Stainless Steel 440 Wire

Product Description

FUSHUN METAL's Stainless Steel 440 Wire is a premium ultra-high carbon martensitic stainless steel wire offering an exceptional combination of extreme hardness, outstanding wear resistance, superior edge retention, and good corrosion resistance. With a carefully engineered chemical composition featuring approximately 16-18% chromium and 0.60-1.20% carbon (available in 440A, 440B, and 440C grades), our 440 wire provides the highest attainable hardness levels among stainless steels, reaching up to 60-62 HRC after proper heat treatment. Available in precision diameters down to 0.10mm, this specialized wire combines maximum strength with excellent wear characteristics, making it the ideal choice for demanding applications in high-end cutlery, premium surgical instruments, ball bearings, valve components, and critical mechanical parts requiring both extreme hardness and corrosion protection. Unlike lower carbon martensitic grades, FUSHUN METAL's 440 stainless steel wire offers superior wear resistance and cutting edge retention while maintaining good corrosion resistance even in demanding environments. Each spool of our 440 wire undergoes comprehensive quality control to ensure consistent properties, precise dimensions, and superior surface quality for reliable performance in your most demanding applications.

Wire Specifications

FUSHUN METAL offers Stainless Steel 440 Wire in a comprehensive range of specifications to meet diverse application requirements:

Available Wire Diameters

• Ultra-Fine Wire: 0.10 mm to 0.30 mm
• Fine Wire: 0.31 mm to 1.00 mm
• Medium Wire: 1.01 mm to 3.00 mm
• Standard Wire: 3.01 mm to 10.00 mm

440 Series Grade Options

• 440A: 0.60-0.75% carbon content - Balanced hardness and corrosion resistance
• 440B: 0.75-0.95% carbon content - Intermediate properties
• 440C: 0.95-1.20% carbon content - Maximum hardness and wear resistance

Dimensional Tolerances

Surface Finishes

• Bright Drawn: Clean, smooth surface with excellent dimensional accuracy
• Annealed: Soft condition for forming operations
• Tempered: Heat treated to specific hardness levels
• Centerless Ground: Superior surface finish and tight tolerances
• Polished: Enhanced surface appearance for visible applications
• Custom Finishes: Available upon request for specific applications

Temper Conditions

• Annealed (Soft): Maximum formability and machinability
• Spheroidized Annealed: Optimized for machinability
• Process Annealed: Balanced formability and strength
• Quenched: Hardened condition
• Quenched and Tempered: Various hardness levels available (HRC 45-62)
• Custom Heat Treatments: Available to meet specific mechanical property requirements

Packaging Options

• Precision Layer Wound Spools: For automated feeding and processing
• Standard Spools: Various sizes available
• Pancake Coils: For specialized applications
• Straight Cut Lengths: Available from 0.5m to 6.0m
• Custom Packaging: Designed to meet specific handling and storage requirements
• Oil-Coated Option: Available for enhanced corrosion protection during storage

Applications

FUSHUN METAL's Stainless Steel 440 Wire is specifically engineered for applications requiring an optimal combination of extreme hardness, superior wear resistance, and good corrosion resistance:

Premium Cutlery and Blades

• High-end kitchen and chef's knives
• Professional hunting and survival knives
• Premium pocket and folding knives
• Specialty cutting tools and shears
• Industrial cutting blades for demanding applications
• Razor blades requiring exceptional edge retention
• Specialty scissors and cutting instruments

Advanced Medical and Surgical Instruments

• Surgical scissors and scalpels
• Precision biopsy instruments
• Specialized surgical cutting tools
• High-grade dental instruments
• Microsurgical instruments
• Endoscopic cutting tools
• Veterinary surgical instruments

Ball Bearings and Precision Mechanical Components

• High-performance stainless steel bearings
• Ball bearing races and retainers
• Precision mechanical components
• High-load roller bearings
• Instrument bearings requiring corrosion resistance
• Bearing components for food and medical equipment
• Miniature bearings for precision applications

Valve Components

• Valve seats requiring extreme wear resistance
• Valve balls and needles
• High-pressure valve components
• Metering valve parts
• Valve stems for corrosive environments
• Regulator components
• Fuel injection system components

