M38 Fuel Sending Unit Filter

I pulled out and cleaned the fuel sending unit from my m38 tank. My question is the filter element. What is it made of and how do you know it is good or bad? It looks to me like it is copper. I cleaned it with some brake cleaner . I can blow air through it. I have never seen a filter like it before .

 

Here is what I have. I didnt know if the color is just plain rust or if it is a normal color. I flipped the filter on the bracket, you can tell by the dark areas. I figured i would keep that area towards the top of the sender because i could still get fuel from the bottom end if that section was blocked.
I did blow air through the element so i guess it is not clogged. I did find new ones and they were like 40-80 bucks

 

I dod have to say the Evaporust solvent you can buy at the store works very well. The center pieces was all rusty before i put it in the solution and it came out real clean. And the fuel pickup tube.