How To Make The Best Metal Wire Selection | Properties, Applications, and More

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How Is Metal Wire Made?

Metal wire is a flexible, cylindrical rod used across industries for its versatility and reliability. Producing wire that is metal looks different depending on the final application, but it includes processes like casting, fogging, extruding, rolling, and drawing. Sometimes, wire that is metal will need to be heat treated, other times it will need to undergo a deformation process. The different steps taken to make this type of wire depends on the final product. For example, lock wire, also called safety wire, is made from different types of metals to act as a safety tool that ensures mechanical stability. For this reason, safety wire is produced to endure heavy levels of heat and vibration. Lock wire is often used in sports cars and aircraft engines to prevent the loosening of nuts and fasteners, so this high-stress environment demands serious strength and durability. This type of metal wire is made differently from wire used in the music industry to create piano strings, for example. It’s no secret that metal wire spans across industries. So how do you decide which type of wire you need for your facility?

Properties of Metal Wire

Metal wire, lock wire - 2 men working with wireThere are some key mechanical properties to keep in mind when looking for metal wire suppliers. Consider the yield strength of the wire. Yield strength is the point on a stress-strain curve that demonstrates the limit of elastic behavior and the beginning of plastic behavior. If you go below the yield point, the wire will deform elastically which means it will return to its original shape once the stress is removed. You’ll need to determine the yield strength of your wire application because this will tell you how much stress can be applied to the wire. Safety wire and music wire will have very different yield strength levels.  Another key property to consider is the elongation of the wire. This is the percent amount of deformation that occurs during a strength test. The elongation will tell you how well your metal wire will maintain its shape under stress. If your application requires your wire to stay in a specific shape or form for a long duration of time, you should determine the elongation percentage in advance before purchasing bulk metal wire.

Metal Wire Applications

As mentioned, wire that is metal is used across industries for all types of applications. Lock wire is used as a safety feature to prevent bolts, nuts, and fasteners from loosening. This is a critical tool in industries such as aerospace and automotive, where failure is not an option. Another type of metal wire is chrome silicon wire, which is a steel alloy wire that’s heat-treated for extra strength. Chrome silicon wire needs to withstand high impacts that typical wires simply couldn’t handle. This wire is often used in the firearm industry, as well as in the automotive industry. Another type of wire that’s used behind the scenes is oil tempered wire, which is drawn to thicker diameters to make it strong and flexible. This type of wire is used in spring applications everywhere: car engines, garage doors, clutch springs, and more. Because there are so many types of wire, if you aren’t sure which is best for you, it’s important to talk with an expert. Metal wire manufacturers will be able to tell you if what type of wire is right for you, or if you need wire with different strength properties. Wherever it’s used, wire that’s metal often carries the burden of making sure key operations run smoothly. For that reason, you need a metal wire manufacturers near me who will provide a product designed for safety and longevity.