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BAOSTEEL METAL / HIGH-CARBON WIRE ROD

SAE 1080 High Carbon Steel Wire Rod

SAE J403:2024 CHEMISTRY · ASTM A510/A510M-25 · HOT-ROLLED COILS

C 0.75–0.88%UNS G10800Controlled Cooling by OrderWire-Drawing Feedstock
Chemistry & microstructure reviewCoil-based industrial supply
SAE 1080 / HIGH CARBON

High-carbon wire rod coils for demanding wire conversion.

Source SAE 1080 hot-rolled wire rod with clear control of chemistry, diameter, surface integrity and rolling/cooling condition. BAOSTEEL METAL supports bulk enquiries from wire drawing plants and industrial manufacturers that need traceable high-carbon feedstock.

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Review SAE 1080 rod specifications ↓
Hot rolled SAE 1080 high carbon steel wire rod coils in a real steel rolling mill storage area, no text or decoration
8 Million MTActual annual steel output across product categories
1 Million MTCombined regular inventory across all product families
500,000 m²Factory area
1,000+Employees across the company
HIGH-CARBON GRADE OVERVIEW

SAE 1080 High Carbon Steel Wire Rod

An approximately 0.8% C steel grade for technically specified hot-rolled wire rod coil supply.

What Is SAE 1080 High Carbon Wire Rod?

SAE 1080 (UNS G10800) is a plain high-carbon steel grade with approximately 0.8% carbon, commonly supplied as hot-rolled wire rod in coils. Buyers select high-carbon rod for subsequent drawing and wire manufacturing where steel cleanliness, cooling history and the intended final heat treatment influence attainable wire properties.

  • Grade: SAE 1080 / UNS G10800; reference carbon range 0.75–0.88%.
  • Product: hot-rolled round wire rod coils, before any downstream cold drawing.
  • Order-critical condition: cooling practice, surface condition, decarburization, segregation and mechanical testing when needed.
  • Downstream routes: spring-wire stock and other high-strength wire feedstocks, subject to the converter’s processing and end-product standards.
Supply distinction: This product is hot-rolled rod. Spring wire, patenting-treated wire and prestressing products are separately manufactured and qualified finished materials.

Procurement Snapshot

Specify a rod condition that matches the intended reduction and heat-treatment route.

0.75–0.88% CReference carbon chemistry
Hot-Rolled CoilIncoming raw material
Ø5.5–16 mmCommon enquiry sizes; not stock guarantee
Cooling & QualityDefine for the application
Close up of steel wire rod loops in a clean and realistic high carbon wire rod coil, showing uncoated steel surface
Drawing high-carbon steel wire?

Tell us your starting rod diameter, final wire size, total drawing reduction, required microstructure and any heat-treatment route.

SPECIFICATIONS & ORDERING

SAE 1080 Wire Rod Specifications

Build a quote around chemistry, rod diameter, surface quality and the intended drawing route.

ParameterProcurement specification
Product / UNSSAE 1080 high-carbon steel wire rod / UNS G10800
SAE chemical gradeSAE J403:2024; identify heat-analysis and any agreed residual-element limits
General wire rod requirementsASTM A510/A510M-25, where specified on the purchase order
Special application frameworkISO 16120-4:2017, only if the specified material and acceptance criteria are jointly agreed
Typical enquiry diametersØ5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16 mm; mill availability to confirm
Supply formHot-rolled round wire rod in tied coils
Coil mass and dimensionsNominal coil weight, inside/outside diameter and payoff compatibility by mill confirmation
Rolling / cooling conditionSpecify as-rolled or controlled-cooled delivery and testing as required
Surface requirementsPermissible seams, laps, scale and surface defect depth per contract
Special quality requirementsDecarburization, centerline segregation, inclusions, microstructure and tensile range only when contracted
Inspection documentsMill test report with heat identity and agreed testing; third-party inspection by arrangement
Transport and trade termsAgree Incoterms, destination, package limits and shipping documents
SIZE & THEORETICAL MASS

SAE 1080 Wire Rod Diameter and Weight Chart

A metric diameter reference for estimating steel mass before confirming the actual coil unit weight.

