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Short answer: choose V2A (AISI 304) for indoor use, food handling and normal outdoor use inland. Choose V4A (AISI 316) when the mesh will be exposed to salt or chlorides: sea air, salt water, road salt or swimming pools. Both are austenitic stainless steels and look the same; the difference is about 2 % molybdenum in V4A, which makes it far more resistant to pitting corrosion.
What is the difference between V2A and V4A?
The difference is the alloy. V2A is the German trade name for EN 1.4301, known internationally as AISI 304. V4A is EN 1.4401, known as AISI 316.
| V2A (EN 1.4301 / AISI 304) | V4A (EN 1.4401 / AISI 316) | |
|---|---|---|
| Chromium | 17.5–19.5 % | 16.5–18.5 % |
| Nickel | 8–10.5 % | 10–13 % |
| Molybdenum | none | 2–2.5 % |
| Resistance to chlorides | moderate | high |
| Typical use | indoors, food, inland outdoors | coast, marine, pools, chemicals |
Chromium forms the thin passive layer that makes stainless steel stainless. Chlorides from salt can break that layer locally and start small pits. Molybdenum helps the layer resist and repair itself, which is why V4A is the standard grade for marine and coastal work.
When is V2A enough?
V2A is enough wherever the mesh stays dry or only meets rain and fresh water. That covers most uses:
- indoor guards, ventilation grilles and decorative panels
- food contact, kitchen sieves and drying racks
- garden use inland, such as raised beds and insect screens
- filtering fresh water and most neutral liquids
Our V2A range is much larger than the V4A range, and all of our welded mesh is V2A.
When should you choose V4A?
Choose V4A when salt or chlorides reach the mesh regularly. The usual cases are:
- Coastal sites. Salt spray carries inland, especially on the windward side of buildings.
- Marine use. Boats, docks and anything in or near salt water.
- Road salt. Mesh near roads, car parks or driveways that are salted in winter.
- Swimming pools. Mesh in contact with chlorinated water or splash.
- Chemical processes. Many process liquids contain chlorides; check the medium first.
On the coast, V2A can develop brown surface staining, often called tea staining. V4A resists this much better, although no stainless steel is completely maintenance free near the sea.
Do V2A and V4A look different?
No. Both grades have the same silvery finish, and you cannot tell them apart by eye. Both are essentially non-magnetic; cold-drawn wire can be slightly magnetic, V2A more often than V4A. A magnet test is therefore not a reliable way to identify the grade. Rely on the order or the supplier's material certificate.
How much more does V4A cost?
V4A costs more because of its nickel and molybdenum content. This table lists every mesh we stock in both grades with the same aperture and wire, with current prices per square metre:
| Aperture | Wire | V2A (AISI 304) | V4A (AISI 316) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 mm (100 µm) | 0.065 mm | 42 €/m² | 46 €/m² |
| 0.125 mm (125 µm) | 0.08 mm | 36 €/m² | 40 €/m² |
| 0.15 mm (150 µm) | 0.1 mm | 34 €/m² | 40 €/m² |
| 0.25 mm (250 µm) | 0.16 mm | 30 €/m² | 38 €/m² |
| 0.4 mm (400 µm) | 0.25 mm | 44 €/m² | 46 €/m² |
| 0.5 mm (500 µm) | 0.32 mm | 43 €/m² | 56 €/m² |
| 1.25 mm | 0.4 mm | 36 €/m² | 40 €/m² |
Tips for using either grade
- Use stainless fixings. Galvanised or plain steel screws in contact with stainless mesh corrode quickly when wet.
- Clean deposits off. Rinse salt and dirt off from time to time; corrosion starts under deposits.
- Avoid steel-wool and carbon-steel tools. Particles of ordinary steel left on the surface rust and look like the mesh is corroding.
What neither grade is suited for
- Hydrochloric acid and other strong reducing acids. They attack both grades.
- Safety-critical, load-bearing parts in indoor pool halls. These atmospheres need special high-alloy grades; neither V2A nor V4A mesh is designed for that.
- Permanent immersion in stagnant sea water. Crevice corrosion can occur even on V4A; specialist alloys are used there.
Popular meshes in both grades
| Mesh | Aperture | Wire | Open area | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V2A 1.25 × 0.4 mm | 1.25 mm | 0.4 mm | 57 % | 1.23 kg/m² | 36 €/m² |
| V4A 1.25 × 0.4 mm | 1.25 mm | 0.4 mm | 57 % | 1.23 kg/m² | 40 €/m² |
| V2A 0.4 × 0.25 mm | 0.4 mm (400 µm) | 0.25 mm | 38 % | 1.22 kg/m² | 44 €/m² |
| V4A 0.4 × 0.25 mm | 0.4 mm (400 µm) | 0.25 mm | 38 % | 1.22 kg/m² | 46 €/m² |
| V2A 0.1 × 0.065 mm | 0.1 mm (100 µm) | 0.065 mm | 37 % | 0.33 kg/m² | 42 €/m² |
| V4A 0.1 × 0.065 mm | 0.1 mm (100 µm) | 0.065 mm | 37 % | 0.32 kg/m² | 46 €/m² |
Every sheet is cut to the width and length you order. Browse the full ranges for V2A wire mesh and V4A wire mesh.