
Stainless Steel Wire
Stainless steel is a versatile material common to industrial uses such as lockwire and spring wire, and also used extensively in the medical field due to its ability to meet demanding applications at relatively low cost. Wire can be made as round or flat ribbon and finished in a variety of tempers.
Stainless lockwire conforming to NASM20995 (corrosion resistant steel) is inventoried in common sizes and offered on one to five pound spools. Medical grade stainless alloys are kept in stock for fabrication as bare or film coated wires made to customer specifications.
Stainless Steel Wire 302
Applications: End uses include springs, guide wires, needles, and catheter wires.
ASTM A313, UNS S30200
This austenitic stainless steel wire is typically used for spring applications.
- Carbon: 0.12
- Manganese: 2.00
- Phosphorus: 0.045
- Sulphur: 0.030
- Silicon: 1.00
- Chromium: 17.0-19.0
- Nickel: 8.00-10.0 0
- Molybdenum –
- Nitrogen: 0.10
- Iron Balance
Physical Properties
- Density 0.286 lbs/in³
- Electrical Resistivity 27.4 microhm-in (at 68F)
- Ultimate Tensile Strength (annealed condition) 80-110 KSI
Stainless Steel Wire 304V
Applications: End uses include springs, guide wires, needles, and catheter wires.
ASTM A313, UNS S30400
This austenitic stainless steel wire is vacuum arc re-melted for a more uniform chemistry and typically used in medical appliances.
- Carbon: 0.08
- Manganese: 2.00
- Sulphur: 0.030
- Silicon: 1.00
- Chromium: 18.0-20.0
- Nickel: 8.0-10.5
- Molybdenum –
- Nitrogen: 0.10
- Iron Balance
Physical Properties
- Density 0.289 lbs/in³
- Electrical Resistivity 27.4 microhm-in (at 68F)
- Ultimate Tensile Strength (annealed condition) 80-100 KSI
Stainless Steel Wire 316L
Applications: End uses include bone pins, skin closure staples, catheter wires
ASTM F138, UNS S31603
This austenitic stainless steel wire adds Molybdenum for superior corrosion resistance and is used for permanent surgical implants.
- Carbon: 0.030
- Manganese: 2.0
- Phosphorus: 0.025
- Sulphur: 0.01
- Silicon: 0.75
- Chromium: 17.0-19.0
- Nickel: 13.0-15.5
- Molybdenum: 2.0-3.0
- Nitrogen: 0.10
- Iron Balance
Physical Properties
- Density 0.289 lbs/in³
- Ultimate Tensile Strength 100-145 KSI