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Steel Wire Rod for Cold Heading

Round feedstock for the fasteners, springs and shafts the world assembles with — cold heading steels 10B21, ML40Cr and ML20MnTiB, spring steels 60Si2MnA and SWRS82A, alloy structural 42CrMo and 20CrMnTi, drawn and annealed in Shanghai.

● Ready stock — check availability 41 grades Ø0.05–46 mm CHQ / spring / alloy CNY 3,680–10,800 /t
At a glanceWire rod is the round-section feedstock behind cold headed fasteners, drawn spring wire and machined shafts. HS-FINEB supplies 41 grades in three tiers: cold heading (CHQ) steels — 10B21, 20MnB5, ML20MnTiB, ML40Cr, ML42CrMo — supplied spheroidized so fastener heads form without cracking; spring steels — 60Si2MnA, SWRS82A, 70# — for valve, suspension and wire-form springs; and alloy structural steels — 42CrMo, 20CrMnTi, SCM435, 16MnCr5, SNCM220 — for carburized gears, quench-and-tempered studs and shafts. Diameter 0.05–46 mm at CNY 3,680–10,800 per tonne, with wire drawing, spheroidizing annealing, peeling and cut-to-length in-house and chemistry, decarb and mechanicals documented on every MTC.
Why the range is built this way

Three jobs, 41 grades, one feedstock

Wire rod is bought by what happens next: a header, a drawing block, or a machining line. The range is organized around those three routes.

Cold heading (CHQ). A bolt head is formed by hammering the end of a rod at room temperature — the material has to flow, not crack. That is why CHQ grades leave us spheroidized (soft-annealed) with a documented hardness band and controlled decarburization: 10B21 for the mass fastener market, ML20MnTiB for self-tapping screws, ML40Cr and ML42CrMo for the 10.9-class and higher. The boron in 10B21 and the chromium in ML40Cr buy hardenability without pushing carbon up, so the header can still form the head.

Spring steel. 60Si2MnA (Si 1.60–2.00%) gives the fatigue life valve springs and leaf springs need at moderate cost; SWRS82A is the high-carbon JIS G3502 grade drawn and patented into suspension spring wire. Surface condition and decarb depth are the two properties that decide whether a spring survives — both are inspected per coil.

Alloy structural. 42CrMo quenches and tempers deep for studs, shafts and high-strength bolts; 20CrMnTi carburizes for gears and CVT components; SCM435 and 16MnCr5 cover the JIS and EN drawing routes. The price span tells the story: CNY 3,680–10,800 per tonne across the 81-SKU range — from plain 10#/20# rod at the bottom to alloy and micro-alloy grades at the top, at diameters from 0.05 to 46 mm.

Where wire rod sits

Three boundary decisions buyers actually make

CHQ steel vs. general wire rod

Ordinary low carbon rod (10#, 20#) draws and bends fine but will crack or lap in a cold header. CHQ rod is spheroidized, surface-controlled and decarb-limited specifically so fastener heads form cleanly at high speed. If you are heading, buy CHQ; if you are just drawing wire, plain rod is cheaper.

Heading fasteners → CHQ condition. Drawing wire → general rod is enough.

Spring steel vs. cold heading steel

Both can be "rod", but the property route is opposite: cold heading wants maximum softness for forming, spring steel wants a microstructure that develops high tensile after drawing or oil tempering. 60Si2MnA and SWRS82A are supplied for the spring route, not the header.

Spring in the final part → spring grade. Fastener in the final part → CHQ grade.

Alloy structural vs. plain carbon rod

42CrMo, 20CrMnTi and SCM435 cost more per tonne but harden in sections plain carbon cannot — 40–46 mm shafts, carburized gears, 10.9-class bolts. The premium buys through-hardening and core toughness where a plain carbon part would fall short in service.

Section or strength class beyond plain carbon → alloy structural.
Grade guide

Representative wire rod grades we supply

Diameter windows indicative for coil supply; confirm grade, size and condition against your standard at RFQ.

