Carbon Steel Wire Rod — Factory Direct Supplier | Huaxia-Steel
Carbon steel wire rod is a hot-rolled semi-finished steel product coil, typically 5.5 mm to 16 mm in diameter, used as feedstock for drawing into wire, manufacturing fasteners, welding electrodes, and concrete reinforcement mesh. It is one of the highest-volume carbon steel products traded internationally.
Huaxia-Steel supplies carbon steel wire rod in SAE 1006, 1008, 1010, 1018, Q195, Q235, and SWRM grades, with cut-to-length and oiled surface finishes. We ship in coils or as straightened and cut bars, with full EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates.
Product Overview
Wire rod is produced by hot-rolling steel billets on a high-speed continuous mill (Stelmor-type) that controls cooling rate to achieve the required microstructure. The output is a coil weighing 1.0-2.5 tons. Common end uses are:
- Wire drawing: for nails, screws, welded mesh, fence wire, low-carbon fasteners.
- Cold heading: for bolts, nuts, screws (medium carbon).
- Welding electrodes: for arc welding consumables.
- Spring wire: for springs, bed frames (medium / high carbon).
- Concrete reinforcement mesh: for rebar welded into mesh panels.
- PC wire and strand: for prestressed concrete.
Specifications and Size Range
| Parameter | Range |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 5.5 mm to 16 mm (most common 6.0, 6.5, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 12.0, 14.0 mm) |
| Coil weight | 1.0 to 2.5 tons typical; up to 3.0 tons with modern Stelmor |
| Coil inside diameter | 850 mm to 1,050 mm |
| Outside diameter | 1,200-1,500 mm (depending on coil weight and rod diameter) |
| Coil height | 650-1,100 mm |
| Packing | Loose coil, strapped coil, or wrapped coil; horizontal or vertical delivery |
| Tolerance on diameter | +/- 0.30 mm for 5.5-10 mm; +/- 0.40 mm for >10 mm (per GB/T 701 or SAE J403) |
| Ovality | 0.30 mm max for ≤10 mm; 0.40 mm max for >10 mm |
Available Grades and Standards
| Grade | Standard | Carbon % | Manganese % | Tensile (MPa) | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAE 1006 | ASTM A510 / SAE J403 | 0.08 max | 0.25-0.40 | 290-410 | Galvanized wire, mesh, deep drawing |
| SAE 1008 | ASTM A510 / SAE J403 | 0.10 max | 0.30-0.50 | 295-420 | General wire, mesh, nail wire |
| SAE 1010 | ASTM A510 / SAE J403 | 0.08-0.13 | 0.30-0.60 | 320-460 | Standard fasteners, mesh, low-carbon wire |
| SAE 1018 | ASTM A510 / SAE J403 | 0.15-0.20 | 0.60-0.90 | 440-590 | Cold heading fasteners |
| SAE 1022 | ASTM A510 / SAE J403 | 0.18-0.23 | 0.70-1.00 | 490-640 | Higher strength fasteners, chain |
| Q195 | GB/T 701 | 0.06-0.12 | 0.25-0.50 | 375-500 | Mesh, fence, galvanized wire |
| Q235 | GB/T 701 | 0.14-0.22 | 0.30-0.65 | 410-550 | Construction tie wire, mesh |
| SWRM6 | JIS G3505 | 0.08 max | 0.60 max | 340 max | Low-carbon wire |
| SWRM8 | JIS G3505 | 0.10 max | 0.60 max | 390 max | Nail wire, mesh |
| SWRM10 | JIS G3505 | 0.08-0.13 | 0.30-0.60 | 410 max | Standard fastener wire |
Surface Condition
Wire rod can be supplied as:
- As-rolled (black): Standard mill finish with mill scale.
- Pickled and oiled (P&O): Surface scale removed by acid pickling, coated with rust-preventative oil.
- Pickled, annealed, and oiled: For finer drawing.
- Mechanically descaled: Brushed / shot-blasted surface.
For galvanizing or copper coating downstream, P&O is standard. For high-speed drawing of small diameter wire, annealed rod reduces drawing force.
Mechanical and Quality Properties
| Property | Low Carbon (1006, 1008, Q195) | Medium Carbon (1018, 1022, Q235) |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength (MPa) | 290-420 | 440-640 |
| Yield strength (MPa) | 170-260 | 260-370 |
| Elongation A200 (%) | 30-45 | 18-30 |
| Reduction of area (%) | 65-80 | 50-65 |
| Hardness HRB | 55-75 | 75-90 |
| Drawing performance | Excellent – to 0.05 mm diameter | Good – to 0.20-0.50 mm diameter |
Manufacturing Standards
- ASTM A510 – General Requirements for Wire Rods and Coarse Round Wire, Carbon Steel.
- ASTM A853 – Steel Wire, Carbon, for General Use.
- SAE J403 – Chemical Compositions of SAE Carbon Steels.
- GB/T 701 – Hot Rolled Plain Carbon Steel Wire Rods and Bars for Drawing.
- GB/T 4354 – Hot Rolled Quality Carbon Steel Wire Rods.
