ASTM A510/A510M-20

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Designation: A510/A510M − 18 A510/A510M − 20
Standard Specification for
General Requirements for Wire Rods and Coarse Round
Wire, Carbon Steel, and Alloy Steel
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A510/A510M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This specification covers general requirements for carbon and alloy steel wire rods and uncoated coarse round wire in coils
or straightened and cut lengths.
1.2 In case of conflict, the requirements in the purchase order, on the drawing, in the individual specification, and in this general
specification shall prevail in the sequence named.
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard. Within the text, inch-pound units are shown in brackets.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A370 Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing of Steel Products
A700 Guide for Packaging, Marking, and Loading Methods for Steel Products for Shipment
A751 Test Methods and Practices for Chemical Analysis of Steel Products
A941 Terminology Relating to Steel, Stainless Steel, Related Alloys, and Ferroalloys
A1040 Guide for Specifying Harmonized Standard Grade Compositions for Wrought Carbon, Low-Alloy, and Alloy Steels
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
E112 Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size
E527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System (UNS)
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee A01.03
on Steel Rod and Wire.
Current edition approved March 1, 2018Nov. 15, 2020. Published April 2018January 2021. Originally approved in 1964. Last previous edition approved in 20132018 as
A510 – 13.A510/A510M – 18. DOI: 10.1520/A0510_A0510M-18.10.1520/A0510_A0510M-20.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
A510/A510M − 20
3.1.1 coarse round wire, n—from 0.90 to 25 mm [0.035 to 0.999 in.] in diameter, inclusive, wire that is produced from hot-rolled
wire rods or hot-rolled coiled bars by one or more cold reductions primarily for the purpose of obtaining a desired size with
dimensional accuracy, surface finish, and mechanical properties. Byproperties; by varying the amount of cold reduction and other
wire mill practices, including thermal treatment, a wide diversity of mechanical properties and finishes are made available.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—
Coarse round wire is designated by Steel Wire Gauge numbers, common fractions, or decimal parts of an inch, or metric
equivalents. The Steel Wire Gauge system is shown in Table 1. Since the many gauge systems in use may cause confusion, the
purchaser is encouraged to specify wire diameters in inches, decimal parts, or metric equivalents.
3.1.2 straightened and cut wire, n—wire that is produced from coils of wire by means of special machinery which straightens the
wire and cuts it to a specified length.
3.1.2.1 Discussion—
The straightening operation may alter the mechanical properties of the wire, especially the tensile strength. The straightening
operation may also induce changes in the diameter of the wire. The extent of the changes in the properties of the wire after cold
straightening depends upon the kind of wire and also on the normal variations in the adjustments of the straightening equipment.
It is therefore not possible to forecast the properties of straightened and cut wire and each kind of wire needs individual
consideration. In most cases, the end use of straightened and cut wire is not seriously influenced by these changes.
3.1.3 wire rods, n—rods that are hot rolled from billets to an approximate round cross section into coils of one continuous length.
Rods are not comparable to hot-rolled bars in accuracy of cross section or surface finish and as a semifinished product are length;
rods are intended primarily for the manufacture of wire.
3.1.3.1 Discussion—
7 3
Rod Common rod sizes from 5.5 to 18.619 mm [ ⁄32 to ⁄4 in.] in diameter, inclusive, are designated in Table 2.
3.1.4 direct-drawn wire, n—wire that is produced from hot-rolled wire rods or hot-rolled coiled bars to finished wire through one
or more cold reductions without annealing or patenting heat treatment.
4. Ordering Information
4.1 Orders for hot-rolled wire rods under this specification should include the following information:
4.1.1 Quantity (mass or weight),
4.1.2 Name of material (wire rods),
4.1.3 Diameter ((SectionTable 2 3),
4.1.4 Chemical composition grade no. (see Section (Section 6),
4.1.5 Packaging, Packaging (Section 15),
4.1.6 ASTM designation and date of issue, and
4.1.7 The purchaser shall have the option to specify additional requirements, including but not limited to:
4.1.7.1 Requirements for certifications, heat analysis, or test reports (see Sections (Sections 6 and 14),
4.1.7.2 Mechanical property requirements (see Sections (Sections 6 &and 8),
4.1.7.3 Freedom from welds (see Section (Section 10),
4.1.7.4 Special packing, marking, and loading requirements (see Section (Section 15),
4.1.7.5 Additional processing, if any, and
4.1.7.6 Other special requirements, if any.
A510/A510M − 20
A
TABLE 1 Steel Wire Gauge
SI Units
Diameter, mm
0.90 6.0
1.00 6.5
1.10 7.0
1.20 7.5
1.30 8.0
1.40 8.5
1.60 9.0
1.80 9.5
2.0 10.0
2.1 11.0
2.2 12.0
2.4 13.0
2.5 14.0
2.6 15.0
2.8 16.0
3.0 17.0
3.2 18.0
3.5 19.0
3.8 20.0
4.0 21.0
4.2 22.0
4.5 23.0
4.8 24.0
5.0 25.0
5.5 –
Inch-
Pound
Units
Decimal Decimal
Gauge Gauge
Equivalent, Equivalent,
No. No.
in. in.
