nano-mesh (T304L)

I looked at it and thought - something to replace the deteriorating filtering mesh in my Rx-7s fuel tank.

I would bet that would strengthen up a fuselage quite nicely if doped on. I know Allen Brickhaus was using 3/4 oz. glass applied with Minwax water based poly. He would use the mesh as a reference. After two additional coats of the poly, he would use Rustoleum lacquer primer and spray the entire model. Next was to wet sand down to the mesh. Put it on, sand it off so to speak. I would think this material Roddie would go around compound curves quite effectively unlike carbon veil.

I was thinking similar to Ken. Possibly used for wrapping a wing center section instead of glass cloth?

rsv1cox wrote:I looked at it and thought - something to replace the deteriorating filtering mesh in my Rx-7s fuel tank.  

PM me with the approximate size you need, and I'll mail you some Robert.

NEW222 wrote:I was thinking similar to Ken. Possibly used for wrapping a wing center section instead of glass cloth?

This material comes in a roll and is laser-cut in our shop, to fit numerous sizes of speaker grilles. I'll ask the laser operator to save what would normally be discarded.. and we'll see what sizes those remnants are.

I have yours, Ken's and Robert's addresses on file and can mail you some samples to try.

So.. today I checked for a material spec. and found this to be T304L stainless steel. I edited my opening post to reflect that information. I believe that the "L" designation imparts a "Low Carbon" grade of 304 stainless steel.

I also discovered the existence of another "thicker" (.010") sheet which has a brighter (silver-tone) appearance. It's noticeably heavier at more than twice the wire-size/diameter.

What surprises me; is that such a fine mesh can be acoustically-transparent. Apparently the "pressure-wave" of high-output audio penetrates-through the fine screen.. and blows-off any accumulated moisture.. Yea.. I'm going with that.

944_Jim wrote:If water droplets can't get through it, does this suggest it could shed spent castor?
How heavy is it compared to the same size sheet of tissue?

I'm wondering if it could be used to sheet a wing...the engine running may impart enough of a harmonic vibration to shake off exhaust.

Compared to any tissue paper or silk-screen.. this .004" stainless steel screen is heavier. Heavier than actual "silk"..?? I would think so.. but I'm not certain.

It would be interesting to sheet a handful of model-airfoils with this screen material adhered to the framework.. but not doped/sealed in-between.. for some wind-tunnel testing. Maybe such a "skin" could provide stealth characteristics.. along with enhanced maneuverability. Can air be grabbed.. like a tire grabs a road-surface? Sub-Sonic Vs. Super-Sonic Vs. Hyper-Sonic.

Some cool photos I found while searching for Valkyrie aircraft. 1st photo is of a modern drone designated XQ-58A.



The North American XB-70 is a very interesting subject to read about. HERE

Screen for an air filter, fuel filter replacement, or maybe an exhaust baffle if it doesn't plug up.

aspeed wrote:Screen for an air filter, fuel filter replacement, or maybe an exhaust baffle if it doesn't plug up.

Yes Alan.. Filtering comes to mind 1st off.. but the screen is quite small.. and could be too small to "free-flow' either air or liquid, depending on the application. For "our" purposes; its use as a fuel-filter element should work... if placed downstream from a pressure-bladder feed.

I'll reiterate; the actual application for this mesh is to prevent wind-driven precipitation from getting into a permanently-installed outdoor enclosure and its electronics.. through the "front" (projection) port(s).

I haven't tried this.. but I'd bet that if I held a sheet under running-water.. that it would not readily pass though; but would mostly deflect away. In a vertically installed app (as it's intended).. any ingress of water merely drips as "droplets" down into a drain channel just behind the grille.

I need a magnifying-glass to see the actual resolution of the screen. A loupe is preferred for making comparisons with other sizes.

Below is a photo of the "tag" that came on the roll.

I would use it for filtration. I use a 100 mesh for filtering and water flows right through. This is 200 mesh and I would expect no difference. I think Cox intake screens are about 100 mesh. Mesh is openings per inch. For something like wing centers, glass cloth will be much lighter and easier to work with.

This stuff is ~390 g/m^2 and opaque monokote is 70-80 g/m^2.

The mesh on a microwave window reflects 100% of the radiation inside.

Sounds like some expensive stuff , I would think glassing with it would work well and according to those figures fuel filter insert . Probably have a look to it after glassing but maybe not soak through to get epoxy all over your fingers .