Mesh Size
Mesh size is a measure of the size of small particles. It's
most commonly used to indicate the size of glass powder, silica,
mica, or similar products. The term is also related to grit, which
is often used when discussing abrasive materials used for polishing
or grinding.
There are several different scales for determining mesh size, but
the one most often used in the United States (and in the glass
field) is based on the number of holes in a screen. To
determine mesh size of a screen, just count the number of openings
in one inch of screen. A mesh size of 100, for example, means
that there are 100 openings in each linear inch of screen.
The table below summarizes information for common particle sizes,
using US Standard mesh sizes:
Mesh
Size |
Example |
28 |
Beach sand |
80 |
Glass powder, glass enamel |
200 |
Silica flour |
400 |
Plant pollen |
1200 |
Red blood cells |
4800 |
Cigarette smoke |
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Copyright 2005 Brad Walker.
All rights reserved.
The table above is adapted from
information provided in Issue #22 of
Skylighter Fireworks Tips,
(November 26, 2002).
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