Hot-Rolled Wire Rod is a continuously rolled steel product supplied in coils. Steel billets are reheated and rolled into a round section, followed by controlled cooling and coiling.
It is mainly used as raw material for further processing, including wire drawing, nail making, wire mesh, fencing and selected fastener applications. The required grade and diameter should therefore be selected according to the downstream process.
| Item | Specification |
| Product | Hot-Rolled Wire Rod |
| Material | Q195, Q235 low-carbon steel |
| Common Diameters | 5.5 mm, 6.0 mm, 6.5 mm, 8 mm, 10–20 mm |
| Common Coil Weight | 1.8–2.5 tons |
| Supply Form | Coil |
| Surface | Black hot-rolled mill scale |
| Coating | None |
| Packing | Steel-band strapped; export wrapping available |
| Processing Service | Coil splitting and agreed handling |
| Material Documents | Mill certificate available |
For general hot-rolled wire rod, the applicable standard depends on the material grade and intended use. GB/T 701-2008 and GB/T 14981-2009 cover relevant general wire-rod requirements, while product-specific standards apply to particular uses such as cold heading.
Q195 is commonly selected for applications requiring good plasticity and deformation performance, including wire drawing, binding wire and ordinary nail production.
Q235 provides a higher strength level and can be used for selected nails, simple fasteners and heavier wire products.
The correct grade depends on the finished product. For wire drawing, the target finished diameter and drawing process should also be provided when ordering the raw material.
The basic production route is:
Steel billet → reheating → high-speed rolling → controlled cooling → coiling → inspection → bundling
The billet is progressively reduced during rolling until the required diameter is achieved. After the final rolling passes, controlled cooling is used before the wire rod is formed into coils.
Cooling conditions affect the resulting mechanical properties and downstream processing behavior, which is particularly important when the rod will be drawn into smaller-diameter wire.
The dark surface of Hot-Rolled Wire Rod is normally mill scale formed during high-temperature rolling. It is not a protective coating.
Before wire drawing, the customer normally removes the scale through an appropriate surface-preparation process, such as pickling or mechanical descaling.
Because the product is supplied as untreated black steel, coils should be kept dry and protected from prolonged exposure to moisture.
Wire drawing is one of the main uses of Hot-Rolled Wire Rod. The rod is descaled and prepared before being passed through drawing dies to progressively reduce its diameter.
A typical route is:
Wire rod → descaling → surface preparation → drawing → heat treatment where required → galvanizing where required → rewinding
For drawing applications, the starting diameter, target finished diameter and required mechanical condition should be confirmed before ordering. These factors determine the required drawing reduction and processing route.
| Diameter | Typical Downstream Use |
| 5.5 mm | Fine wire drawing, black wire and galvanized wire feedstock |
| 6.0–6.5 mm | Medium wire drawing, agricultural wire and general wire processing |
| 8 mm | Heavier wire, fencing and selected direct-use applications |
| 10–12 mm | Heavy wire products and selected fabricated applications |
| 14–16 mm | Heavy wire and specialized downstream processing |
| 18–20 mm | Heavy or specialized downstream processing |
These are application references rather than fixed specifications. The final diameter should be selected according to the customer's equipment, drawing reduction and finished product.
Hot-Rolled Wire Rod is commonly used as feedstock for nail manufacturing. The selected rod should match the nail diameter, required mechanical properties and nail-making equipment.
Q195 or Q235 can be considered for ordinary nail production depending on the finished nail specification.
For high-volume production, consistent diameter and material properties are important because changes between coils can affect machine settings and production stability.
General-purpose wire rod should not automatically be used for cold-heading applications. Bolts, rivets and other cold-formed parts require suitable chemical composition, internal quality and deformation characteristics.
GB/T 28906-2025 covers hot-rolled steel wire rod for cold heading and has been effective since October 1, 2025.
When the final product is a cold-headed fastener, the required product specification should be confirmed before quotation rather than ordering only by a general Q195 or Q235 designation.
Hot-Rolled Wire Rod can be used as the starting material for galvanized steel wire. A typical route is wire drawing followed by galvanizing of the finished wire.
The required rod should therefore be selected according to the target galvanized wire diameter, tensile strength and drawing schedule.
For example, a customer producing fine galvanized wire may start with 5.5 mm or 6.0–6.5 mm rod and progressively reduce the diameter through drawing dies.
The main difference is the supply form and intended processing.
Wire rod is supplied in coils and is designed primarily as feedstock for continuous processing such as wire drawing, nail making and mesh production.
Steel bar is normally supplied in straight lengths for direct fabrication, machining or structural applications.
For automated wire-processing lines, the coil format allows continuous feeding and reduces the need for repeated material changes.
Common coil weights are 1.8–2.5 tons. Coil splitting can be discussed when the original coil is not suitable for the customer's handling or production equipment.
Larger coils can reduce the number of coil changes on continuous production lines, while smaller coils may be easier to handle in smaller factories.
The required coil weight should therefore be confirmed together with the customer's unwinding, feeding and lifting equipment.
Inspection can cover:
For wire-drawing customers, trial drawing can also be used to evaluate how the rod performs with the customer's actual dies and processing conditions.
Black Hot-Rolled Wire Rod should be stored in a dry area and kept off the ground. Prolonged moisture between the tightly wound turns can accelerate corrosion.
Standard packing uses steel-band strapping, with additional export wrapping available for overseas shipments.
For long-distance sea transportation, moisture protection should be considered together with the customer's unloading and storage conditions.
Our supply network in Tianjin Daqiuzhuang supports Hot-Rolled Wire Rod supply together with coil handling, inspection and export logistics.
For wire-drawing orders, the target finished wire diameter and downstream process can be provided before quotation so that the raw-material specification can be confirmed accordingly.
It is mainly used as feedstock for wire drawing, nail making, wire mesh, fencing and selected fastener applications.
Q195 and Q235 low-carbon steel are the common grades supplied for the applications listed on this page.
Common sizes include 5.5 mm, 6.0 mm, 6.5 mm, 8 mm and 10–20 mm.
Yes. 5.5 mm is a common starting diameter for wire drawing. The target finished diameter and drawing schedule should be confirmed before material selection.
Yes. Both grades can be considered for ordinary nail production, depending on the nail dimensions, required properties and production equipment.
Not automatically. Cold-heading fasteners require material with suitable deformation characteristics and applicable specifications. The finished fastener and required standard should be confirmed before ordering.
The dark surface is normally mill scale produced during hot rolling. It is not a corrosion-protection coating, and the untreated steel can still rust when exposed to moisture.
Common coils are approximately 1.8–2.5 tons. Coil splitting can be discussed when smaller coils are required for handling or production.
Yes. It can be drawn into steel wire and then galvanized according to the finished wire specification and production route.
Mill certificates and agreed inspection records can be provided according to the order requirements.
Store the coils in a dry, covered and ventilated area, raised from the ground and protected from prolonged moisture.
Provide the grade, diameter, coil weight, quantity, end application and packing requirements. If the rod will be drawn, also provide the target finished wire diameter and processing route.
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Secondary Arterial Road No. 2-1, Expansion Area of Daqiuzhuang Industrial Zone, Jinghai District, Tianjin, China
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