What are the pros and cons of annealed wire?

Some baling wire undergoes a heat treatment process called annealing. Primarily chosen for its increased ductility, annealed wire offers advantages and disadvantages, depending on the application. The following table provides the pros and cons of black annealed baling wire.

Pros	Cons
Increased elongation	Poor corrosion resistance in outdoor applications
Increased ductility (workability)	Annealing can reduce tensile strength
Smooth finish	Slightly higher cost than untreated wire

Pros of annealed wire

Increased elongation

Annealed wire possesses increased elongation properties. The annealing process relieves internal stresses within the wire, allowing it to stretch more easily without breaking. This flexible wire effectively bales expansive or awkward materials, such as rubber tires or foam, that require the wire to bend, twist, or conform to specific shapes. While regular baling wire has an elongation value of 12%, black annealed wire can stretch up to 25% of its length before it is compromised.

Increased ductility

Annealed wire exhibits remarkable ductility (workability) due to annealing. Increased ductility allows the wire to undergo extensive deformation without cracking or breaking, enabling it to be bent, shaped, and formed into intricate designs or configurations.

Enhanced workability makes annealed wire a preferred choice for applications that involve wire forming, bending, or shaping, such as tying bale ties (tie wire), securing construction materials, and other demanding tasks.

Reduced brittleness and smooth finish

The annealing process reduces the brittleness of wire, resulting in a material less prone to fracture or breakage under stress. Annealed wire is also smooth and often coated in wax. These features make annealed wire a popular choice for use in high-volume auto-tie balers because the wire feeds smoothly and rarely breaks.

This smooth finish also enhances the aesthetic appeal of the wire and facilitates easier handling and processing.

Moderate corrosion resistance

While annealed wire does not possess the same level of corrosion resistanceas galvanized wire, it does offer moderate protection against corrosion compared to uncoated baling wire. The annealing process creates a thin oxide layer on the surface of the wire, acting as a barrier against corrosive elements. The wax finishing coat applied to annealed wire also defends against corrosion.

Moderate corrosion resistance makes annealed wire a popular choice for baling recyclables that require short-term storage, such as plastics, office paper, cardboard, and tissue.

Cons of annealed wire

Not suitable for outdoor use

Black annealed wire is unsuitable for use in outdoor environments. Annealed wire will rust if exposed to harsh weather conditions, moisture, and other corrosive elements. As a result, annealed wire is recommended for indoor applications or environments with mild conditions.

Annealing can reduce tensile strength

While the annealing process improves ductility and elongation, it can also reduce tensile strength. Annealing alters the microstructure of the metal, reducing its hardness and strength. While annealed wire can elongate to cope with expansive materials, high-tensile wire is better for baling exceptionally heavy materials.

Lacks rigidity

Annealed wire lacks the necessary rigidity for certain applications due to its increased flexibility and ductility. This lack of rigidity can be problematic in applications where stability or precise positioning is needed. In baling, materials might shift causing the bale to deform. In such cases, a type of wire with higher stiffness or rigidity, such as high-tensile wire, is more appropriate.

Annealing adds additional cost

The annealing process itself can be time-consuming and add to the cost of wire production. It involves heating the wire to a specific temperature, holding it at that temperature for a time, and then cooling it slowly.

The annealing process requires precise temperature control, specialized equipment, and additional energy consumption, increasing production time and costs compared to non-annealed wire.

Our annealed wire products

We offer high-quality annealed products. Our annealed wires and bale ties are manufactured from 100% US steel and undergo a meticulous manufacturing process to relieve internal stresses and improve ductility. We offer the following annealed wire products:

• Single loop bale ties: for use with manual balers and featuring a single loop for versatile tying.
• Black annealed box wire: sold in 50 and 100-lb boxes for lower-volume operations.
• Black annealed stem wire: sold in 1,900-lb stems with roughly 39,000–64,000 feet of wire depending on gauge. The best choice for high-volume industrial baling.

We finish our black annealed wire with wax for a smooth feed and increased resistance to corrosion.