Metal fiber combines flexibility of traditional fiber with high temperatures resistance and thermal - electric conductivity of steel.

Stainless steel fiber are also : resistant to mechanical efforts, in particular shearing contrary to glass, ceramic or carbon fibers resistant to corrosion resistant to washing

Metal fibers are obtained by successive wire bundle-drawings. They can be crimped or not at the end of this step.

Thanks of its mechanical properties, AISI 316L alloy is the most common alloy. Stainless steel fiber composition: Carbon C Manganese Mn Silicium Si Phospohorus P Sulphur S Nickel Ni Chromium Cr Molybdenum Mo Iron Fe AISI 316L 0.03 max 2.00 max 1.00 max 0.045 max 0.03 max 10.50 13.00 16.00 18.00 2.00 2.50 -

Fineness of stainless steel fibers is expressed by the measurement of one fiber diameter in micron. Fiber diameter is usually from 6 to 30 microns but diameters are 8, 12 and 22µ are our standard of working. Stainless steel fibers characteristics: Fiber diameter: Electric Resistance (ohm/cm) Tensile Strength (cN) Elongation 8µ 170 7 - 8 1% 12µ 80 17 - 18 1% 22µ 30 55 - 60 1% Stainless steel fiber and in particular 316L fiber do not represent any known health hazard. Other different alloys are available on request.

To compare a traditional yarn, which fineness is expressed in Tex or in Nm, with stainless steel fibers, it has to take into account the density of steel. Indeed stainless steel density is about 5 times higher than synthetic or natural fibers. Nature Cotton Wool Polyester Para-aramid Meta-aramid Carbon ex-PAN High Resistance Ceramics Alumine Glass E Stainless steel 316L Density (g/m3) 1.5 1.31 1.38 1.44 - 1.47 1.38 1.80 3.40 - 3.90 2.60 7.95 For instance, a stainless steel yarn Nm 11/2 or 182 Tex is seemingly equivalent to a yarn of 182 x 1.5/7.95 = 34.4 Tex of cotton ie. a yarn of Nm 60/2.

Complementary information about alloy AISI 316L: Correspondence in the various naming: UNS Alloy (ohm/cm) EN 10088 Material Na S31603 316L X2CrNiMo17 12 2 1.4404

Physical characteristics: austenic steel average coefficient of dilation in 10-6/0C: 16.0 à 100°C, 18.5 entre 20 et 800°C electrical resistivity in 10-6/Ω.em: 74 à 20°C, 108 à 600°C thermal conductivity in W.m-1.K-1: 14,6-15 à 20°C mass specific heat in J.Kg-1.K-1: 500 à 20°C, 545 à 600°C melting-point temperature: 1380° C a little magnetism appears during work hardening