How is carbon steel wire made?

Carbon steel wire is made by drawing hot rolled bars through progressively smaller dies. The drawing process hardens the steel and makes it stronger. The wire is then annealed or heated to relieve some of the stresses from the drawing process. This makes the wire more ductile or malleable, so it can be easily formed into the desired shape. The exact ratio of iron to carbon can vary depending on the desired characteristics of the final product.

Types of Carbon Steel

When choosing the right type of steel for your project, it is important to understand the differences between the different types of carbon steel. There are four main types of carbon steel wire: low carbon steel, medium carbon steel, high carbon steel, and ultra high carbon steel.
Low carbon steel is the most common type of carbon steel. It contains a small amount of carbon (0.05% to 0.25%) and is used in a variety of applications, including piping, wire, cages, and nails.
Medium carbon steel contains higher amounts of carbon (0.3% to 0.6%) and is used for parts that require strength and hardness, such as gears, crankshafts, and in some cases knives and shafts.
High-carbon steels contain a very high carbon content (0.61% to 2.00%). This steel is very hard but also very brittle and therefore not suitable for all applications. It is commonly used for making tools and other cutting tools.
Ultra-high carbon steel has a very high carbon content (greater than 2%), making it very hard but also very brittle, so it cannot be used for all applications. It is commonly used to make bearings, molds and other wear resistant parts.