Nominal diameter (mm)Area (mm²)Theoretical mass (kg/m)Mass per 1,000 m (kg)Supply
Ø5.523.760.187186.5Confirm mill rolling schedule
Ø628.270.222222.0Confirm mill rolling schedule
Ø6.533.180.260260.5Confirm mill rolling schedule
Ø738.480.302302.1Confirm mill rolling schedule
Ø850.270.395394.6Confirm mill rolling schedule
Ø963.620.499499.4Confirm mill rolling schedule
Ø1078.540.617616.5Confirm mill rolling schedule
Ø12113.100.888887.8Confirm mill rolling schedule
Ø14153.941.2081208.4Confirm mill rolling schedule
Ø16201.061.5781578.3Confirm mill rolling schedule

Calculated using round nominal section and a reference density of 7,850 kg/m³; these are theoretical estimates, not coil net mass or guaranteed available sizes.

Ø5.5–16 mmIndicative buying range; confirm actual rolling sizes and tolerances
7,850 kg/m³Reference density used in the calculator, not an individual heat property
By coilNet coil mass and handling geometry agreed during quotation
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

SAE 1080 Chemistry and Heat Analysis

High carbon is the principal distinction from SAE 1006/1008; quality acceptance must still be application-specific.

SAE 1080 Chemistry Reference

These values are public grade-reference ranges for SAE 1080. The signed order and the applicable SAE J403 edition, including heat/product analysis allowances, determine acceptance for a specific shipment.

ElementReference mass %Procurement meaning
Carbon (C)0.75–0.88%Typical published SAE 1080 heat-analysis reference
Manganese (Mn)0.60–0.90%Typical published high-carbon SAE 1080 reference
Phosphorus (P)≤0.040%Published general reference; specify tighter limit if required
Sulfur (S)≤0.050%Published general reference; specify tighter limit if required
Silicon (Si)By agreed specificationConfirm deoxidation practice and heat-analysis report
Residual elementsBy contractAgree Cr, Ni, Cu and other residual limits for demanding wire routes
Cleanliness matters: For severe wire drawing, specify impurity, inclusion and segregation limits in addition to the SAE grade. The quoted carbon range does not guarantee a particular pearlite structure.

High-Carbon Feedstock Parameters

0.75–0.88%Reference carbon
0.60–0.90%Reference manganese
SAE J403Grade chemistry
MTCHeat-specific evidence

The carbon level supports high-strength wire-processing routes when the appropriate rolling, cooling and subsequent drawing or heat treatment are used. Buyers should specify what will be checked on the incoming rod, including carbon distribution, tensile tests and permissible surface decarburization where applicable.

  • Request an actual heat analysis showing C, Mn, P, S and any specified residuals.
  • Agree whether product analysis and extra elements are required.
  • State whether the finished wire is spring wire, mechanical wire or separately certified prestressing material.
MECHANICAL & MICROSTRUCTURAL QUALITY

High-Carbon Rod Condition and Drawing Quality

For SAE 1080, cooling history, pearlite, decarburization and surface cleanliness are critical procurement controls.

Properties Depend on Delivery Condition

SAE 1080 identifies a chemistry grade, not a single mechanical-property condition. The strength, elongation and hardness of hot-rolled wire rod depend on final rolling temperature, rod diameter, cooling practice and the resulting microstructure.

Quality itemHow to control it
As-rolled tensile strengthSpecify required measured range, diameter and test method; not fixed by the grade name alone.
Pearlitic microstructureSpecify desired structure or metallographic checks when drawing quality demands them.
Surface decarburizationAgree depth, measurement method and rejection limit where performance requires control.
Surface defectsSet acceptance for laps, seams, cracks, oxide scale and permitted defect depth.
Inclusions and segregationAgree testing or limits when high reductions, fatigue resistance or clean-steel quality is required.
Coil uniformityConsider head/tail properties, loop consistency, diameter and out-of-roundness.

For high-carbon direct drawing, excessive or inconsistent surface decarburization, unwanted brittle structures and defects can increase processing risk. Specific limits must be agreed with the producing mill and confirmed by test results.

Rod Versus Finished Wire

  • Hot-rolled SAE 1080 rod: incoming material in tied coils.
  • Cold-drawn wire: strength is modified by reduction and work hardening.
  • Heat-treated wire: patenting and subsequent drawing can target a different pearlitic condition.
  • Finished spring wire: require the applicable finished-wire specification, dimensions and fatigue/strength acceptance.
  • Prestressing steel: separate product specification, approvals and tensile/relaxation testing apply.
No universal as-rolled tensile strength or "spring grade" certificate is promised across all diameters. Request actual rod-condition test data and the intended downstream route.
COIL FORMS & CONDITION

SAE 1080 Wire Rod Supply Options

Confirm the incoming material condition; downstream spring wire and prestressing grades need their own specifications.

