Nickel Micro Expanded Metal

Carbon fiber composites are the main aircraft structural materials but have poor electrical conductivity and are vulnerable to lightning damage.

Micro expanded metal, used as a surface covering on composites, effectively dissipates lightning energy, prevents damage, protects structures, and improves the safety and service life of key aircraft components. Thin and lightweight, it has an integrated structure (no separation or delamination), is flexible and easy to fabricate, ensuring a precise fit, smooth surface and reliable conductivity.

Widely used in aerospace (fuselages, wings, engine compartments, flaps, wingtips, helicopter blades and bodies), it follows SAE ARP 5414 standard-classifying aircraft surfaces into three zones (1A, 1B–1C–2A–2B, 3)-with different micro expanded metal mesh specifications for optimal lightning protection.

Carbon fiber wind blades are replacing full glass fiber ones to adapt to higher wind energy output. They are stronger and lighter, allowing larger turbines to spin at lower wind speeds.

However, carbon fiber is conductive (making blades more lightning-prone) but not conductive enough to discharge lightning energy. Additional protection is needed to avoid catastrophic failures.

Copper and aluminum expanded metal foils are widely used for lightning protection in composite blades, preventing damage and extending service life.

Micro expanded metal (copper or aluminum) has excellent conductivity. Inserted into composite materials for blade production, it provides a lightweight shielding solution and is ideal for composite electromagnetic compatibility, effectively dissipating lightning energy to protect carbon fiber layers.

Battery is the device that converts the chemical energy of electrode material into electrical energy through electrochemical reaction. Batteries can be divided into primary and secondary batteries according to whether the electrochemical reaction is reversible or not.

In modern battery design, the electrically active material used in the electrodes are powders, which require a mechanical support structure to hold them in place during manufacturing process. Expanded metal foil (micro expanded metal) is used as battery mesh to be widely used in the battery production as support structure, current collector and provide electrical connection point for the external circuit.

An electrolyzer consists of a cell, anode and cathode (mostly separated by a diaphragm). Its anodes are MMO electrodes, made by coating a substrate with metal oxides. Electrolyzers use electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, develop toward large capacity and low energy consumption, and are widely used in chlor-alkali and hydrogen-oxygen production.

Titanium expanded metal is widely used as MMO electrode substrate. It increases surface area for more catalyst, enhances substrate flow for better ion separation, and its evenly distributed edges ensure excellent current density and plating, as well as good solution movement and electrolyte transfer.

Filtration is crucial for industry and daily life; choosing the right filter material ensures efficiency and accuracy.

Micro expanded metal is versatile (coils/sheets, processable into components) with various specifications to meet filtration needs and ensure strength.

Widely used in liquid/air filters, it acts as both filter material and support (for non-woven fabrics, activated carbons).

Aluminum/copper/stainless steel expanded foils make filter panels for dust/grease capture; micro expanded mesh is ideal filter element support due to its rigid structure.

Military shelters (for weapons, command centers, shielding, stealth, bulletproof and explosion-proof use) are critical; traditional metal ones have been replaced by composites.

Composite shelters reduce weight by 50%-70% for better maneuverability but need micro expanded metal for shielding.

Micro expanded metal mesh is light, integrated, customizable, and has excellent EMI shielding to make up for composites' shortcomings.

It is also used for shielding in aerospace, electronics and other fields.

Auto spare parts are critical to vehicle performance; even small bearings impact user experience and car lifespan.

Micro expanded metal is widely used in automotive manufacturing and aftermarket as support, protection, lubrication materials and filters to improve performance and extend spare part life.

Its unique slit-and-stretch process (no waste, no unraveling) makes it cost-effective vs. extruded/sintered/woven materials. Varied specifications enable wide applications.

Industries like power, petrochemicals and coal produce NOX (mainly NO, NO2, common pollutants), so flue gas denitrification is essential.

Main denitrification methods include SCR and SNCR; SCR catalysts are plate, honeycomb or corrugated, with plate type superior.

Plate-type SCR catalysts use stainless steel micro expanded metal as carrier, with TiO2, V2O5 and MoO3 as active materials, processed and assembled into modules after calcining.

It has better dust resistance than honeycomb type (suitable for dust >50 g/Nm³), with 80% porosity, ash-resistant, wear-resistant, low-resistance and pressure-reducing, ideal for high-ash conditions.