1.1This specification covers general requirements that shall apply to stainless wire and wire rods. Wire rods are a semifinished product intended primarily for the manufacture of wire. Wire is intended primarily for cold forming, including coiling, stranding, weaving, heading and machining as covered under the latest revision of each of the following ASTM specifications: A313/A313M, A368, A478, A492, A493, A580/A580M, and A581/A581M.
1.2In case of conflicting requirements, the individual material specification and this general requirement specification shall prevail in the order named.
1.3General requirements for flat products other than wire are covered in Specification A480/A480M.
1.4General requirements for bar and billet products are covered in Specification A484/A484M.
1.5The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.
1.6Unless the order specifies the applicable metric specification designation, the material shall be furnished in the inch-pound units.
1.7This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.