Abstract: Wires of platinum containing 4 to 12% rhodium or 4 to 12% of palladium and rhodium (4 to 12% being in reference to the sum of palladium and rhodium and not the percent values for each individually) and wires of palladium containing 2 to 15% nickel or 2 to 15% copper or 2 to 15% of nickel and copper (2 to 15% being in reference to the sum of nickel and copper) and having a diameter of 50 to 120 .mu.m, a tensile strength of 900 to 1050 N/mm.sup.2 and an elastic limit of 0.5 to 3% are used for the knitting of round nets for use as catalysts in the oxidation of ammonia and as recovery nets for platinum metals. A flat knitting machine with a gauge of 3.63 to 1.81 mm is also used whereby the loop length is 2 to 6 mm and wherein the loop or width gauge corresponds with the knitting machine gauge so as to provide a loop width of 1.81 to 3.63 mm.