1.
The chain link’s diameter of wire shows
how much steel is actually in the fabric.
The higher the diameter is indicates that
the chain link is made of more steel and higher
quality wire. It also indicates the strength
of the wire. Common chain link diameters are
2.50, 3.00, 3.76 and 4.00 mm. It is recommended
that a typical chain link fence use 3.00 –
3.76 mm diameter. Light weight, temporary
chain link fence can use 2.30 – 2..80
mm wire while heavy, industrial chain link
fence requires 3.76 and 4.00 mm diameter.
2.
The chain link’s mesh size is a measurement
of how far apart the parallel wires are in
the mesh. Like the chain link’s gauge,
the chain link’s mesh is another indication
of how much steel is in the chain link. The
smaller the diamond shows that more steel
is in the fabric. Typical chain link mesh
ranges in size from 50, 60 and 75 mm. Smaller
chain link mesh of 25 mm is used for tennis
courts and swimming pools.
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3.
There are several different surface treatments
that help protect and beautify steel chain-link
fabric.
a.
Zinc is the most common protective coating
for chain link fence. Zinc protects chain
link at all costs. For example, if the chain
link is cut, the zinc “heals”
the exposed steel surface and protects from
rust by developing a white oxidation layer.
Typical galvanized chain link fabric has a
90-120 grams per square meter coating. A fence
project that requires greater than average
longevity may require more zinc coating (366
grams per square meter). The longevity of
the chain link is directly related to the
amount of zinc that is applied.
b. If you want your chain link fence to have
color then look for polyvinyl chloride applied
in addition to zinc coating. The polyvinyl
coating provides a second layer of corrosion
protection and blends in with the chain link
fence’s environment. Color chain link
coatings can be done three different ways:
i. Extruded: This chain link coating is suitable
for most residential or light commercial chain
link fence applications as the vinyl jacket
is wrapped around the steel core.
ii. Extruded bonded: This chain link coating
is an extension of the extruded coating as
an adhesive bonds the vinyl jacket to the
core wire.
iii. Thermally fused: Suitable for all applications,
this chain link coating fuses the vinyl coating
to the galvanized steel core.
It is important that you understand the gauge
and steel core wire of the finish product.
It is recommended that the diamond size mesh
for normal chain link installations be 50
mm to 60 mm. |
