Cold drawn steel wires
Cold drawn steel wires are manufactured using cold drawing techniques. This means that steel wire is formed under room temperature conditions with high precision and precision. In general, the cold drawn process allows the steel wire to be drawn to an extremely thin size while maintaining a good surface finish and high degree of accuracy in the dimensions of the parts produced. The result is a product with improved tensile and yield strength, ductility and fatigue characteristics, which make it a desirable material for demanding applications.
The cold drawn steel wires consist of a wide variety of steel grades, with some of the most common grades being AISI 1010, AISI 1020, AISI 1045 and AISI 12L14. The steel grade chosen for the application depends upon the required properties and strength of the final product.
The common elements found in all the steel grades used for cold drawn steel wires include carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, chromium, nickel and molybdenum. The type and amount of elements present in the steel will depend on the grade of the steel chosen.
AISI 1010 is a low-carbon steel with relatively low strength properties. However, it has been widely used in applications requiring cold drawing due to its good machinability and weldability. The chemical composition of this steel grade typically contains 0.08-0.13% carbon, 0.30-0.60% manganese, 0.040% phosphorus, 0.045% sulfur and 0.20-0.35% silicon, as well as 0.30-0.40% chromium, 0.30-0.40% nickel and 0.15-0.25% molybdenum.
AISI 1020 is a medium-carbon steel containing 0.17-0.23% carbon, 0.30-0.60% manganese, 0.040% phosphorus, 0.045% sulfur and 0.20-0.35% silicon, as well as 0.30-0.40% chromium, 0.35-0.45% nickel and 0.15-0.25% molybdenum. This grade is considered to be the best choice for applications requiring improved wear resistance and toughness.
AISI 1045 is a medium- to high-carbon steel with a relatively high tensile strength. This grade generally contains 0.43-0.50% carbon, 0.60-0.90% manganese, 0.04% phosphorus, 0.05% sulfur and 0.20-0.35% silicon, as well as 0.30-0.50% chromium, 0.30-0.50% nickel and 0.15-0.25% molybdenum. This steel grade is used for applications where superior mechanical properties are desired.
Finally, AISI 12L14 is a low-carbon steel grade that is mainly used in applications that require minimal forming and thermal processing. This grade typically contains 0.10-0.20% carbon, 0.30-0.60% manganese, 0.040% phosphorus, 0.045% sulfur and 0.20-0.35% silicon, as well as 0.35-0.45% chromium, 0.35-0.45% nickel and 0.15-0.25% molybdenum.
Steel wires manufactured using the cold drawing process bring improved mechanical properties and superior surface finish of the product. In general, cold drawn steel wires are used for a wide range of applications, from small components to large machinery. The combination of improved strength, ductility and fatigue capabilities, as well as its wide availability in different grades make cold drawn steel wires an ideal material for demanding applications.