Mesh Fabrics: Knitting and Finishing Nylon and Polyester ...

06 Aug.,2024

 

Mesh Fabrics: Knitting and Finishing Nylon and Polyester ...

Knit mesh fabrics are materials comprised of evenly spaced openings that create a breathable effect in the textile. Mesh fabrics offer a versatile solution for a broad variety of industrial, commercial, and recreational applications.

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Jason Mills specializes in the design and fabrication of knit mesh fabrics for all types of industries, including materials for general industrial applications, recreational, occupational safety, aeronautical, automotive, marine, healthcare. We have more than 100 existing stock mesh fabrics to choose from, and we create new mesh fabric solutions to address unique needs.

Ready to get started? Contact our team with questions!

While all mesh fabrics share the same basic principle of an open-hole structure, there are multiple varieties in the market. Variations can include weight, width, color, finish and fiber content.

Two of the most common fibers/yarns used in the manufacturing of knit-mesh fabrics are nylon and polyester. These fibers and yarns have significant overlap, so it can often be difficult to determine which is most suitable for a specific case. Examining the properties of these materials can help designers determine the appropriate option for their application.

Mesh Fabric Properties

Nylon and polyester are both viable options for knitting mesh fabrics, and each is used to produce knitted mesh solutions for many different purposes. As synthetic fibers, nylon and polyester share several similar beneficial properties such as:

  • Durability
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to clean
  • Resistance to mildew
  • Tear resistance

Nylon vs. Polyester Mesh

While nylon and polyester share some traits, they are created in different ways:

  • Nylons are formed by extracting carbon-based molecules from organically formed resources such as petroleum or coal. These are combined into a larger polymer molecule using heat, resulting in a polyamide. The family of polyamides created in this way is known collectively as nylon.
  • Polyester is one of the most commonly used plastics. It is made by facilitating a chemical reaction between alcohol, a petroleum by-product, and carboxyl acid in a vacuum. This creates a polymer that can be stretched and made into fabrics.

When knitted into mesh fabrics, advantages include:

  • Nylon. Nylon mesh fabrics are used for applications that require versatility, durability, and strength. The innate chemical properties of this polyamide make its fibers resistant to wear from bending or stretching. Nylon has a smoother, softer feel than polyester, making it ideal for applications where comfort or aesthetics are essential. Both materials stretch, but the elastic properties of nylon are greater than those of polyester. Nylon is also hydrophilic, which means that it absorbs water. View all Nylon Mesh materials >>
  • Polyester. Polyester mesh fabrics can be more easily dyed because they are hydrophobic&#;they repel water. As such, the material absorbs the pigments in the dye while expelling the water. This property also means polyester dries faster than nylon, making it ideal for marine environments. Polyester is also more naturally flame resistant than nylon, and also features a higher resistance to UV degradation. View all Polyester Mesh materials >>

Applications for Knitted Mesh Fabrics

Mesh fabrics are used broadly for varying purposes. The following industries rely on mesh fabrics:

Mesh fabrics are used to create products for activities such as sports, camping, hunting and fishing, and more. Examples of products and industries that incorporate this material include:

  • Golf simulator/impact screens and nets
  • Aquaculture
  • Tents and camping supplies
  • Pool/spa nets and filters
  • Protective sports netting (baseball, hockey, lacrosse, golf)

Polyester and nylon mesh fabrics have broad applications for safety equipment. These materials can also be designed to meet ANSI, ASTM, and AATCC requirements for specific uses. Examples of safety equipment made from mesh fabrics include:

  • Safety flags
  • High-visibility safety vests
  • Cut-resistant safety garments

 

Air, land, and water vehicles all rely on mesh fabrics for a range of purposes. Many of these applications require a material that can resist moisture, heat, sunlight, salt, or chemicals. Polyester and nylon mesh fabrics are found in equipment such as:

  • Seat-mounted literature pockets
  • Seat support/substrates
  • Safety harnesses
  • Cargo nets
  • Tarps
  • Aviation curtains

The inherent antimicrobial properties in some of Jason Mills&#; polyester fabrics facilitate the usage of mesh fabrics in a broad spectrum of medical products. Some examples include:

  • Slings/patient lift systems
  • Mesh curtains
  • IV bag support mesh
  • Orthopedic braces

Jason Mills also has proprietary water repellent finishes available for medical equipment that will come in contact with exposed patient skin.

These fabrics are often useful in laminating and coating processes. Jason Mills offers fabrics specifically designed for this purpose ranging from 1.5 &#; 15 ounces per square yard. In a similar vein, we offer a full range of screen filters.

