The role of stainless steel mesh in ceramic proppants

In the production of ceramic proppants, stainless steel mesh plays a very important role.

The firing process of ceramic proppants is at a high temperature. Stainless steel mesh can withstand such a high temperature environment without deformation and damage, and can ensure the smooth progress of the production process.

In the process of ceramic production, some chemical substances may be exposed. Stainless steel mesh can resist the erosion of these substances, has a long service life, and will not contaminate ceramic proppant products due to corrosion.

In addition, the stainless steel mesh has high strength and can bear the weight of ceramic proppants. It provides stable support during transportation and screening, which helps to ensure the quality and consistency of product specifications.

Ceramic proppant manufacturers can choose the appropriate stainless steel mesh model from the following aspects:

Production process

• In the raw material grinding and mixing process, in order to filter large particle impurities and prevent them from entering the production process and affecting the quality of the proppant, a stainless steel mesh with a mesh size range of 0.5mm~2.0mm (10 mesh-40 mesh) can be selected. The 10-mesh stainless steel mesh can block impurities above 0.5mm.

• For screening after granulation and preliminary firing, it is advisable to use a stainless steel mesh with a mesh size of 0.15mm~0.30mm (60 mesh-100 mesh) to make the proppant particles more uniform and ensure consistent product performance. Among them, 80 mesh can screen out particles of about 0.18mm.

• For fine screening of finished products and filtration after surface treatment, a stainless steel mesh with a mesh size of 0.07mm~0.12mm (120 mesh-200 mesh) should be selected to further improve the roundness and surface finish of the proppant. 150 mesh can screen out particles of about 0.1mm.

Material characteristics

• If the material is highly corrosive during production, such as contact with corrosive substances such as acids and alkalis during surface modification of the proppant, a 316 stainless steel mesh with strong corrosion resistance should be selected; if the material is less corrosive, for ceramic proppant production under ordinary production environments, 304 or 321 stainless steel mesh can be selected. Its strength and corrosion resistance can meet the requirements and the cost is relatively low.

Production equipment matching degree

• The size and shape of the stainless steel mesh should be selected according to the size of the equipment's feed port, discharge port, and the space restrictions of the screen installation location, etc., to ensure that it can perfectly match the production equipment for installation and normal operation.

• According to the production capacity and processing volume of the equipment, select a stainless steel mesh with appropriate mesh number and wire diameter to ensure production efficiency and filtration effect. For example, for equipment with large production capacity, a stainless steel mesh with slightly larger mesh size and coarser wire diameter can be appropriately selected to increase filtration flux and reduce blockage.

Product quality requirements

• For high quality indicators such as proppant particle size, roundness, and surface finish, a stainless steel mesh with a higher mesh number and finer wire diameter should be selected to obtain better screening and filtration effects.     

• If there are special requirements for the strength and wear resistance of the proppant, a stainless steel mesh with a larger wire diameter and higher material strength can be selected, such as a stainless steel mesh with high-strength materials such as 316L, to ensure that the stainless steel mesh is not easily deformed and damaged during the production process, thereby stably producing high-quality ceramic proppant products.

Cost factors 

• The cost of 316 stainless steel mesh is higher than that of 304 and 321 stainless steel mesh. Enterprises should consider the cost comprehensively and choose the most cost-effective stainless steel mesh model under the premise of meeting production requirements and product quality. If the corrosion resistance is not required, 304 stainless steel mesh can be used first.

Dashang Wire Mesh specializes in the production of stainless steel woven mesh and has a stainless steel wire production line. It controls the quality of raw materials from the source, reduces production costs, and saves costs for end customers.