Apparatus and process for producing high quality metallic fiber mesh

Abstract

The process for making fine metallic mesh is disclosed comprising the steps of cladding an array of metallic wires with an array cladding material to provide an array cladding. The array cladding is drawn for reducing the diameter thereof and for reducing the corresponding diameters of each of the metallic wires for producing a clad array of fine metallic fibers within the array cladding. The array cladding is fashioned into a mesh by weaving, braiding, crocheting and the like thereby forming a series of bends in the clad array for reducing interaction between adjacent portions of the array cladding. The array cladding material is removed for producing fine metallic mesh from the array of the fine metallic fibers.

Description

[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Patent Provisional application serial No. 60 / 270,360 filed Feb. 21, 2001. All subject matter set forth in provisional application serial No. 60 / 270,360 is hereby incorporated by reference into the present application as if fully set forth herein.[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] This invention relates to metallic tow or metallic threads and more particularly to an apparatus and method of producing high quality metallic mesh from an array of metallic threads made from fine metallic fibers.[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art[0005] This invention relates to metallic mesh or metallic fiber cord and more particularly to an improved apparatus and method of producing high quality metallic mesh or metallic fabric from an array of fine metallic fibers. Metallic mesh is generally formed from a matrix of metallic fiber tow or continuous metallic cord. The metallic fiber tow or continuous metallic cord is characterized as an array of para...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The production of high quality metallic fiber tow is a more difficult task than the production of high quality chopped metallic fibers.

The metallic fiber tow is a more difficult task to produce than chopped metallic fibers since clad metallic fiber tow is more difficult to leach than chopped clad metallic fibers.

This process necessitated the use of a long leaching bath, which was unsatisfactory in many cases.

Secondly, the continuous cladding of metallic fiber tow had to be pulled through the longitudinally extending leaching tank thereby placing substantial stress on the metallic fiber tow after removal of the cladding material.

This substantial stress on the metallic fiber tow resulted in breakage of some of the metallic fibers in the metallic fiber tow thereby reducing the quality thereof.

Unfortunately, the twisting of the continuous metallic fiber tow did not totally prevent the individual metallic fibers of one winding of the metallic fiber tow from being entangled with individual metallic fibers of an adjacent winding of the continuous metallic fiber tow.

Accordingly, the unreeling of the continuous metallic fiber tow from the leaching spool resulted in breakage of some of the individual metallic fibers thereby providing poor quality fiber tow.

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