7⁄0 0.490 9 0.148*
6⁄0 0.462* 9 ⁄2 0.142
5⁄0 0.430* 10 0.135
4⁄0 0.394* 10 ⁄2 0.128
3⁄0 0.362* 11 0.120*
2⁄0 0.331 11 ⁄2 0.113
1⁄0 0.306 12 0.106*
1 0.283 12 ⁄2 0.099
1 ⁄2 0.272 13 0.092*
2 0.262* 13 ⁄2 0.086
2 ⁄2 0.253 14 0.080
3 0.244* 14 ⁄2 0.076
3 ⁄2 0.234 15 0.072
4 0.225* 15 ⁄2 0.067
4 ⁄2 0.216 16 0.062*
5 0.207 16 ⁄2 0.058
5 ⁄2 0.200 17 0.054
6 0.192 17 ⁄2 0.051
6 ⁄2 0.184 18 0.048*
7 0.177 18 ⁄2 0.044
7 ⁄2 0.170 19 0.041
8 0.162 19 ⁄2 0.038
8 ⁄2 0.155 20 0.035*
A
TABLE 1 Steel Wire Gauge
Decimal Decimal Decimal Decimal
Gauge Gauge
Equivalent, Equivalent, Equivalent, Equivalent,
No. No.
mm in. mm in.
7/0 12.45 0.490 9 3.76 0.148*
6/0 11.73 0.462* 9 ⁄2 3.61 0.142
5/0 10.92 0.430* 10 3.43 0.135
4/0 10.01 0.394* 10 ⁄2 3.25 0.128
3/0 9.19 0.362* 11 3.05 0.120*
2/0 8.41 0.331 11 ⁄2 2.87 0.113
1/0 7.77 0.306 12 2.69 0.106*
1 7.19 0.283 12 ⁄2 2.51 0.099
1 ⁄2 6.91 0.272 13 2.34 0.092*
2 6.65 0.262* 13 ⁄2 2.18 0.086
2 ⁄2 6.43 0.253 14 2.03 0.080
3 6.20 0.244* 14 ⁄2 1.93 0.076
3 ⁄2 5.94 0.234 15 1.83 0.072
4 5.72 0.225* 15 ⁄2 1.70 0.067
4 ⁄2 5.49 0.216 16 1.57 0.062*
A510/A510M − 20
5 5.26 0.207 16 ⁄2 1.47 0.058
5 ⁄2 5.08 0.200 17 1.37 0.054
6 4.88 0.192 17 ⁄2 1.30 0.051
6 ⁄2 4.67 0.184 18 1.22 0.048*
7 4.50 0.177 18 ⁄2 1.12 0.044
7 ⁄2 4.32 0.170 19 1.04 0.041
8 4.11 0.162 19 ⁄2 0.97 0.038
8 ⁄2 3.94 0.155 20 0.89 0.035*
A
The steel wire gauge outlined in this table has been taken from the original
Washburn and Moen Gauge chart. In 20 gauge and coarser, inch sizes originally
quoted to 4four decimal equivalent places have been rounded to 3three decimal
places in accordance with rounding procedures of Practice E29. All rounded U.S.
customary inch size values are indicated by an asterisk.
SI unit decimal equivalents are converted from inch size decimal equivalents.
NOTE 1—A typical ordering description is as follows: 50 000 kg steel wire rods, 5.5 mm, Gradegrade G10100 in approximately 600 kg coils for metric
orders to ASTM A510/A510M dated _______, or 100 000 lb Wire Rods,wire rods, ⁄32 in., Gradegrade 1010 in approximately 1000 lb Coilscoils to ASTM
A510/A510M dated _______.
