| 1 | Steel Wire Rod | Galvanized wire is commonly made from low-carbon steel wire rod. The chosen steel grade and chemistry affect strength, ductility, and suitability for subsequent drawing. | Request the steel grade, chemical composition, and material inspection records. |
| 2 | Wire Drawing | Wire rod is drawn through dies to reduce its diameter. Drawing schedules and intermediate annealing, when required, depend on the target wire size and mechanical properties. | Confirm finished diameter, diameter tolerance, tensile strength, and elongation requirements. |
| 3 | Surface Cleaning | Before hot-dip galvanizing, the wire surface is cleaned to remove contaminants and scale. Cleaning methods can include degreasing, pickling, rinsing, and fluxing, depending on the production line. | Ask how surface preparation is controlled and how the line prevents contamination before coating. |
| 4 | Hot-Dip Galvanizing | In hot-dip galvanizing, prepared steel wire passes through molten zinc, forming a zinc coating on the steel surface. Coating characteristics depend on process conditions and product requirements. | Specify the required zinc coating mass or coating designation and request test results for the delivered lot. |
| 5 | Electrogalvanizing | Electrogalvanizing deposits zinc from an electrolyte using electric current. It is a different coating process from hot-dip galvanizing and may produce different coating characteristics. | Identify the coating process explicitly; do not treat electrogalvanized and hot-dip galvanized wire as interchangeable. |
| 6 | Coating Control | For continuous hot-dip lines, wiping or other process controls can regulate excess molten zinc and help achieve a more consistent coating. Actual coating levels must be verified against the applicable specification. | Check coating-mass test methods, sampling frequency, and acceptance criteria in the purchase specification. |
| 7 | Cooling and Optional Treatment | After coating, wire is cooled. Additional treatments, such as passivation, may be specified for particular applications; their use and purpose should be confirmed for each product. | State any requirements for surface treatment, appearance, storage, or compatibility with the end use. |
| 8 | Mechanical Testing | Tensile strength and elongation are common mechanical properties assessed for steel wire. Required values vary with wire grade, diameter, and intended application. | Compare test results with the agreed product specification rather than relying on a generic value. |
| 9 | Coating and Dimensional Inspection | Finished wire can be inspected for diameter, coating mass, coating adhesion, and visible surface condition. The applicable test method and acceptance limits depend on the governing specification. | Request traceable inspection records and confirm that testing covers the relevant production lot. |
| 10 | Packaging and Traceability | Galvanized wire is supplied in coils or other specified forms. Packaging protects the wire during handling and transport, while lot identification supports product traceability. | Agree on coil weight, dimensions, wrapping, labeling, and batch documentation before shipment. |