Overview
ISO 16143-3:2014 - Stainless steels for general purposes - Part 3: Wire specifies requirements for stainless steel wire types commonly used where no dedicated product standard exists. It covers round, flat and shaped wire (e.g., square, hexagonal, rectangular), made from commonly used stainless steels for general corrosion resistance and high‑temperature service. Wire may be supplied in coils or straightened and cut lengths. Exclusions include wire for cold heading, welding wire, and any wire covered by a specific product standard.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Material designation and chemical composition: Steel names and numbers are allocated in accordance with ISO/TS 4949 and ISO 15510. The standard specifies cast composition limits and allowable deviations for product analysis.
- Manufacturing and delivery conditions: Wire is supplied in defined treatment conditions:
- +A (annealed),
- +AT (solution annealed),
- +C (hard drawn).
- Surface finishes: Typical finishes are cold drawn, annealed (matt) and polished, with guidance on lubricant presence and brightness.
- Mechanical properties:
- Requirements for annealed wire (tensile strength and elongation at room temperature).
- Hard‑drawn wire tensile‑strength levels are standardized (minimum/maximum) and must be agreed between purchaser and supplier.
- Dimensional tolerances: For round wire purchasers specify Normal (N) or Restricted (R) tolerances; non‑round tolerances are agreed at order. The standard also addresses out‑of‑roundness limits.
- Inspection, testing and documentation: Sampling, product analysis, tensile testing and inspection document types follow relevant ISO references (e.g., ISO 10474 for inspection documents).
- Ordering information: Buyers must supply details such as diameter/characteristic dimensions, tolerance class, steel grade and number, treatment condition, tensile‑strength level (if applicable), coil/spool type, quantity and required inspection document.
Applications and users
ISO 16143-3:2014 is intended for:
- Wire manufacturers and wire drawers to define production and delivery practices.
- Procurement specialists and buyers who need clear, internationally recognized specifications for stainless steel wire where no specific product standard exists.
- Design and quality engineers specifying wire for components requiring general corrosion resistance or elevated temperature performance.
- Inspection and testing laboratories performing chemical and mechanical verification against agreed requirements.
Use this standard when you need consistent stainless steel wire specifications, traceability, agreed mechanical and chemical properties, and standard inspection documentation for commercial and industrial applications.
Related standards
Keywords: ISO 16143-3:2014, stainless steel wire standard, wire tolerances, surface finish, annealed wire, hard‑drawn wire, inspection document.
