrical grounding through the all-metal mount.
• MARINE
  Challenge: Electronic equipment mounted aboard ships or moving vehicles requires mounting devices that are lightweight and can provide protection from high levels of vibration and shock over extended periods.
  Solution: A series of Metal Textiles-developed shock mounts now provide a resilient cushion to protect sensitive equipment The high damping qualities of the knitted metal cushions also allow faster reduction of vibration without severe rebound.
  
  Exposure to oil, saltwater spray, solvents, dust, dirt, or temperature extremes cause no degradation of the unit's performance.
• POWER GENERATION
  Challenge: In nuclear power plants, pipes suspended in pipe hangers must be protected from vibration.
  Solution: Many utilities have solved the problem by using a flat pad of knitted metal, designed by Metal Textiles.The 150 mm wide by 230 mm long by 12 mm thick pads are placed inside the hanger. Pipes as large as 765 mm in diameter have been protected in contaminated areas. The knitted metal has been impervious to radiation degradation.