High carbon SAE 1080 hot rolled steel wire rod coils tied with metal bands in a clean industrial area

Hot-Rolled Rod Coils

Primary SAE 1080 product form. Confirm diameter, cooling condition, coil geometry and incoming inspection parameters.

Industrial high carbon steel wire rod coils on a conveyor after rolling and controlled cooling in a real steel mill

Controlled-Cooled Coil Condition

Where requested and supported by the mill, cooling can target a particular microstructure and drawing condition; acceptance must be specified.

High carbon steel wire drawing line with steel wire rod coils feeding through draw dies in a real factory

High-Carbon Drawing Feedstock

Incoming rod for subsequent wire drawing, heat treatment or spring-wire conversion. The downstream material is separately qualified.

Product scope: Photographs illustrate the mill and downstream process, not an implied guarantee that all heat treatments or finished-wire products are part of the rod order.
MATERIAL SELECTION

SAE 1080 vs SAE 1006, SAE 1008 and 82B

Compare feedstocks by grade chemistry and conversion route rather than assuming equal processing behavior.

GradeReference carbon classCommon buying objective
SAE 1006Low carbon; typically C ≤0.08%General-purpose drawing, nail-wire and suitable low-carbon feedstocks
SAE 1008Low carbon; typically C ≤0.10%Drawing, mesh-wire and nail-related conversion routes
SAE 1080 — this pageHigh carbon; C 0.75–0.88%High-carbon wire processing where rod cooling and quality are qualified
82B high carbonSeparate high-carbon wire-rod designationApplication-specific high-strength feedstock; exact grade/specification required
Grade selection: SAE 1080 and 82B are not automatic equivalents. Match the actual chemical analysis, rolling/cooling condition, decarburization, cleanliness and final wire standard before substitution.
CONVERSION & DRAWING

High-Carbon Wire Drawing and Heat Treatment

A procurement-level overview; specialist wire processing is a separately qualified downstream activity.

Industrial high carbon steel wire rod drawing line with large steel coils and enclosed drawing equipment, real workshop
DOWNSTREAM CONVERSION

From High-Carbon Rod to Finished Wire

A high-carbon rod must have a suitable starting structure and surface for the intended draw reduction. The downstream converter determines whether conditioning, patenting, intermediate annealing or other treatment is required.

  • Receive: verify heat, diameter, coil condition and sampling requirements.
  • Prepare: remove scale and address the specified surface condition.
  • Assess: check drawing reduction, die configuration and rod tensile/ductility condition.
  • Heat-treat where specified: apply the converter’s validated process for targeted wire properties.
  • Test finished wire: follow the correct spring-wire, industrial-wire or prestressing standard.
Controlled cooling can influence pearlite characteristics and drawability, but the mill-specific result must be demonstrated through the agreed quality plan.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

SAE 1080 High Carbon Wire Rod Applications

Feedstock for controlled high-carbon wire conversion, with finished-product requirements handled separately.

Factory photo of high carbon steel wire spools and unmarked industrial coil springs and manufactured steel wire components, no text
01 / SPRING WIRE

Spring-Wire Feedstock

For converters producing certain cold-drawn or treated spring-wire products, subject to grade, microstructure and final specifications.

02 / MECHANICAL WIRE

High-Strength Drawn Wire

Potential input for specified high-carbon drawn-wire routes where tensile and defect controls are verified.

03 / STRAND CONVERSION

Strand-Wire Processing Feed

Can be evaluated as feedstock for suitable stranding routes; finished strands need independent qualification.

04 / INDUSTRIAL COMPONENTS

Specialty Wire Components

Cold-formed or processed high-carbon wire parts requiring approved material condition and tooling.

05 / HEAT-TREATED WIRE

Patented / Treated Wire Routes

Potential starting material for a converter’s defined heat treatment and reduction sequence.

06 / SPRING COMPONENTS

Wire Forming & Springs

Finished springs require validated wire strength, surface, heat treatment and component testing.

End-use examples describe downstream manufacturing. Hot-rolled SAE 1080 coil supply is not a substitute for certified finished spring wire or prestressing steel.

WHY BAOSTEEL METAL

High-Carbon Wire Rod Procurement with Defined Controls

Factory scale and practical order coordination, without claiming product-specific stock or unverified certifications.

01 / SCALE

Company-Wide Production

8 million MT annual steel output across product families; plan SAE 1080 production and availability against the actual mill schedule.

