Glossary of Terms

ASTM – The American Society for Testing and Materials

Carbon – The principal hardening element in steel, and as carbon content increases, the
hardness increases. Tensile strength also increases with the carbon content up to about 0.85
percent carbon. Ductility and weldability decrease with increasing carbon. The surface quality
becomes impaired as the carbon content increases in rimmed steels. By contrast, killed steels
have a poorer surface in the lower carbon grades.

Carbon Steel – A metal alloy that is a combination of iron and carbon. Low carbon steel has the same properties as iron. Ductility and weldability decrease with increasing carbon content.

Corrosion – The deterioration of a metal by chemical or electrochemical reaction with its environment.

Cross Wire – The wire running across the width of the roll. Also called Fill Wire.

Galvanizing – A process which applies a zinc coating to the wire to resist corrosion and weathering. The wire is pulled through a series of acid baths and water rinses, then through molten zinc to produce bright, shiny wire needed for products destined for outdoor use. The wire is then recoiled, and moved on to a fabricator.

Galvanized After Welding (GAW) – Wire mesh is welded from plain steel strands and is pulled through a tank of molten zinc after it has been welded.

Galvanized Before Welding (GBW) – Wire mesh is welded from strands of wire that have already been coated with zinc before being welded into mesh.

Gauge – A term referring to the measure of wire diameter. The Washburn & Moen Gauge is the standard in North America.

Grades – Hot rolled carbon steel is commonly specified by chemical ranges and limits for carbon and other elements.

Line Wire – The wire running the length of the roll. Also called Warp Wire.

Plain Steel – No finish is applied.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) – Synthetic, thermoplastic resin that is produced by the polymerization of vinyl chloride.

PVC Coated – A layer of Polyvinyl Chloride is fusion bonded onto the mesh wire.

Tensile Strength – The maximum stress that a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before failing or breaking. Tensile strength in the US is normally measured in pounds per square inch (PSI).

Welded Wire Mesh – A series of longitudinal and transverse wires arranged at right angles to each other and welded together at all points of intersection. Also called Welded Wire Fabric or Weldmesh.

Wire Rods – A hot rolled semi-finished round product that is produced in coils of one continuous length.  Intended primarily for the manufacture of wire.