The choice of materials and surface treatment processes for gabion mesh directly determines its service life and applicable environment, making it one of the most important factors to consider when selecting specifications. Common gabion mesh materials on the market include galvanized steel wire, zinc-aluminum alloy steel wire, and PVC/PE coated steel wire. Each material has its own characteristics and is suitable for different engineering environments; designers need to choose according to specific requirements. In terms of usage frequency, galvanized wire, PVC/PE coated wire, and zinc-aluminum alloy wire are the three most widely used materials. They all have good corrosion resistance and can meet the basic durability requirements of water conservancy projects.
Galvanized steel wire is the most traditional gabion mesh material, divided into ordinary galvanized and high-galvanized types. Ordinary galvanized steel wire typically has a zinc coating thickness between 50g/m² and 300g/m², offering moderate corrosion resistance and a relatively low price. High-galvanized steel wire has a thicker zinc coating, stronger corrosion resistance, and a longer service life, but the price is correspondingly higher. Galvanized steel wire gabion mesh can be used for about 10 years in general environments, making it a popular and economical choice. Zinc-aluminum alloy steel wire, also known as Galfan steel wire, is a relatively new material internationally, offering corrosion resistance more than three times that of traditional pure galvanized wire. This wire typically has a diameter of 2.0mm to 4.0mm, a tensile strength of 350-550MPa, and a coating weight generally between 200g-300g/m². 10% zinc-aluminum gabion mesh, due to its superior adhesion, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance from its zinc-aluminum alloy coating, also possesses electrochemical protection and extremely high stability, making it an ideal protective layer against seawater corrosion and extending its service life by 5-10 times.
PVC-coated steel wire is another important gabion mesh material, including PVC or PE coated steel wire. This material involves coating high-quality low-carbon steel wire with a PVC or PE protective layer, significantly increasing its corrosion resistance. PVC-coated gabion mesh typically uses hot-dip galvanized steel wire with a 10-aluminum alloy coating as the base material. The wire diameter before coating is 2.7mm, and after coating, it is 3.7mm; the edge wire diameter before coating is 3.4mm, and after coating, it is 4.4mm. The coating material is usually PVC, with a standard dark green color, but other colors are also available. This protective layer extends the lifespan of the gabion mesh by 3-5 years, and the choice of different colors allows it to blend into the surrounding environment, combining practicality and aesthetics. A 5%/10% zinc-aluminum alloy wire coating is a more advanced option, adding a PVC or PE coating layer to the zinc-aluminum alloy wire, providing both excellent corrosion resistance and aesthetics.