Specialty Industrial Applications

• Measuring tools requiring hardness and stability
• Precision gauges and measurement devices
• Wear-resistant bushings and guides
• High-wear nozzles and spray tips
• Pump components for abrasive media
• Textile industry guides and components
• Food processing equipment with abrasive exposure

Aerospace and Defense Components

• Precision aerospace bearings
• Aircraft control mechanism components
• High-reliability mechanical fasteners
• Landing gear components
• Specialized cutting tools
• Instrument parts requiring both hardness and corrosion resistance
• Hydraulic system components

Chemical Composition

FUSHUN METAL's Stainless Steel 440 Wire is available in three primary grades with the following nominal compositions:

440C (Most Common Grade)

440A and 440B Variations

Key Element Functions

• Carbon (0.60-1.20%): Ultra-high carbon content creates numerous chromium carbides during heat treatment, providing exceptional hardness and wear resistance. The primary differentiator between 440A, 440B, and 440C grades.
• Chromium (16.0-18.0%): Higher chromium content than 420 grade provides enhanced corrosion resistance through the formation of a more substantial passive chromium oxide layer.
• Molybdenum (0.40-0.80%): Enhances corrosion resistance, particularly to pitting corrosion, and improves high-temperature strength and stability.
• Manganese (≤ 1.0%): Improves hardenability and contributes to strength.
• Silicon (≤ 1.0%): Acts as a deoxidizer during melting and contributes to strength.

Physical and Mechanical Properties

Our Stainless Steel 440 Wire offers an impressive combination of physical and mechanical properties that make it ideal for demanding applications:

Mechanical Properties by Condition (440C)

The mechanical properties of our 440C wire vary significantly by heat treatment condition, providing versatility for various applications:

* Values are approximate and may vary depending on wire diameter and exact processing conditions

Comparison of 440 Series Grades

Special Features of FUSHUN METAL's 440 Wire

Our Stainless Steel 440 Wire offers several distinctive advantages that set it apart from conventional wire products:

Exceptional Hardness and Wear Resistance

Type 440 stainless steel wire exhibits outstanding hardness and wear characteristics:

• Maximum Hardness Capability: Achieves hardness values up to 60-62 HRC (440C) after proper heat treatment - the highest among stainless steels.
• Superior Wear Resistance: Exceptional resistance to sliding abrasion, adhesive wear, and erosion due to high volume fraction of hard chromium carbides.
• Exceptional Edge Retention: Maintains cutting edges longer than virtually any other stainless steel grade.
• Abrasion Resistance: Outstanding performance against abrasive media.
• Galling Resistance: Good resistance to metal-to-metal wear and galling in sliding applications.
• Long-term Dimensional Stability: Maintains critical dimensions even under wear conditions.

Advanced Heat Treatment Response

Type 440 stainless steel wire offers exceptional and predictable response to heat treatment:

• Through-Hardening Capability: Achieves consistent hardness throughout cross-sections.
• Predictable Dimensional Changes: Consistent and minimal dimensional changes during heat treatment when properly processed.
• Wide Tempering Range: Allows precise control of hardness and toughness through tempering temperature selection.
• Carbide Control: Advanced processing techniques optimize chromium carbide size and distribution for superior properties.
• Cryogenic Response: Can be subjected to sub-zero treatments for enhanced performance in certain applications.
• Secondary Hardening: Exhibits secondary hardening response during tempering at certain temperatures.

Balance of Properties

440 stainless steel offers a unique combination of characteristics:

• Balanced Performance: Exceptional integration of hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion protection.
• Good Corrosion Resistance: Superior corrosion resistance compared to non-stainless tool steels of similar hardness.
• Magnetic Properties: Strong ferromagnetic characteristics combined with high hardness and corrosion resistance.
• Grade Selection Flexibility: 440A, 440B, and 440C options allow optimal balance of hardness vs. corrosion resistance for specific applications.
• Polishability: Capable of taking a high mirror finish for applications requiring both appearance and performance.
• Thermal Stability: Maintains properties well at moderately elevated temperatures.

