Stainless & Carbon Steel Wire Rod

Specification

Introduction

Features

Process

Product Introduction

Steel wire rod is a long steel product that has undergone a special process. From the material point of view, it is usually composed of high-quality carbon structural steel or alloy structural steel.

Business Application scenarios and Selection Guide:

1. Selection suggestions for the construction industry

Binding wire: Q195 or Q235 wire rod (Φ4.0mm – Φ9.0mm), which needs to pass the JIS G3506 tensile test.

Prestressed steel: SWRH82B (high carbon wire rod), with a strength of ≥1860MPa, is used for PC sleepers in high-speed railways.

2. Quality Requirements for the automotive industry

Suspension spring: 60Si2MnA (C=0.57%-0.65%), and the fatigue life needs to meet the ISO 13003 standard.

ABS seat belt buckle: SWRCH22A cold heading steel (decarburization layer ≤0.04mm).

3. Special requirements for Marine engineering

Double salt spray test of 316L stainless steel wire rod (5%NaCl+35℃), corrosion rate ≤0.1mm/ year.

4. New energy field

The conductivity of pure aluminum cables (1060) should be greater than 62% IACS (specifically for photovoltaic grid connection).

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Production Features

High Intensity

Steel wire rod is treated by special technology and has high strength characteristics. This makes it able to maintain good stability and durability when it is subjected to external forces such as pressure and tension. In the field of construction, high-strength ss wire rod is often used as reinforced concrete skeletons and prestressed components, which can greatly improve the load-bearing capacity and safety of buildings.

High Toughness

It also has excellent toughness, that is, it can undergo large deformation under the action of external forces and is not easy to break. This performance gives the rod greater flexibility in the manufacture of various mechanical parts and transmissions, and can adapt to complex working environments.

Good Weldability and Plasticity

Its weldability and plasticity are excellent. This means that it can be easily processed into a variety of shapes and sizes by welding, bending, winding and other processing methods. For example, it can be processed into steel bars, wire ropes, springs, wire mesh, etc., to meet the needs of different fields.

Excellent Corrosion Resistance

Its surface is usually specially treated to improve its corrosion and wear resistance. This enables it to maintain good performance in harsh environments such as moisture, acid and alkali. At the same time, the wear resistance also makes the rod not easy to be damaged during long-term use, extending its service life.

Production Process Of Cold-Heading Wire Rod

Cold-heading steel wire rods are specialized steel products engineered for high-precision forming processes such as cold heading, cold extrusion, and thread rolling. Unlike hot-formed parts, cold-heading relies on work hardening to achieve enhanced mechanical properties, including higher tensile strength, dimensional accuracy, and surface finish.

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Raw Material Selection and Billet Preparation

1.Alloy Selection
Medium-Carbon Steels (e.g., 10B21, 15B20):
Composition: Carbon content between 0.18% and 0.25%, with manganese and boron additions for enhanced hardenability.
Properties: Moderate strength (tensile strength ~600–800 MPa) and good machinability.
Applications: Automotive bolts, screws, and studs.
High-Carbon Steels (e.g., SWRCH35K, 72A):
Composition: Carbon content between 0.32% and 0.85%, with manganese, silicon, and sometimes chromium or vanadium for wear resistance.
Properties: High tensile strength (≥1000 MPa) and excellent fatigue resistance.
Applications: High-strength fasteners, springs, and precision components.
Stainless Steels (e.g., 304, 316):
Composition: Chromium (16–18%), nickel (8–12%), and molybdenum (for 316) for corrosion resistance.
Properties: High ductility, corrosion resistance, and moderate strength (~500–800 MPa).
Applications: Marine fasteners, medical devices, and food processing equipment.
2. Billet Production
The raw steel is melted in an electric arc furnace (EAF) or induction furnace and refined in a ladle furnace (LF) or vacuum degassing unit (VD/VOD) to achieve the desired chemical composition and cleanliness. The molten steel is then cast into continuous casting billets or ingots, which are subsequently reheated for hot rolling.
Key Parameters:
Casting Speed: 1.5–3 m/min (to control grain size).
Cooling Rate: Controlled cooling to prevent cracking and ensure uniform microstructure.

Hot Rolling and Intermediate Processing

1.Reheating and Homogenization
The billets are reheated in a walking beam furnace or pusher-type furnace to temperatures between 1050°C and 1250°C, depending on the alloy. Homogenization ensures uniform temperature and composition, reducing segregation and improving formability.
2. Multi-Pass Hot Rolling
The reheated billets are passed through a series of roughing and finishing stands in the wire rod mill, reducing the cross-section from ~150 mm² (billet) to the desired intermediate size (e.g., Φ5.5–Φ20 mm).
Critical Control Points:
Temperature Management: Rolling temperature maintained between 850°C and 950°C to optimize grain refinement.
Lubrication: Rolling oil or emulsion to reduce friction and surface defects.
Reduction per Pass: Limited to 15–25% to avoid cracking and ensure uniform deformation.
3. Intermediate Annealing (Optional)
For certain alloys (e.g., high-carbon steels), an intermediate anneal (600–700°C) may be performed between rolling passes to relieve internal stresses and improve ductility.

