What annealing does to steel wire
Cold-drawn wire is hard because the drawing process introduces dislocations into the metal’s crystal structure. Annealing heats the wire above its recrystallisation temperature — typically 550–700°C for low-carbon steel — so that new, strain-free grains form. The wire becomes softer, more ductile, and easier to form.
See ourannealed wire range.
Full anneal: soft wire for maximum formability
Full anneal fully recrystallises the wire, producing the softest condition. Tensile strength drops significantly, elongation rises. Use full anneal for wire that must be deeply formed, tied, or delivered as a coating substrate.
The trade-off: full anneal costs more (furnace time, energy) and consumes some drawing work.
Inter-anneal: partial reset for controlled tensile
Inter-anneal cycles the wire through the recrystallisation temperature briefly, resetting some but not all of the cold-work hardening. The result is medium-hard wire with better ductility than as-drawn but higher tensile than full-anneal. Inter-anneal is used when the customer needs a balance between formability and strength.
Stress-relief: a different tool
Stress-relief heats the wire to below the recrystallisation temperature — typically 200–400°C. It reduces residual internal stress without changing grain structure. Use stress-relief when dimensional stability matters more than softness — for precision cut-to-length wire, some spring applications, and certain welding wires.
How to specify annealing in an RFQ
Specify the tensile range and elongation you need, not the annealing cycle. That way the supplier can choose the most economical path to your target. If your process cares about specific metallurgical features (grain size, hardness curve, surface oxide), state those explicitly.
Avoid demanding ‘full anneal’ when your process only needs inter-anneal — it costs everyone money.
Frequently asked questions
Do you supply EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificates by default?
Yes. Every export shipment travels with an EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificate showing chemistry, tensile properties and dimensional data for the actual heat. This is our default, not a paid add-on.
What are your typical lead times for EU and US buyers?
Standard grades ship 2–4 weeks from PO confirmation. Add 5–10 days sea freight to European destinations and 20–25 days to US East Coast under normal conditions. Custom grades or specialty packaging may extend production time.
Can you handle small trial orders before volume commitment?
Yes. We support new customers with sample lots and small trial orders — typically 1–5 tonnes — before ramping to volume. Contact our quote desk to arrange a sample.
What documentation do you provide for EU and US customs clearance?
For EU shipments we provide A.TR movement certificate to support duty-free entry under the EU-Turkey Customs Union. For US shipments we provide certificate of origin and any HS-code-specific documentation required. Discuss requirements with our export desk.
Ready to discuss your steel wire requirement? Request a quote and our technical desk will respond within one business day.