4.2 Orders for coarse round wire under this specification should include the following information:
4.2.1 Quantity (mass or weight]),weight),
4.2.2 Name of material (uncoated carbon steel wire or alloy steel wire),
4.2.3 Diameter (see(Section 3.1.13),
4.2.4 Length (straightened and cut only), only, Section 9)
4.2.5 Chemical composition (see Section (Section 6),
4.2.6 Packaging, Packaging (Section 15),
4.2.7 ASTM designation and date of issue, and
4.2.8 The purchaser shall have the option to specify additional requirements, including but not limited to:
4.2.8.1 Requirements for certifications, heat analysis, or test reports (see Sections (Sections 6 and 14),
4.2.8.2 Mechanical property requirements (see Sections (Sections 6 &and 8),
4.2.8.3 Freedom from welds made prior to or during wire drawing, or marking of welds (see Section (Section 10),
4.2.8.4 Special packing, marking, and loading requirements (see Section (Section 15),
4.2.8.5 Additional processing, if any, and
4.2.8.6 Other special requirements, if any.
NOTE 2—A typical ordering description is as follows: 15 000 kg uncoated carbon or alloy steel wire 3.8 mm in diameter, Gradegrade G10080 in 1000
kg coils on tubular carriers to ASTM A510/A510M-XX, dated _______, or 2500 pieces carbon or alloy steel wire, 9.5 mm diameter, straightened and
cut, 0.76 m, Gradegrade G10500, in 25-piece bundles on pallets to ASTM A510/A510M dated _______.
For inch-pound units, a typical ordering description is as follows: 40 000 lb Uncoated Carbon or Alloy Steel Wire,uncoated carbon or alloy steel wire,
0.148 in. (9 ga.) diameter, Gradegrade 10080 in 500 lb Coilscoils on Tubuliartubular carriers to ASTM A510/A510M dated _______, or
2500 Pieces, Carbon or Alloy Steel Wire,pieces, carbon or alloy steel wire, 0.375 in. diameter, Straightenedstraightened and Cutcut 29 ⁄2 in.,
Gradegrade 1015, in 25 Piece Bundlespiece bundles on Palletspallets to ASTM A510/A510M dated _______.
5. Manufacture
5.1 The steel shall be made by any commercially accepted steel making process. The steel may be either ingot cast or strand cast.
A510/A510M − 20
A
TABLE 2 Common Sizes of Wire Rods
SI Units
Diameter, mm
5.5 12.5
5.5 12.5
6 13
6 13
6.5 13.5
6.5 13.5
7 14
7 14
7.5 14.5
7.5 14.5
8 15
8 15
8.5 15.5
8.5 15.5
9 16
9 16
9.5 16.5
9.5 16.5
10 17
10 17
10.5 17.5
10.5 17.5
11 18
11 18
11.5 18.5
11.5 18.5
12 19
12 19
Inch-Pound Units
Decimal Decimal
Inch Fraction Inch Fraction
Equivalent, in. Equivalent, in.
7 31
⁄32 0.219 ⁄64 0.484
7 31
⁄32 0.219 ⁄64 0.484
15 1
⁄64 0.234 ⁄2 0.500
15 1
⁄64 0.234 ⁄2 0.500
1 33
⁄4 0.250 ⁄64 0.516
1 33
⁄4 0.250 ⁄64 0.516
17 17
⁄64 0.266 ⁄32 0.531
17 17
⁄64 0.266 ⁄32 0.531
9 35
⁄32 0.281 ⁄64 0.547
9 35
⁄32 0.281 ⁄64 0.547
19 9
⁄64 0.297 ⁄16 0.562
19 9
⁄64 0.297 ⁄16 0.562
5 37
⁄16 0.312 ⁄64 0.578
5 37
⁄16 0.312 ⁄64 0.578
21 19
⁄64 0.328 ⁄32 0.594
21 19
⁄64 0.328 ⁄32 0.594
11 39
⁄32 0.344 ⁄64 0.609
11 39
⁄32 0.344 ⁄64 0.609
23 5
⁄64 0.359 ⁄8 0.625
23 5
⁄64 0.359 ⁄8 0.625
3 41
⁄8 0.375 ⁄64 0.641
3 41
⁄8 0.375 ⁄64 0.641
25 21
⁄64 0.391 ⁄32 0.656
25 21
⁄64 0.391 ⁄32 0.656
13 43
⁄32 0.406 ⁄64 0.672
13 43
⁄32 0.406 ⁄64 0.672
27 11
⁄64 0.422 ⁄16 0.688
27 11
⁄64 0.422 ⁄16 0.688
7 45
⁄16 0.438 ⁄64 0.703
7 45
⁄16 0.438 ⁄64 0.703
29 23
⁄64 0.453 ⁄32 0.719
29 23
⁄64 0.453 ⁄32 0.719
15 47
⁄32 0.469 ⁄64 0.734
15 47
⁄32 0.469 ⁄64 0.734
⁄4 0.750
A
Rounded off to 3three decimal places in decimal equivalents in accordance with
procedures outlined in Practice E29.