Cold Drawing and Wire Drawing

1. Drawing Process
Die Selection: Polycrystalline diamond (PCD) or tungsten carbide dies for precision shaping. Lubrication: Soap-based or oil-based lubricants to minimize friction and die wear. Reduction per Pass: Limited to 10–20% to avoid cracking, especially for high-carbon steels.
2. Intermediate Annealing Between Passes
For high-strength alloys (e.g., SWRCH35K), intermediate anneals (150–250°C) are performed between drawing passes to relieve internal stresses and prevent work hardening from becoming excessive.
3. Final Wire Diameter Control
The final diameter is controlled within ±0.02 mm tolerance using laser micrometers or optical comparators.

Heat Treatment for Cold Heading

1. Solution Heat Treatment (SHT)
Purpose: Dissolve alloying elements (e.g., carbon in martensitic steels) into the matrix for maximum strength after aging.
Parameters:
Temperature: 800–900°C (for medium-carbon steels).
Holding Time: 15–30 minutes (dependent on section thickness).
Quenching: Rapid cooling in water or polymer quenchant to "freeze" the supersaturated solid solution.
2. Artificial Aging (Precipitation Hardening)
Purpose: Precipitate strengthening phases (e.g., carbides or intermetallic compounds) to enhance hardness and strength.
Parameters:
Temperature: 150–200°C (for medium-carbon steels).
Time: 4–8 hours (longer for higher strength).
3. Stress Relief Annealing (Optional)
For components requiring high dimensional stability, a low-temperature anneal (100–150°C) may be applied post-forming.

Surface Treatment and Coating

1. Phosphating
Process: Formation of a phosphate conversion coating to improve lubricity during cold heading.
Applications: Automotive fasteners, bolts, and screws.
2. Zinc Coating (Galvanizing)
Process: Electroplating or hot-dip galvanizing to provide corrosion resistance.
Specifications: ASTM A153 (hot-dip galvanizing) for fasteners.
3. Lubricant Application
Function: Reduces friction during cold heading and extends die life.
Types: Water-soluble oils or synthetic lubricants compliant with ISO 6743/7.

Quality Control and Testing

1. Dimensional Inspection
Tools: Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM) for diameter, straightness, and ovality.
2. Mechanical Testing
Tensile Testing: Per ASTM E8 to verify yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS).
Hardness Testing: Rockwell B-scale or Vickers hardness for heat-treated alloys.
3. Metallographic Analysis
Microstructure Examination: Light optical microscopy (LOM) or scanning
4. Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
Ultrasonic Testing (UT): Detects internal flaws.
Eddy Current Testing (ECT): Identifies surface cracks.

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Standards: AISI, ASTM, DIN, JIS, UNS, AWS, etc
Type	Specifications	Grades	Application
Cold forging steel wire	Φ5.5-42.0	SWRCH6A~SWRCH22A、SWRCH20K~SWRCH50K、ML08A、ML10~ML45、S10C~S48C、SAE1008~SAE1022、C10C、C15C、ML20MnTiB、10B21、10B21-H、10B23M、SAE10B21A、20MnB4、23MnB3、23MnB4、10B30、10B33、10B35、10B38、15B36、28B2、35B2、38B2、50BV30、51B20、15B36M、1537BH、35VB、SAE10B35A、ZT10B30、ZT10B33、ZT10B35、ZT10B38、Q10B28、Q10B35、Q10B38、20Cr、40Cr、ML20Cr、ML40Cr、SCr420(H)、SCr440(H)、17Cr3、SCM415、SCM420、SCM435(H)、SCM440(H)、20CrMo、35CrMo、42CrMo、42CrMoS4、4140、B7、16MnCr5、20MnCr5、20CrMnTi、SWRCH18Cr2Ni2、08CrNiCu、15CrNiCu、ZTFT-8、ZTFT-9、30MnVS6、30MnVS6-M	4.8~12.9 standard parts, non-standard parts, cold extruded parts
Drawn wire	Φ5.5～Φ26	Q195、Q215、Q235，SAE1006～SAE1035、SAE1006B～SAE1035B	Nail making, wire drawing, etc
Steel for welding	Φ5.5～Φ6.5	H08A（E/C）、H08MnA、H10Mn2A、ER50-6E、H08MnMoTiB、H10SiCrMoA	Production of welding electrode, gas shielded welding wire, submerged arc welding wire and so on
Carbon constructional quality steel	Φ5.5～Φ26	45#～85#、S35～55C	Wire rope, spring wire, structural parts, etc
High carbon hard wire steel	Φ5.5～Φ13	SWRH42A（B）－SWRH82A（B）	High strength steel wire rope, spring wire, etc
Bearing Steel	Φ5.5～Φ26	GCr15	Bearing
Spring Steel	Φ5.5～Φ26	65～85、65Mn、SiMnVB、Si2Mn、Si2Cr、Si2CrV、SiCr、CrMn、CrV、CrMnB、55CrSiA、55SiCrV、SAE9254、60Si2CrVAT，SUP3～SUP13（A）、ASTM A22～A878、C67E～C101E、38Si6～71Si7, etc.	Spring
Structural steel	Φ5.5～Φ26	Mn2、Cr、SiMn、B、MnB、MnVB、CrMo、CrMoV、CrV、CrMn、CrMnSi、CrMnMo、CrMnTi、CrNi、CrNi2、CrNiMo、CrNiMoV、38CrMoAl	Various structural parts
Free-cutting steel	Φ5.5～Φ26	1215、1214Bi、Y15、SAE1141	Instrument and meter, watch parts, automobile, machine tool machinery and other parts