01
ASTM A228
Steel wire, music spring quality
Standard specification for steel wire, music spring quality, the highest-grade hard-drawn carbon steel wire.
Carbon Steel — Industrial Product
Piano Spring Steel Wire
High-carbon spring steel wire supplied to ASTM A228 / EN 10270-1, oil tempered for precision springs, mechanical and elastic applications.
Indicative priceUSD 950 - 1,300 / MT
Lead time10 - 20 working days
01
Overview
Piano Spring Steel Wire combines high-carbon spring steel chemistry with oil tempered or patented finishing for reliable elasticity, fatigue life and consistent dimensional control. The hardened and tempered structure delivers stable spring performance under repeated loading, making the wire suited to precision springs, mechanical components, wire forms, musical instrument springs and elastic assemblies. Supplied to ASTM A228 with mill test certification per EN 10204 3.1, it supports global procurement for spring and precision component manufacturers.
Key Characteristics
- 01 High Strength Provides high mechanical strength for demanding structural and industrial applications.
- 02 High Hardness Provides increased surface hardness and resistance to mechanical wear.
- 03 Fatigue Resistance Provides good resistance to repeated cyclic loading.
- 04 Fracture Resistance Offers resistance to crack initiation and propagation under demanding service conditions.
- 05 Dimensional Stability Provides stable dimensions during processing and service under suitable conditions.
- 06 Mill Test Certificate Available with mill test documentation confirming specified chemical and mechanical properties.
Typical Applications
- Springs & Fasteners Springs, bolts, studs, nuts and other mechanical fastening components.
- Machinery & Equipment Shafts, gears, housings, frames and other components for industrial machinery and OEM equipment.
02
Specifications
Numbers in this section correspond to the applicable product standard, formatted for direct use in enquiry and approval documents.
Product specification
- Material
- High-carbon spring steel
- Grade
- A228 / EN 10270-1 SH / 65Mn
- UNS designation
- K08500
- Product form
- Wire
- Manufacturing method
- Oil Tempered/Cold Drawn
- Surface / condition
- Mill finish
- Cross-section
- Solid circular section, drawn to fine diameter
Supply specifications
- Diameter
- 0.2 - 12.0 mm
- Tensile grade
- Per applicable standard
- Coil weight
- 5 - 500 kg per coil
- Surface finish
- As-drawn; coated on request
- Packaging
- Spool / coil / cut-to-length
- Marking
- Standard mill marking; customer marking on request
Final supply is confirmed against the project drawing, purchase agreement and the mill test certificate.
Chemical composition
ElementRequirement
C 0.70 - 1.00 %
Si 0.10 - 0.30 %
Mn 0.20 - 0.60 %
P <= 0.025 %
S <= 0.025 %
Fe Balance
Reference: ASTM A228 Spring Steel.
Mechanical properties
PropertyRequirement
Tensile strength 1,400 - 2,400 MPa
Yield strength (0.2% offset) >= 1,200 MPa
Elongation in 50 mm >= 1 %
Hardness 40 - 60 HRC (after tempering)
Reference: ASTM A228 Spring Steel at room temperature.
Physical properties
PropertyTypical Value
Density 7.85 g/cm³
Elastic modulus 210 GPa
Thermal conductivity 48 W/m·K at 100°C
Electrical resistivity 0.18 μΩ·m
Specific heat 480 J/kg·K
Melting range 1,450 - 1,520 °C
Thermal expansion 11.5 x 10⁻⁶ /°C
Reference: Typical material values, Spring Steel.
Reference framework
Standards & documentation
The applicable product, dimensional and inspection standards should be confirmed together in the purchase specification.
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EN 10270-1
Steel wire for mechanical springs - patented cold-drawn
European reference for patented cold-drawn unalloyed steel wire for mechanical springs, including SH (static load) grade.
03
JIS G3522
Piano wire
Japanese reference for hard-drawn high-carbon steel wire used for springs (SWP-A / SWP-B).
04
GB/T 4357
Carbon spring steel wire
Chinese reference for carbon spring steel wire including 65Mn / 70 grade.
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ISO 8458-2
Steel wire for mechanical springs - patented cold-drawn
International reference for patented cold-drawn unalloyed steel wire for springs.
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EN 10204
Inspection documents
Defines inspection document types such as 3.1 and 3.2 for metallic product delivery.
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Capability
From custom dimensions and precision sizing to heat treatment, surface finishing and product-specific processing, Wayland coordinates supply solutions tailored to your requirements.
Cutting
Cut-to-length and custom cutting according to order requirements.