02 / INVENTORY

Coordinated Sourcing

1 million MT company-wide regular inventory across categories; specific high-carbon coil grades and diameters require separate confirmation.

03 / QUALITY

Traceable Acceptance

Align chemistry, incoming coil condition, decarburization, tensile tests and lot documentation with the purchase specification.

04 / EXPORT

Industrial Coil Delivery

Agree nominal coil weight, secure tying, heat tags and export documentation for unloading and wire-mill handling.

WIRE ROD WEIGHT CALCULATOR

SAE 1080 Wire Rod Weight and Coil Tonnage

Two calculation methods: nominal rod length and buyer-defined coil mass.

01 / Length-Based Theoretical Weight

Estimate mass for a chosen nominal round-wire-rod diameter and total theoretical running length.

Theoretical mass for chosen length— MT
— kg/mUnit weight
— kgTotal kilograms

Formula: kg/m = π/4 × d² × 0.00785 with d in millimeters; density reference 7,850 kg/m³. This is theoretical, not an actual weighed coil mass.

02 / Coil Count & Order Tonnage

Calculate procurement tonnage from a user-specified nominal MT per coil, rather than assuming every mill has the same coil pack.

Estimated nominal order mass— MT
— kgTotal nominal kilograms
— coilsNumber of coils

Actual coil mass, tolerance and final shipment weight follow the mill weighbridge and purchase order.

Planning a repeat high-carbon wire rod order?

Submit coil weight, drawing condition, diameter mix, total tonnage and inspection requirements for a practical commercial quotation.

ROLLING & COOLING PROCESS

How SAE 1080 High Carbon Wire Rod Is Made

From controlled heat chemistry to rolling, cooling, coil formation and lot inspection.

High carbon wire rod leaving a steel wire rod rolling mill and feeding into a real controlled cooling conveyor in the factory
MILL PRODUCTION

Rolling, Controlled Cooling and Coiling

High-carbon wire rod production begins with the specified steel heat and billet. Hot rolling sets the nominal diameter; subsequent cooling helps determine the starting microstructure for future drawing.

  • Verify the melt and billet chemistry against SAE 1080 and any approved residual-element limits.
  • Roll to the contracted diameter and tolerance; monitor surface quality and temperature practices.
  • Use agreed cooling parameters for the requested rod condition where available from the producing mill.
  • Inspect selected tensile properties, structure, surface decarburization and dimensional consistency as contracted.
  • Coil, tie and identify the heat/lot before warehousing or shipment.
A specific cooling route, microstructure, process equipment or production capability must be confirmed for the actual mill and order; it is not assumed from the SAE 1080 grade name.
COIL AVAILABILITY

SAE 1080 Wire Rod Supply and Inventory Enquiries

Mill schedule, diameter and required rod condition determine the supply response.

Verify Coil Availability by Heat and Diameter

BAOSTEEL METAL’s company-wide stock figure covers many steel products. It does not imply that every SAE 1080 diameter or special drawing condition is immediately available. Request a grade-specific stock or production quotation.

  • Chosen rod diameter and acceptable dimensional variation.
  • Requested total tonnage and preferred unit coil mass.
  • Downstream drawn wire size, drawing reduction and any patenting route.
  • Detailed inclusion, decarburization and surface criteria if needed.
  • Shipment window, destination port, unloading limits and Incoterms.
Tied high carbon steel wire rod coils stored in organized steel mill warehouse rows with clear access aisles

Material availability, heat identification and the required test package are confirmed during actual order review.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

SAE 1080 Wire Rod Inspection and Test Documents

Incoming rod acceptance can be tailored for direct drawing, heat treatment and critical finished-wire applications.

High-Carbon Rod Inspection Checklist

  • Identity: SAE 1080, heat and coil/lot labels, specified standard and packing list.
  • Chemistry: heat analysis for C, Mn, P and S, plus ordered residual elements.
  • Geometry: diameter, ovality, coil dimensions and surface appearance.
  • Microstructure: pearlite, free cementite or segregation review if specified for severe drawing.
  • Surface: cracks, laps, scale and decarburization measurements as contracted.
  • Mechanical: tensile tests and sample frequency matching the actual product condition.
Specify the inspection document type, test criteria and optional independent witnessing before order placement. A particular approval or external certificate is not assumed.

Traceability from Heat to Coil

Coil tags and the material test report should link the declared chemical analysis and agreed examinations to the corresponding production lot.