- JIS G3505 – Low Carbon Steel Wire Rods (SWRM series).
- JIS G3506 – High Carbon Steel Wire Rods (SWRH series).
- EN 10016-2 – Non-alloy steel rod for drawing.
- ISO 16120-2 – Non-alloy steel wire rod for conversion to wire.
Typical Applications by Grade
Low-Carbon Wire Rod (SAE 1006, 1008, Q195)
- Galvanized wire for construction, agriculture, and aquaculture.
- Welded wire mesh for concrete reinforcement (A82 / A185 / A497 mesh).
- Fence wire (chain link, barbed).
- Wire for nails, screws (after cold heading).
- Wire for hangers, baskets, display racks.
Medium-Carbon Wire Rod (SAE 1010, 1018, 1022, Q235)
- Bolts, nuts, screws (cold heading feedstock).
- Chain links and conveyor components.
- Concrete reinforcement (low-grade rebar after further drawing).
- Wire for automobile tire bead.
High-Carbon Wire Rod (SWRH 62A / 72A / 82A for spring and PC wire)
- Spring wire for suspension, motor laminations.
- Steel wire rope and cable.
- Pre-stressed concrete (PC) wire and strand.
- Bed frame and upholstery wire.
Coil Handling and Storage
- Coils are delivered with center eye for C-hook or band-handling.
- Strap the coil with steel band in 3-4 places to prevent telescoping.
- Store horizontally on a flat, dry concrete floor.
- Apply VCI paper or oil to prevent rust during storage.
- For overseas transit, use protective wrapping plus desiccant to control humidity.
Quality Assurance
- Per-heat chemical analysis (spectrometer).
- Mechanical tests (tensile, reduction of area) per heat.
- Dimensional: diameter, ovality, out-of-round using laser gauge.
- Surface defect inspection by Eddy current or visual.
- Decarburization test for medium / high carbon grades (per GB/T 224 or ASTM E1077).
- Coil weight verification on calibrated scale.
- MTC to EN 10204 3.1; 3.2 available with third-party witness.
- ISO 9001 quality system at the mill.
Packaging and Shipping
- Loose coil, strapped, plastic-wrapped; or wire-rod bundle on wood pallet.
- 20′ container: typically 18-22 tons (depending on size).
- 40′ container: typically 25-28 tons (depending on size).
- Bulk vessel: 3,000-10,000 tons per lot for large importers.
- Container loading supervised and documented on request.
Comparison with Other Carbon Steel Long Products
| Aspect | Wire Rod | Rebar | Round Bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form | Coil | Coil or straight | Straight bar |
| Diameter / size | 5.5 to 16 mm | 6 to 50 mm | 10 to 200 mm |
| Surface | Smooth, optional ribs | Ribbed (deformed) | Smooth, optional peeled / polished |
| Primary use | Cold drawing, fasteners | Concrete reinforcement | Machining, shafts, fasteners |
| Standard grades | SAE 1006-1022, Q195, Q235, SWRM | ASTM A615 Gr.40/60, BS4449, GB1499 | SAE 1045, S45C, A36, S355JR |
| Coil weight | 1.0-2.5 tons | 2.0-5.0 tons | Not coiled (straight only) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the typical coil weight for wire rod?
Standard coils weigh 1.0-2.5 tons (1,000-2,500 kg) each. Some Chinese mills produce 1.5 ton coils, others 2.0 or 2.2 ton coils. Modern high-speed mills can produce 2.5-3.0 ton coils on request.
Q2: Can wire rod be supplied in cut lengths?
Yes. Straighten and cut (S&C) wire rod can be supplied in 3-6 meter lengths. This adds cost; many buyers prefer coil and do their own straightening downstream.
Q3: What is the difference between SAE 1006 and Q195?
Both are low-carbon grades with similar mechanical properties (~290-410 MPa tensile). SAE 1006 has a max carbon of 0.08%, while Q195 is 0.06-0.12%. Both work for galvanized wire, mesh, and drawing.
Q4: Can I get high-carbon wire rod for springs?
Yes. SWRH 62A to 82A (JIS G3506) and 65Mn, 70# grades are available. These are used for spring wire and PC wire after patenting and drawing.
Q5: Is third-party inspection available?
Yes. SGS, BV, Intertek, and TUV regularly inspect our shipments. You can also send your own inspector or request remote video inspection.
Q6: What is the lead time?
Stock sizes: 7-15 days. Special chemistry or large diameters: 25-45 days.
Conclusion
Carbon steel wire rod is the feedstock for one of the largest manufacturing chains in the world – from nails to bolts to PC strand. Choosing the right grade, surface condition, and tolerance ensures your downstream operation runs without bottlenecks. We supply low-, medium-, and high-carbon grades with full MTC and inspection options.
Huaxia-Steel supplies ASTM A510 / GB/T 701 / JIS G3505 wire rod in 5.5-16 mm sizes, with pickled, oiled, or as-rolled finishes. Send your specification, diameter, grade, and quantity for a quotation.
Related Images