Manufacturing Excellence

FUSHUN METAL employs specialized processes to ensure our 440 wire delivers reliable performance in critical applications:

• Precise Composition Control: Carefully controlled carbon, chromium, and molybdenum content for optimal balance of hardness and corrosion resistance.
• Advanced Melting Technology: State-of-the-art melting and refining techniques for maximum cleanliness and minimal inclusions.
• Specialized Drawing Processes: Proprietary drawing methods to maintain exceptional surface quality and dimensional precision.
• Optimized Annealing: Carefully controlled annealing cycles to ensure optimal microstructure for subsequent processing.
• Rigorous Quality Control: Comprehensive testing at all production stages to ensure consistency and performance.
• Advanced Heat Treatment: Precision heat treatment capabilities for custom hardness levels and optimized carbide structures.

Heat Treatment Recommendations

For customers performing their own heat treatment of 440 stainless steel wire, FUSHUN METAL recommends the following parameters:

Annealing

• Heat to 815-900°C (1500-1650°F)
• Hold for appropriate time based on section thickness (typically 1-2 hours per 25 mm)
• Slow cool in furnace to below 540°C (1000°F), then air cool
• Resulting hardness: approximately 25 HRC maximum

Spheroidize Annealing (for improved machinability)

• Heat to 750-800°C (1380-1470°F)
• Hold for 2-4 hours
• Cool slowly to 650°C (1200°F) at a rate of approximately 8-15°C (15-30°F) per hour
• Then cool in air
• This treatment produces a microstructure with spheroidal carbides for improved machinability

Hardening

• Preheat to 760-790°C (1400-1450°F)
• Austenitize at 1010-1065°C (1850-1950°F)
• Hold for appropriate time (typically 30-60 minutes depending on section size)
• Air cool for sections under 10 mm, oil quench for larger sections
• As-quenched hardness: approximately 58-62 HRC (440C)

Cryogenic Treatment (Optional)

• For maximizing hardness and minimizing retained austenite:
• After quenching and cooling to hand-warm temperature (approximately 50°C/120°F)
• Cool to -73°C (-100°F) or lower
• Hold for 1-2 hours
• Return to room temperature
• Proceed to tempering step

Tempering

• Temper immediately after hardening (and cryogenic treatment if used)
• Tempering temperature selection based on desired final properties:
  • 150-200°C (300-400°F): Maximum hardness and wear resistance
  • 200-315°C (400-600°F): High hardness with improved toughness
  • 315-425°C (600-800°F): Better toughness with moderate hardness
  • 425-540°C (800-1000°F): Maximum toughness with moderate hardness
• Hold at temperature for minimum 2 hours per 25mm (1 inch) of thickness
• Air cool
• Double tempering recommended for optimal properties and dimensional stability

Surface Treatment

• For optimal corrosion resistance, passivation after heat treatment is strongly recommended:
• Clean thoroughly to remove any scale or contaminants
• Passivate in 20-30% nitric acid solution at 49-60°C (120-140°F) for 30 minutes
• Rinse thoroughly in clean water
• Alternative passivation methods using citric acid-based solutions are also effective

Quality Assurance and Testing

Every batch of FUSHUN METAL's Stainless Steel 440 Wire undergoes rigorous testing to ensure it meets our exacting quality standards:

• Chemical Composition Analysis: Spectrographic testing to verify precise element content critical for performance, with special attention to carbon, chromium, and molybdenum levels.
• Mechanical Property Testing: Tensile testing to confirm strength, ductility, and hardness characteristics.
• Microstructural Examination: Metallographic analysis to verify proper structure, grain size, and carbide distribution.
• Surface Quality Inspection: Advanced eddy current and visual inspection systems to detect surface imperfections.
• Dimensional Verification: Precision measurement throughout production to ensure tight diameter tolerances.
• Hardenability Testing: Verification of heat treatment response to ensure proper hardening capability.
• Inclusion Assessment: Evaluation of non-metallic inclusion content for critical applications.
• Corrosion Testing: Sample testing available for applications with strict corrosion resistance requirements.
• Wear Resistance Testing: Available for applications where wear performance is critical.

