Wire gauze

This article is about the laboratory equipment. For wire mesh in general, see Mesh.
Not to be confused with Wire gauge.
A 5-inch (125 mm) square of wire gauze with ceramic center
Using wire gauze with an alcohol burner

Wire gauze or wire mesh is a gauze woven of metal wire, or very fine, gauze-like wire netting. Wire gauze is placed on the support ring that is attached to the retort stand between a burner and glassware, or is placed on a tripod to support beakers, flasks, or other glassware to protect it during heating.[1][2] Glassware should not be heated directly by the flame of a Bunsen or other gas burner; wire gauze diffuses the heat and protects the glassware. Glassware has to be flat-bottomed if rested on the wire gauze.[3]

Wire gauze was also used in safety lamps containing a flame in coal mines and environments where flammable gases may build up; the gauze prevents the flame from igniting gas outside the lamp, causing an explosion.

Some wire gauze is made with a ceramic centre.[4] Plain wire gauze can transmit heat efficiently, but gauze with a ceramic center disperses the heat more evenly.[4] The ceramic at the centre of the wire gauze is enmeshed at high pressure to prevent it from peeling.[5]

Wire gauze may be woven from metals including iron,[5] steel,[6] copper,[7] and nichrome.[8] Nichrome alloy provides long life expectancy and tear resistance.[5][8] The edges of the wire gauze are turned inward to help prevent fraying,[5] improve handling, and eliminate sharp protruding wire ends.

Ceramic-centered wire gauze is typically made in 4 inches (100 mm), 5 inches (130 mm), and 6 inches (150 mm) squares[3] to accommodate different sizes of glassware.

  1. ^ Mr Eisley (7 July 2004). "Laboratory Equipment > Supports". Archived from the original on 8 August 2008. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  2. ^ "Chemistry Lab Equipment". Crescent High School. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  3. ^ a b "CR Scientific: Catalog: Chemistry: Laboratory Wire Gauze with Ceramic Center". www.crscientific.com. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  4. ^ a b "What Is Wire Gauze? (with pictures)". wiseGEEK. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  5. ^ a b c d "Iron Wire Gauze with Ceramic | VWR". us.vwr.com. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  6. ^ "Wire Gauze Squares, Steel, 4" x 4"". Flinn Scientific. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  7. ^ "Wire Gauze Mat - Bunsen Burner, circa 1910". Museums Victoria Collections. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Wire Gauze Squares, Nichrome, 4" x 4"". www.flinnsci.com. Retrieved 2016-03-06.