The term &#;industrial&#; covers mesh fabric products used in applications ranging from transportation to cleaning. Examples include:

With competitive price and timely delivery, Huaqiang sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

  • Mops and squeegees
  • Tarps
  • Bags
  • Conduit sleeves
  • Industrial filtration

Quality Mesh Fabrics from Jason Mills

Jason Mills has been providing industrial strength knitted mesh fabrics for more than 40 years. We support industries ranging from manufacturing to sporting goods and everything in between. If one of our stock fabrics doesn&#;t work for you, we&#;ll gladly research and design a mesh specifically for your application.

For more information on our mesh fabrics or our capabilities, please contact us.

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How to Choose the Right Screen Mesh Size

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FRAME TYPES

ScreenPrinting.com provides high-quality aluminum pre-stretched screens in various sizes and mesh counts. All aluminum frames use the highest grade aluminum and are cut and welded in the USA. The frames are sandblasted to ensure proper bonding and tension for thousands of prints. Screens are stretched pneumatically to industry standards using high-grade monofilament poly mesh and held using cyanoacrylate glue.

ALUMINUM FRAMES

Aluminum screen printing frames are durable and have increased longevity. Unlike wood frames, aluminum frames will not warp when exposed to water. This ensures a flat frame for thousands of prints.

Aluminum frames can also be re-stretched many times. The mesh and glue are simply removed from the frame using a professional tool that won&#;t damage the frame. Once cleaned, the frames can be re-stretched. Aluminum frames are also lightweight, making shipping less expensive and saving money in the long run.

MESH SIZE

Different mesh sizes are used for different applications in the screen printing process. Mesh size is measured by how many threads of mesh cross per square inch. A 110 mesh, for example, has 110 threads crossing per square inch. The higher the mesh count, the finer the threads and holes are in the screen.

The mesh count screen printers use changes depending on the level of detail in a design and the thickness of ink used. Images with high detail should use screens with a higher mesh count. Those fine dots of detail will fall through the holes in low mesh count screens.

Thinner ink, like water-based ink, should also be printed through a high mesh count. Thin ink will flood through larger holes in low mesh count screens, blurring the image. Thicker inks, like white plastisol ink, should be printed through low mesh counts. A thick ink printed through a high mesh count will take much more effort to create a good ink layer on the shirt. 

Got more questions about mesh count? Here&#;s a quick guide:

MOST VERSATILE MESH COUNTS

The most standard mesh counts in screen printing are 110 and 156. 110 mesh lays a fairly thick layer of ink down. It&#;s great for printing block letters and larger spot-color designs. 156 mesh also lays down a thick layer of ink but offers higher detail. Because of this, 156 mesh is the go-to screen for many printers.

LOW MESH COUNTS

Low mesh counts like 38-86 are typically used for glitter or shimmer inks. These types of inks have large flakes that will not pass through typical mesh sizes easily. Shimmer plastisol inks, like FN-INK Gold, can pass through the higher mesh sizes in this range &#; around 86 &#; but glitter inks require low mesh counts, as they have larger flakes. 

Pro Tip: Adding a Curable Reducer to inks with large particles can help them pass through screens more effectively. Adding Curable Reducer to FN-INK Gold, for instance, makes it able to print through mesh counts as high as 230.

HIGH MESH COUNTS

High mesh counts are used for designs with fine detail or with thinner screen printing inks. Mesh sizes like 230 can hold large halftone dots. Graphic and solvent-based screen printing inks should also be printed with mesh counts of around 230. Printing through a high mesh count creates a softer hand feel since less ink is passing through the screen. The downside? The print may look distressed because of the thin ink deposit. For vibrant prints, use lower mesh counts. 

Printing four-color process? Choose a higher mesh count. 305 mesh count is great for getting extremely high detail. Printing methods like four color process and simulated process prints work great with high mesh counts.

Higher meshes such as 355, 380, and 400 are used mainly for graphic printing with UV inks, UV inks are extremely thin, and many times are used for printing on signs or banners. Using a higher mesh also allows the automatic printers used in UV printing to regulate the amount of ink passing through the screen.

For more on choosing the proper mesh count, check out this blog.

EXPOSURE NOTES

Different mesh sizes hold different amounts of emulsion, due to how large the holes in the mesh are. For instance, a 110 mesh screen will hold much more emulsion than a 305 mesh screen. While the difference isn&#;t extreme, exposure times may vary slightly for different mesh sizes. A finer mesh that holds less emulsion will expose faster than a lower mesh screen that holds more emulsion. This difference may vary by 5-10% depending on mesh size. 

Are you interested in learning more about polyester mesh cloth? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!