Certifications Provided

• Material Test Certificates according to EN 10204 3.1
• Chemical composition analysis
• Mechanical property test results
• Dimensional inspection report
• Heat treatment certification when applicable
• Special property verifications available upon request
• Certificate of conformity to ordered specifications

International Standards Compliance

Our Stainless Steel 440 Wire complies with the following international standards:

Handling and Storage Recommendations

To maintain the quality and performance of your Stainless Steel 440 Wire, FUSHUN METAL recommends the following handling and storage practices:

• Store in a clean, dry environment away from chemical contaminants.
• Maintain original protective packaging until ready for use.
• For extended storage, consider light oil coating for additional corrosion protection.
• Handle with clean gloves to prevent surface contamination from oils or salts.
• Avoid exposure to chloride-containing environments which may cause pitting.
• For heat treating operations, ensure clean furnace conditions to prevent carbon contamination.
• After any heat treatment, clean thoroughly to remove any heat treatment residues.
• For optimal corrosion resistance, passivate after heat treatment.
• For cutting applications, maintain proper edge geometry and avoid overheating during sharpening or grinding.
• For bearing applications, ensure proper lubrication and protection against corrosive environments.

Comparative Advantages over Other Stainless Steel Grades

Understanding how 440 stainless steel wire compares to other grades helps in selecting the optimal material for your application:

Customization Capabilities

FUSHUN METAL offers extensive customization options to meet your specific application requirements:

• Custom Diameters: Special sizes manufactured to exact specifications for your application.
• Modified Chemical Composition: Slight adjustments to standard composition available to optimize specific properties.
• Specialized Heat Treatments: Custom heat treatment cycles to achieve specific mechanical properties.
• Specialized Surface Finishes: Surface treatments to enhance performance characteristics or appearance.
• Custom Hardness Levels: Precision heat treatment to achieve specific hardness requirements.
• Special Packaging: Customized packaging for protection during shipping and storage.
• Specialized Testing: Application-specific testing protocols available upon request.
• Cut-to-Length Service: Precision cutting to customer-specified lengths.
• Edge Pre-processing: Limited edge preparation for blade applications.
• Cryogenic Processing: Deep cryogenic treatment available for enhanced performance.
• Technical Consultation: Expert metallurgical support for your specific application challenges.

Why Choose FUSHUN METAL for 440 Stainless Steel Wire

When you select FUSHUN METAL as your supplier for Stainless Steel 440 Wire, you partner with a leading manufacturer committed to excellence:

• High-Carbon Martensitic Expertise: Specialized experience in manufacturing ultra-high carbon martensitic stainless steel wire products.
• Advanced Production Facilities: State-of-the-art melting, drawing, and heat treatment equipment specifically optimized for high-performance stainless steels.
• Stringent Quality Control: Comprehensive testing and inspection protocols ensure consistent performance in demanding applications.
• Metallurgical Knowledge: In-depth understanding of carbide formation, heat treatment, and microstructural control of high-carbon martensitic stainless steels.
• Supply Chain Reliability: Robust inventory management and production planning to ensure consistent availability of critical materials.
• Technical Support: Expert assistance in material selection, heat treatment guidance, and application support.
• Global Capabilities: Worldwide shipping network with experience in international documentation and compliance.
• Material Traceability: Complete documentation and batch traceability for quality assurance.
• Continuous Improvement: Ongoing research and development in high-carbon martensitic stainless steel processing and performance.
• Industry Compliance: Materials and processes that meet or exceed international standards for critical applications.

Request Information

Contact FUSHUN METAL today to discuss your Stainless Steel 440 Wire requirements. Our technical team is ready to assist you with:

• Detailed product specifications
• Technical consultations for your specific application
• Heat treatment recommendations for optimal properties
• Custom wire development for specialized requirements
• Pricing inquiries and delivery schedules
• Sample requests for evaluation

FUSHUN METAL – Your trusted partner for premium ultra-high carbon martensitic stainless steel wire solutions that deliver consistent quality, superior hardness, exceptional wear resistance, and reliable performance in the most demanding applications requiring extreme hardness combined with corrosion resistance.