A510/A510M − 20
TABLE 3 Permissible Variations for Product Analysis of Carbon
Steel
Limit, or Max of Over Max Under Min
Element
Specified Range, % Limit, % Limit, %
Tolerance Tolerance
Limit, or Maximum of
Element Over Maximum Under Minimum
Specified Range, %
Limit, % Limit, %
Carbon 0.25 and under 0.02 0.02
over 0.25 to 0.55, incl 0.03 0.03
over 0.55 0.04 0.04
Manganese 0.90 and under 0.03 0.03
over 0.90 to 1.65, incl 0.06 0.06
Phosphorus to 0.040, incl 0.008 . . .
Sulfur to 0.060, incl 0.008 . . .
Silicon 0.35 and under 0.02 0.02
over 0.35 to 0.60, incl 0.05 0.05
A
Copper under minimum only . . . 0.02
B
Lead 0.15 to 0.35, incl 0.03 0.03
A
Product analysis permissible variations for copper apply only when the amount
of copper is specified or required. Copper bearing steels typically specify 0.20 %
min copper.
B
Product analysis permissible variations for lead apply only when the amount of
lead is specified or required. A range from 0.15 to 0.35 % lead is normally specified
for leaded steels.applies both over and under to a specified range of 0.15 to
0.35 %.
6. Chemical Composition
6.1 The chemical composition for steel under this specification shall conform to the requirements set forth in the purchase order.
Chemical compositions are specified by ranges or limits for carbon and other elements. The grades commonly specified for carbon
and alloy steel wire rods and coarse round wire are designated in Guide A1040. Other grades not designated in Guide A1040 may
be specified.
6.1.1 For wire rods intended for direct-drawn wire, it is common practice to specify a range of tensile strength. If chemistry ranges
are also specified, due consideration should be taken to ensure that the producer can achieve the required strengths within the
allowable carbon range. The Mn, P, and S limits for carbon steel wire rods are normally specified according to Guide A1040.
6.2 Boron Additions to Control Strain AgeingAging Behavior—Intentional additions of boron to low carbon steels for the purpose
of controlling strain ageingaging behavior during wire drawing is permissible only with the agreement of the purchaser. In such
cases, the boron content shall be reported in either a material test report or certification.
6.2.1 For steels that do not have intentional boron additions for hardenability or for control of strain ageingaging behavior, the
boron content will not normally exceed 0.0008 %.
6.3 Heat Analysis (Formerly Ladle Analysis)—An analysis of each cast or heat shall be made by the producer to determine the
percentage of the elements specified. The analysis shall be made from a test sample, preferably taken during the pouring of the
heat. The chemical composition thus determined shall be reported, if required, to the purchaser, or his representative. Reporting
of significant figures and rounding shall be in accordance with Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology A751.
6.4 Product Analysis (Formerly Check Analysis)—A product analysis may be made by the purchaser. The purpose of the product
analysis is to verify that the chemical composition is within specified limits for each element, including applicable permissible
variations in product analysis. The results of analyses taken from different pieces of a heat may differ within permissible limits from
each other and from the heat analysis. Table 3 shows the permissible variations for product analysis of carbon steel. Table 4 shows
the permissible variations for product analysis of alloy steel. The results of the product analysis obtained, except lead, shall not
vary both above and below the permissible limits.
A510/A510M − 20
TABLE 4 Product or Verification Analysis Tolerances—Alloy
Permissible Variations for Product Analysis of Alloy Steels
Tolerance Over
Limit or Maximum of Maximum Limit or
Element
Specified Range, % Under Minimum
Limit, %
Carbon To 0.30, incl 0.01
Over 0.30 to 0.75, incl 0.02
Over 0.75 0.03
Manganese To 0.90, incl 0.03
Over 0.90 to 2.10, incl 0.04
Phosphorus Over max only 0.005
A
Sulfur To 0.060, incl 0.005
Silicon To 0.40, incl 0.02
Over 0.40 to 2.20, incl 0.05
Nickel To 1.00, inc 0.03
Over 1.00 to 2.00, incl 0.05
Over 2.00 to 5.30, incl 0.07
Over 5.30 to 10.00, incl 0.10
Chromium To 0.90, incl 0.03
Over 0.90 to 2.10, incl 0.05
Over 2.10 to 3.99, incl 0.10
Molybdenum To 0.20, incl 0.01
Over 0.20 to 0.40, incl 0.02
Over 0.40 to 1.15, incl 0.03
Vanadium To 0.01, incl 0.01
Over 0.10 to 0.25, incl 0.02
Over 0.25 to 0.50, incl 0.03
Min value specified, 0.01
...