Steel wire drawing

Known since ancient times, wire drawing produces metal wires with a specific cross-section and shape.

The principle of wire drawing is defined by the etymology of the word, which draws on two concepts: "traction" and "fil". It's a cold transformation process that involves passing metal through a calibrated orifice called a "die" (which can be likened to a cone) under the action of continuous traction.

This technique takes advantage of the metal's plastic deformability.

The steels used for wire drawing are obtained by hot rolling from carbon steel grades (micro-alloyed or not) ranging from 0.03 to 0.92% carbon. Production conditions and alloying elements, hot-rolling conditions and, above all, cooling conditions are optimized to prepare microstructures perfectly suited to :

• facilitate the shaping of the material and, in particular, limit breakage during cold forming;

• to ensure the desired objective (often in terms of mechanical characteristics) with regard to the product's properties of use.

Technological developments have improved product quality and maintained the position of steel wire in a wide range of applications. Indeed, the use of drawn wires has gradually spread to the various sectors of human activity, and has constantly contributed to their development. The example of wire for prestressing illustrates this point, and shows that the combination of concrete and steel makes it possible to achieve technological prowess in the field of construction.