I. Product Overview
As a core metal storage component for refrigerators, its design prioritizes balancing load-bearing capacity with efficient airflow, while meeting appliance-grade safety and durability standards.
Core Functions: Enables layered food storage, preventing food from sticking together or odor mixing due to stacking; the perforated structure ensures efficient airflow between layers, maintaining a uniform temperature inside the refrigerator; thanks to the properties of its metal material, it can withstand long-term low temperatures (-30℃~10℃) and heavy food items (such as bottled beverages and frozen meats) without easily deforming.
Main Materials:
Stainless Steel: Primarily 304 stainless steel (food contact grade, corrosion resistant) and 201 stainless steel (lower cost, slightly less rust resistance), commonly used in the freezer compartments of mid-to-high-end refrigerators.
Chrome-plated Iron Wire: Uses low-carbon iron wire as a base with a chrome-plated layer (enhancing rust resistance and gloss), lower in cost than stainless steel, and mostly used in the refrigerator/freezer compartments of entry-level refrigerators.
II. Core Process Flow (Metal-Specific Production Logic)
The process flow for refrigerator metal mesh revolves around "structural strength" and "rust resistance and durability," with key steps concentrated in forming and surface rust prevention treatment.
1. General Process Flow (Taking Stainless Steel Mesh as an Example)
Raw Material Pretreatment: Stainless steel coils/sheets are leveled using a leveling machine, then cut into metal strips of fixed width according to the design dimensions using a cutting machine. Subsequently, degreasing and pickling are performed to remove surface oil and oxide layers, laying the foundation for subsequent welding/rust prevention treatment.
Mesh Forming: Two mainstream processes are used to achieve structural forming, as follows:
Welding Forming: Using an automated spot welding machine, the horizontal and vertical metal strips are welded and fixed according to the set aperture (e.g., 2cm × 2cm) to form the mesh skeleton. Welding points must be free of incomplete welds and leaks to ensure structural load-bearing capacity.
Stamping Forming: For thinner stainless steel sheets, a large stamping machine and customized molds are used to stamp out the hollow mesh structure in one go, eliminating the need for welding. This results in higher overall strength, but the mold cost is higher.
Surface Rust Prevention Enhancement: This is the core process of the metal mesh, directly determining its durability:
Stainless Steel Material: Electrolytic polishing (improving surface smoothness and corrosion resistance) or passivation treatment (forming an oxide protective film, extending rust prevention lifespan).
Chromium-plated Iron Wire: First, galvanizing is applied as a base (enhancing the underlying rust prevention), followed by electroplating of a chromium layer (thickness ≥8μm), ensuring the surface is free of pinholes and peeling. It must pass a salt spray test for at least 48 hours (simulating rust prevention in a humid environment).
Edge and Accessory Processing: The edges of the mesh frame are rounded (to prevent scratches to hands or food during use). Some products require welding/installation of support feet and clips (to fit the refrigerator liner slots, ensuring smooth assembly and disassembly).
Appliance-Grade Quality Inspection: Key indicators are tested, including dimensional accuracy (tolerance to the refrigerator liner mounting position ≤ ±0.5mm), load-bearing capacity (no deformation after 48 hours of suspension under full load of rated weight), and surface quality (no burrs, scratches, or rust spots). III. Product Features and Specifications
1. Core Features
High Strength and Durability: The metal material has strong resistance to deformation, and its lifespan can reach 8-10 years under normal use, far superior to plastic mesh, making it especially suitable for long-term storage of heavy items or use in the freezer compartment.
Excellent Rust Resistance: Through electroplating and passivation processes, it can resist the corrosion of the humid and low-temperature environment inside the refrigerator, preventing rust contamination of food and meeting food contact safety requirements.
Excellent Low-Temperature Resistance: It can withstand freezing environments below -30℃ without becoming brittle or deforming at low temperatures, making it suitable for long-term use in the freezer compartment.
Easy to Clean: The smooth metal surface and hollow structure eliminate dead corners for cleaning, allowing for direct wiping with a damp cloth. Some parts are removable and washable, making cleaning convenient.
2. Common Specifications
Size Specifications: Must be precisely matched to the refrigerator model. The mainstream metal mesh sizes for household refrigerators are as follows:
Width: 450mm~650mm (suitable for the inner liner width of single-door, double-door, and French door refrigerators);
Depth: 280mm~450mm (corresponds to the front and back depth of the refrigerator interior, ensuring it does not exceed the inner liner's dimensions);
Thickness (Height): 25mm~50mm (stainless steel racks are thicker, approximately 35~50mm; chrome-plated wire racks are thinner, approximately 25~35mm).
Mesh Aperture: Standard is 15mm×15mm~30mm×30mm, where:
Freezer compartment: Larger aperture (25mm×25mm~30mm×30mm) facilitates rapid cold air circulation and reduces food sticking;
Refrigerator compartment: Smaller aperture (15mm×15mm~20mm×20mm) prevents small items (such as cherries and blueberries) from falling out.
Load-bearing capacity:
304 Stainless Steel Mesh: Rated load-bearing capacity 8~12kg, suitable for storing bottled beverages and large pieces of frozen meat;
201 Stainless Steel/Chrome-plated Iron Wire Mesh: Rated load-bearing capacity 6~10kg, suitable for storing regular food items and small to medium-sized containers.
Precision Standard: Dimensional tolerance ≤±1mm, ensuring precise fit with the refrigerator liner slots and smooth assembly/disassembly.
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