GradeStandard / familyTypical ØTypical applicationDelivery condition
10B21JIS SWRCH22A+B / SAE1022+B5.5–42 mmHex bolts, flange bolts, screwsSpheroidized CHQ coil
ML20MnTiBGB/T 64786.5–38 mmSelf-tapping & tapping screwsSpheroidized CHQ coil
ML40CrGB/T 64786.5–40 mm10.9-class high-strength fastenersSpheroidized CHQ coil
ML42CrMoGB/T 64788–40 mmHigh-strength studs and boltsSpheroidized CHQ coil
60Si2MnAGB/T 12225.5–30 mmValve springs, leaf springs, barsAnnealed coil / bar
SWRS82AJIS G35025.5–13 mmSuspension & valve spring wirePatented / drawn wire
42CrMoGB/T 307716–46 mmQuenched & tempered shafts, studsAnnealed / peeled rod
20CrMnTiGB/T 307714–46 mmCarburized gears, CVT partsAnnealed rod
SCM435JIS G410512–40 mmBolts, shafts, steering partsAnnealed rod
16MnCr5EN 1008412–40 mmCarburized gears and pinionsAnnealed rod

Chemistry, mechanicals, decarburization and surface class confirmed per coil on the Mill Test Certificate.

Chemistry reference

Typical composition of the main wire rod families

Typical / indicative values per the cited standards — the delivered heat is confirmed on the MTC.

Element %10B21 (CHQ)ML40Cr (CHQ)60Si2MnA42CrMo20CrMnTi
Carbon (C)0.18 – 0.230.37 – 0.440.56 – 0.640.38 – 0.450.17 – 0.23
Silicon (Si)≤ 0.100.17 – 0.371.60 – 2.000.17 – 0.370.17 – 0.37
Manganese (Mn)0.60 – 0.900.50 – 0.800.60 – 0.900.50 – 0.800.80 – 1.10
Chromium (Cr)—0.80 – 1.10≤ 0.350.90 – 1.201.00 – 1.30
Molybdenum (Mo)———0.15 – 0.25—
Boron (B)0.0008 – 0.0030————
Titanium (Ti)————0.04 – 0.10

Indicative reference values only; final chemistry confirmed on the Mill Test Certificate of the delivered heat.

What it becomes

Five parts that read a wire rod coil honestly

Hex flange bolts, M6–M16

The test: the head is formed in two blows, then threads are rolled — the rod must flow without laps and the finished bolt must hit its property class after quench and temper. Our answer: 10B21 spheroidized CHQ, hardness band documented so the header runs at speed.

Self-tapping & tapping screws

The test: small-diameter screw blanks headed and rolled at high rate; tip hardness after heat treat must cut clean into sheet. Our answer: ML20MnTiB CHQ coil, drawn to screw wire size with controlled scale and surface.

Valve & suspension springs

The test: wire drawn, coiled and stress-relieved into springs that survive millions of load cycles — surface seams and decarb are fatal. Our answer: 60Si2MnA annealed or SWRS82A patented wire, surface and decarb depth inspected per coil.

Carburized gear & CVT parts

The test: rod machined into gear blanks, then case-carburized to a hard wear surface over a tough core. Our answer: 20CrMnTi or 16MnCr5 annealed rod, hardenability band confirmed so the case depth repeats part to part.

Quench-and-tempered studs & shafts

The test: Ø20–46 mm sections that must harden through, not just at the skin. Our answer: 42CrMo / SCM435 annealed or peeled rod, Jominy hardenability confirmed for your section size.

From coil to header

Processing we run in-house on wire rod

Wire rod is a feedstock, not a finished part — the condition it arrives in decides whether your line runs or stops.

Wire drawing

Rod drawn to your wire size with die sequence and lubrication managed — the in-house 拉丝 service that turns 5.5 mm rod into the exact wire your header feeds.

Spheroidizing annealing

Full soft-annealing cycles for CHQ grades, conditioning carbides for clean cold heading and controlling the hardness band. The route is explained in the spheroidizing annealing guide.

Pickling, coating & peeling

Surface prepared for drawing or heading — pickled and coated for the draw bench, or peeled (剥皮) for machined alloy rod where the decarburized skin must go.

Inspection & MTC

Decarburization depth, surface seams, hardness and dimensional checks per coil; Mill Test Certificate issued before export packing.

Which product is this for?

Wire rod, judged the way a process engineer would

Use wire rod when…

  • The part is round and starts as cold headed, drawn or machined feedstock
  • You run a header, a draw bench or a bolt/screw line
  • The part needs through-hardenability in a round section
  • Spring wire and wire forms are the end product

Don't use it when…

Decision path

  • Mass-market bolts / screws → 10B21, ML20MnTiB
  • High-strength fasteners (10.9+) → ML40Cr, ML42CrMo
  • Springs → 60Si2MnA, SWRS82A, 70#
  • Carburized gears → 20CrMnTi, 16MnCr5
  • Q&T studs / shafts → 42CrMo, SCM435
Substitution map

Cross-standard equivalents inside the wire rod family

Substitution must be confirmed against your governing standard and heat treat route.