Metallurgical quality inspector measuring high carbon round wire rod in a real metal testing laboratory with unmarked equipment

For high-carbon wire processors, targeted surface and microstructure verification can be as important as chemistry alone.

OPTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

High-Carbon Wire Rod Order Options

Options are reviewed by the producing mill against the chosen high-carbon rod condition.

Targeted Test Scope

Discuss additional tensile or metallography checks for agreed rod diameter, head/tail positions and drawing performance.

Surface Condition Requirements

Confirm scale, seams and permissible decarburization depth; any special preparation or sorting requires feasibility review.

Coil Handling & Identification

Specify maximum lifting mass, tie arrangement, coil IDs and any packaging or shipping precautions for the destination.

Optional requirements may affect mill selection, lead time and price. They are provided only when expressly included in the confirmed order.
PACKING & DELIVERY

SAE 1080 Wire Rod Export Packing

Secure coil ties, clear heat identification and handling requirements for overseas shipping.

High carbon steel wire rod coils secured with steel bands and identification tags for export truck shipment at a steel warehouse
EXPORT HANDLING

Coil Ties, Tags and Shipment

Wire rod is normally handled as heavy tied coils. Confirm handling equipment and destination requirements before setting a permissible coil unit weight.

  • Identify grade SAE 1080, heat, coil number and net coil mass on the agreed records.
  • Confirm safe lifting methods, ties and warehouse handling rules.
  • Coordinate truck/container loading and delivery-port limitations.
  • Specify any corrosion protection or moisture precautions for transit.
  • Align packing list, invoice and mill test documentation with the final shipment.
FREQUENTLY ASKED

SAE 1080 High Carbon Wire Rod FAQ

TECHNICAL BUYER FAQ

SAE 1080 Wire Rod Questions

Answers for procurement teams selecting high-carbon coil feedstock.

What is SAE 1080 high carbon steel wire rod?

SAE 1080 is an approximately 0.8% carbon plain steel grade (UNS G10800), often supplied as hot-rolled wire rod coils for further high-carbon wire processing.

What is the carbon content of SAE 1080?

The published reference range is 0.75–0.88% C with approximately 0.60–0.90% Mn. The contractual SAE J403 version and mill heat-analysis report govern the order.

Which specifications apply to SAE 1080 wire rod?

SAE J403:2024 is a chemistry grade reference. ASTM A510/A510M-25 provides general wire rod requirements if included in the purchase order. ISO 16120-4:2017 may be considered for a separately agreed special wire rod specification.

What diameters of 1080 wire rod can be requested?

Common enquiries include Ø5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 and 16 mm; the actual rolling program and tolerance must be confirmed by the mill.

Is SAE 1080 wire rod the same as spring wire?

No. This page concerns hot-rolled rod feedstock. Finished spring wire requires additional drawing or heat treatment, a finished-wire specification and appropriate inspection.

Why is controlled cooling important for high-carbon rod?

Cooling history affects the pearlitic structure and the rod tensile/drawing condition. A specific structure or property range must be contracted and verified.

Does SAE 1080 guarantee a tensile strength or hardness?

The SAE grade alone defines chemistry; incoming rod tensile values depend on diameter and rolling/cooling condition. Specify the required range and test method when needed.

What is surface decarburization?

It is a local reduction in carbon content near the steel surface caused by processing conditions. For certain drawn and fatigue-loaded products, agree allowable depth and test method.

Can SAE 1080 replace 82B high-carbon wire rod?

Not automatically. Chemistry, residual elements, drawing structure, cooling practice and the approved downstream specification must be checked before any substitution.

Can SAE 1080 wire rod be used for prestressing strand?

An appropriate high-carbon rod may be evaluated as raw material, but finished prestressing strand must independently meet the specified strand standard, production process and certifications.

How do you estimate coil shipment tonnage?

Multiply the buyer-confirmed nominal mass per coil by the number of coils. A separate theoretical kg/m calculation can estimate mass from rod diameter and running length.

What details are needed to quote SAE 1080 wire rod?

Send diameter, total tonnage, nominal coil weight, grade/standard edition, surface/decarburization limits, downstream drawing use, test documents and shipment destination.

BAOSTEEL METAL / HIGH-CARBON STEEL WIRE ROD

Request an SAE 1080 Wire Rod Quote

Tell us the nominal diameter, required tonnage, coil mass and dimensions, downstream drawn-wire application, cooling condition, surface/decarburization criteria and inspection document requirements. We will review a practical sourcing and shipping specification for your order.

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