Specifications

How stainless steel wire is made

We manufacture stainless steel wire from hot-rolled wire rod. The rod is descaled and coated, then drawn through a series of tungsten carbide or diamond dies, each pass reducing the diameter and increasing strength and hardness. Between passes, or at the final size, the wire is annealed – either bright annealed in a protective atmosphere or annealed and pickled – to restore ductility. The final condition depends on how much cold reduction follows the last anneal: annealed wire is soft and easy to bend, while spring-temper wire is drawn hard for high tensile strength.

Spring wire to ASTM A313

Stainless spring wire is cold drawn to a high tensile strength that depends on diameter – the thinner the wire, the higher the strength. Type 302 and 304 are the standard spring grades for general corrosion resistance; Type 316 is used for springs exposed to chlorides and chemicals; and Type 631 (17-7 PH) is precipitation hardened after coiling for the highest strength and resistance to relaxation at moderate temperatures. Spring wire is used for compression, extension and torsion springs, wire forms, clips and pins in valves, pumps, instruments, appliances and food machinery.

Cold-heading and general wire

Cold-heading wire to ASTM A493 is supplied in a soft condition, often with a coating, so that bolts, screws, rivets and pins can be formed by cold heading without cracking. 304, 304L, 316 and 316L are the common austenitic grades, and 410 and 430 are used where a magnetic or hardenable fastener is needed. General-purpose wire to ASTM A580 is used for mesh and woven filters, binding wire, fencing, cable armour, baskets, and wire forms for food and medical equipment.

Welding wire

Stainless welding wire to AWS A5.9 is supplied as solid wire on spools for MIG welding and as straight cut lengths for TIG welding. ER308L is used to weld 304 and 304L, ER316L to weld 316 and 316L, ER309L to join stainless steel to carbon steel and for buffer layers, and ER347 for stabilised grades such as 321 and 347. The low-carbon "L" fillers keep the weld resistant to intergranular corrosion.

Choosing the grade and condition

304 is the general-purpose stainless wire; 316 is chosen for marine, chemical and medical environments where chlorides are present. 302 is the traditional spring grade, and 321 and 310S are used for high-temperature wire such as furnace belts and heating element supports. Ferritic 430 and martensitic 410 are magnetic and lower in cost. The condition should match the process: annealed or soft-drawn wire for forming, weaving and cold heading, and hard-drawn or spring-temper wire where the finished part must carry load.

Ordering stainless steel wire

Please give the specification and grade, diameter and tolerance, condition or tensile strength range, surface finish, form (coil, spool or cut length), coil or spool weight, quantity and any testing or inspection requirement. Wire is packed in coils or on spools, wrapped against moisture and packed on pallets or in cartons and wooden boxes for export, with each coil tagged with grade, size and heat number.

Applications and related products

Stainless steel wires are used for springs, fasteners, mesh, filters, wire rope, fencing, welding, medical devices, food and pharmaceutical equipment, and household products. Thicker sizes are on our stainless steel round bars page and all forms on the round bars, rods and wires page. In stainless steel we also supply seamless pipes, welded pipes, tubes, flanges, pipe fittings, sheets, plates, coils, circles, fasteners, angles, channels, flats and rings. Grade information is on the stainless steel page.