Base gradeJIS / EN / SAE familyGB (China) familyNotes
10B21 (CHQ)SWRCH22A+B (JIS G3507) · SAE1022+BML20MnB / 10B21 (GB/T 6478)Boron hardenability; mass fasteners
ML40Cr (CHQ)SCr440 CHQ (approx.)ML40Cr (GB/T 6478)10.9-class fastener tier
42CrMoSCM440 (JIS G4105) · 42CrMo4 (EN 10083)42CrMo (GB/T 3077)Q&T structural tier
20CrMnTi— (Ti-bearing; 20MnCr5 EN approx.)20CrMnTi (GB/T 3077)Carburizing tier — confirm Ti spec
60Si2MnASUP7 (JIS G4801, approx.)60Si2MnA (GB/T 1222)Si-Mn spring tier
SWRS82ASWRS82A (JIS G3502)— (piano wire family)Drawn spring wire tier
SCM435SCM435 (JIS G4105)35CrMo-type (GB/T 3077)Cr-Mo tier

All cross-standard equivalences indicative; confirm chemistry and hardenability against the governing specification.

Related ranges

Families you will cross in the same assembly line

Spring steel coil

Spring Steel

Flat spring strip for stamped clips and leaf springs — the strip counterpart to spring wire rod.

Browse high carbon strip →
Press hardening steel coil

Press Hardening Steel

Boron hardening continues into flat product — 22MnB5+AS for hot stamped body structure.

Browse press hardening steel →
Medium carbon steel coil

Medium Carbon Strip

S45C–S55C cold rolled strip for the flat, hardened mechanism parts beside the round fasteners.

Browse cold rolled strip →
Fine blanking steel coil

Fine Blanking Steel

Spheroidized flat stock for precision blanked mechanism parts — the flat route to the same hardened components.

Browse fine blanking steel →
Spec questions

Steel wire rod, asked and answered

What is cold heading (CHQ) steel and why does it need special wire rod?
Cold heading forms fastener heads at room temperature in one or more blows. The rod must be soft enough to flow without cracking — supplied spheroidized with controlled hardness and decarb — and clean enough on the surface to survive heading without laps or seams. 10B21, ML40Cr and ML20MnTiB are the standard CHQ families.
What is the difference between 10B21, ML40Cr and 42CrMo?
10B21 is boron micro-alloyed low carbon CHQ (C 0.18–0.23%) for the mass fastener market. ML40Cr is medium carbon CHQ with chromium (C 0.37–0.44%, Cr 0.80–1.10%) for 10.9-class fasteners. 42CrMo adds molybdenum for through-hardenability in larger sections — studs and shafts that must quench and temper deep.
What diameter range can you supply?
The wire rod range spans 0.05 to 46 mm diameter. The practical window for cold heading and spring wire is roughly 5.5–42 mm for rod and smaller drawn wire sizes; alloy structural rod runs to 46 mm. Confirm diameter, tolerance and coil weight at RFQ.
Can you supply wire rod for spring wire drawing?
Yes. 60Si2MnA is supplied annealed for valve and leaf springs; SWRS82A is the high-carbon spring wire grade drawn and patented for suspension and valve spring wire. Surface quality and decarburization control are the two properties that matter — both inspected and documented per coil.
What is the difference between 60Si2MnA and SWRS82A?
60Si2MnA is a silicon-manganese spring steel (GB/T 1222, Si 1.60–2.00%) for hot-formed and oil-tempered springs with good fatigue life at moderate cost. SWRS82A is a JIS G3502 high-carbon grade (C about 0.80%) for drawn, patented spring wire — the feedstock for suspension springs and wire forms requiring high tensile after drawing.
Why is spheroidizing annealing necessary for cold heading?
Cold heading deforms the metal faster than it can work-harden safely; a pearlitic or as-rolled structure cracks or laps at the head. Spheroidizing rounds the carbides and drops hardness so the steel flows into the die instead of failing. The cycle and hardness band are confirmed on the MTC — see the spheroidizing annealing guide for detail.
Do you supply wire rod with a Mill Test Certificate and full traceability?
Every coil ships with a Mill Test Certificate showing chemistry, mechanicals, decarburization and processing history from the source heat. Third-party inspection is available on request; Baosteel-sourced raw material is standard across the range.
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Name the fastener class or the spring. We match the grade and the condition.

Send grade or part, diameter, condition (CHQ/annealed/drawn), tonnage and destination port. Our engineers reply within one working day — processing services and application guidance included.

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