High-Strength Wire Mesh Coating for Corrosion Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wire meshes lack sufficient durability and corrosion resistance, particularly in harsh environmental conditions, leading to increased maintenance and repair costs.

Innovation Solution

A wire mesh device composed of high-strength steel wires coated with a zinc-aluminum alloy corrosion protection layer, designed to withstand extreme conditions and maintain functionality for over 1680 hours in a climate change test, with a thickness of at least 215 g/m² and an aluminum content of approximately 5%, providing active anodic protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional wire meshes are used, then initial manufacturing cost is lower, but corrosion resistance and service life are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining high-strength steel wire with a multi-layer corrosion protection coating system. The core wire provides mechanical strength while the zinc-aluminum alloy coating (5-11% Al) provides corrosion resistance. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by achieving both high reliability through corrosion protection and maintaining manufacturability through established coating processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes material parameters by specifying a zinc-aluminum alloy coating with aluminum content of 5-11% and mass per unit area of at least 215 g/m². These parameter specifications optimize the balance between corrosion resistance performance and coating application feasibility, resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and manufacturing ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If thicker corrosion protection coating is applied, then corrosion resistance increases, but manufacturing cost and process complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidcoating process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the corrosion protection coating: aluminum content of 5-11% and mass per unit area of at least 215 g/m². These parameter definitions enable optimized coating processes that achieve high corrosion resistance without excessive thickness, balancing reliability improvement with manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adopts established hot-dip galvanizing and zinc-aluminum alloy coating processes that are already industrially proven. By copying and adapting existing mature coating technologies rather than developing new complex processes, the patent achieves high corrosion resistance while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Strength

If high-strength steel wire is used, then mechanical strength increases, but susceptibility to corrosion increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetensile strengthVSAvoidcorrosion susceptibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite structure where high-strength steel wire (tensile strength ≥800 N/mm²) serves as the load-bearing core, protected by a zinc-aluminum alloy coating layer. This composite material system resolves the contradiction by separating the functions: the steel core provides strength while the metal coating provides corrosion protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The zinc-aluminum alloy coating acts as an intermediary protective layer between the high-strength steel wire and the corrosive environment. This intermediate layer prevents direct contact between the steel and corrosive agents, resolving the contradiction between maintaining high strength and reducing corrosion susceptibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enhances the durability and resistance of the wire mesh, reducing maintenance costs and ensuring reliability and safety by maintaining material properties under corrosive conditions, such as weather exposure.

Implementation Method 1

providing active anodic protection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnodic protection: Electrochemiluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP3695206B9Wire mesh and method to manufacture a wire net
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 GEOBRUGG AG
  • EP3695206B9 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3695206B9 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3695206B9 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a wire netting system, in particular a safety netting system, comprising at least two intermeshing netting elements (10a-g), at least one netting element (10a-g) being produced from at least one individual wire, a wire bundle, a wire strand, a wire rope and/or any other longitudinal element having at least one wire (12a-g) that consists at least to some extent of a high-strength steel (74a-g), said wire (12a-g) being provided with at least one corrosion protection (14a-g), in particular a corrosion protection layer (16a-c; 16e-g). According to the invention, at least one segment of the wire (12a-g), in particular a segment of a wire mesh (18a-g) consisting of the wire (12a-g) and comprising the corrosion protection (14a-g), in particular the corrosion protection layer (16a-c; 16e-g), has a corrosion resistance of more than 1680 hours, preferably more than 2016 hours, advantageously more than 2520 hours, more preferably more than 3024 hours and most preferably more than 3528 hours when tested in an alternating climate test.