Custom Dimensions
Non-standard dimensions, tolerances and dimensional combinations subject to product and mill capability.
Precision Sizing
Precision sizing and dimensional control for tighter tolerance requirements.
Cold Working
Cold drawing, cold sizing and other cold-working processes where required.
Heat Treatment
Heat treatment according to material, specification and applicable standard.
Surface Finishing
Surface treatment and finishing according to product, specification and application requirements.
Forming
Bending, forming and other shape modification according to drawings or order requirements.
Custom Profiles
Custom sections, profiles and non-standard shapes subject to product and mill capability.
Customization
Custom dimensions, lengths, surface conditions, end preparations and inspection requirements can be supplied according to project specifications. Final capability is confirmed per enquiry based on grade, size range and applicable standard.
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Quality
Inspection and documentation procedures are coordinated to meet the requirements of the applicable product standard and the project specification.
- Dimensional inspection Geometry, dimensions and tolerances against the applicable standard
- Visual and surface inspection Surface condition, marking and overall appearance
Documents
- Inspection Report
- Chemical analysis Per heat, against the applicable standard
- Mechanical testing Tensile, yield, elongation and hardness
- Non-destructive testing UT, eddy-current, hydrostatic or other NDT as applicable
- Positive material identification PMI for alloy verification when required
Documents
- Mill Test Certificate (MTC)
- Heat number traceability Heat number carried through MTC and product marking
- Third-party inspection coordination SGS / BV / TÜV on request
Documents
- Third-Party Inspection Report
- EN 10204 documentation 3.1 MTC standard; 3.2 on request
Documents
- EN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certificate
- EN 10204 3.2 Inspection Certificate
- Certificate of Origin
05
Selection
A well-prepared specification is the most efficient defence against clarification cycles.
- 01 Select material & grade
Choose the material grade according to service conditions, performance requirements and applicable standards.
- 02 Define size & supply condition
Specify the required dimensions, surface condition, heat-treatment condition and delivery requirements.
- 03 Confirm standard & requirements
State the applicable product standard, dimensional standard and governing project specification.
- 04 Define inspection & documentation
Confirm inspection, testing, certification and documentation requirements before order placement.
Example procurement specification
A complete specification suitable for enquiry, covering product, technical requirements, certification and delivery terms.
- Product
- Piano Spring Steel Wire
- Grade
- A228
- Standard
- ASTM A228
- Dimensions
- Ø 1.50 mm × Coil Form (~80 kg/coil)
- Condition
- Hard Drawn / Oil Tempered; Stress Relieved
- Certification
- EN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certificate
- Quantity
- 20 Metric Tons
- Packaging
- Seaworthy Export Packing
- Incoterm
- CIF Hamburg
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Logistics
From mill dispatch to destination port, each stage is coordinated with the nominated forwarder and documented against the purchase specification.
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Packaging
Export-suitable packaging with surface and edge protection.
Bundled, wrapped or crated according to product form and transport mode. Outer surface protected with weather-resistant material; ends and edges shielded against transit damage.
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Loading
FCL container for standard sizes; break bulk for oversized cargo.
Container loading via nominated forwarder. LCL and dimensions outside container allowance coordinated against the mill dispatch schedule.
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Documentation
Commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin.
Mill documentation travels with the shipment. EN 10204 3.1 / 3.2 certificates and third-party inspection reports provided as per purchase specification.
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Shipment
Sea freight as standard; alternative routes on request.
FCL / LCL container shipment or break bulk for oversized dimensions. Logistics coordinated through the nominated forwarder.
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Delivery
FOB · CFR · CIF · FCA · EXW arrangements available.
Incoterm 2020. Port of loading: Shanghai / Ningbo / Shenzhen. Final destination and terms confirmed per enquiry.
07
FAQ
Most enquiries reduce to a small set of recurring technical questions.
01 What is piano / music spring steel wire?
Piano wire (A228 / EN 10270-1 SH / JIS SWP-A) is the highest-quality hard-drawn high-carbon spring wire, originally developed for piano strings.
02 What are typical applications?
Piano wire is used for precision springs, musical instruments, springs in measuring instruments, mechanical springs, brush wire and high-stress components.
03 What tensile strength is achieved?
Tensile strength typically ranges from 2000 to 3200 MPa depending on diameter and class.
04 What surface finishes are available?
Bright polished, oil-tempered, phosphate-coated and galvanized finishes are available to specification.
05 What diameters are available?
Standard diameter range 0.1 mm to 5.0 mm. Larger and smaller diameters can be supplied on request.