This specification covers round, shaped and flat rolled plain carbon and alloy steel spring wires, uniform in quality and temper, intended for the manufacture of mechanical springs that can withstand moderate fatigue stresses over some relatively low number of cycles. This wire shall be either in the annealed and cold-drawn or oil-tempered conditions. The steel may be made by any commercially accepted steel making process in either ingot cast or strand cast form. The percentage of the following elements: carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, chromium, and vanadium, shall conform to the chemical composition requirements and be determined by heat analysis. Tensile and wrap tests shall conform to the mechanical requirements such as tensile strength. Metallurgical requirements including eddy current testing for etched surface, decarburization, and inclusion content are detailed.

1.1 This specification covers four different grades of round and shaped plain carbon and alloy steel spring wire, uniform in quality and temper, intended for the manufacture of mechanical springs that can withstand moderate fatigue stresses over some relatively low number of cycles. The quality level is between the commercial quality grades of wire such as Specifications A401/A401M, A231/A231M, and A229/A229M and the valve spring quality grades such Specifications as A230/A230M, A232/A232M, and A877/A877M. It is similar to the grade TD (referenced in EN 10270-2) intended for medium fatigue levels, such as required for clutch springs. This wire shall be either in the annealed and cold-drawn or quenched and tempered condition as specified by purchaser.

1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.