C1022 Cold Heading Quality Steel Wire

C1022 is a medium-carbon manganese steel positioned between low-carbon general-purpose grades (C1018, C1010) and alloy steels (10B21, 4037). Its higher carbon content (0.18–0.23%) produces meaningfully greater as-headed strength, making it a common choice for higher-strength fasteners that don’t require heat treatment.

When a buyer’s spec calls for “1018 or 1022,” that’s the application-driven trade-off: 1018 for better formability and weldability, 1022 for higher strength straight out of the header.

Nevers and Company stocks C1022 in coil form from major US CHQ mills with A2LA-accredited labs. USA melted and processed, full mill certs with every order.

Chemistry (AISI / SAE 1022)

Element	Min	Max
Carbon (C)	0.18	0.23
Manganese (Mn)	0.70	1.00
Phosphorus (P)	—	0.040
Sulfur (S)	—	0.050

All values in weight percent. Heat analysis per AISI/SAE standards.

Typical Mechanical Properties (As-Drawn)

Property	Typical Value
Tensile strength	80,000 – 100,000 PSI
Yield strength	65,000 – 85,000 PSI
Reduction of area	50 – 60%
Elongation in 2 in.	12 – 20%
Brinell hardness	156 – 207 HB

Properties vary with draft reduction and final wire diameter. Spheroidize-annealed variants available for applications requiring better formability.

Common Applications

• Higher-strength as-headed fasteners — hex bolts, cap screws, and machine bolts where Grade 2 strength isn’t enough but heat treatment isn’t justified
• Self-tapping and thread-forming screws — case-hardened to combine a hard thread-forming surface with a tough core
• Automotive and OEM hardware — clamps, brackets, and fasteners requiring consistent strength without alloy cost
• Cold-formed Grade 5 fasteners — some applications use C1022 with full heat treatment as an alternative to 10B21
• Studs, dowels, and pins — components requiring moderate strength and good wear resistance

C1022 vs. C1018

The most common comparison in CHQ buying. The decision usually comes down to two factors:

Factor	C1018	C1022
As-headed strength	Lower	Higher
Formability	Better	More limited
Weldability	Excellent	Acceptable
Carburizing	Excellent	Good
Material cost	Slightly lower	Slightly higher

Choose C1018 for general-purpose fasteners where formability and weldability matter. Choose C1022 when you need higher strength out of the header without heat treatment, or when you’re case-hardening for wear resistance.

C1022 vs. 10B21 for Grade 5

Both grades can produce SAE J429 Grade 5 fasteners after heat treatment. 10B21’s boron addition gives it deeper hardenability, making it the more reliable choice for through-hardened parts above ~0.375” diameter. C1022 works well in smaller sections and where heat-treat consistency is well controlled. We can help you evaluate which is right for your spec.

Available Sizes

Nevers stocks C1022 in diameters from 0.072” to 0.625” (1.83 mm – 15.88 mm). Common stocked sizes include:

• 0.098” – 0.219” for small hardware
• 0.225” – 0.345” for standard hex caps and bolts
• 0.375” – 0.515” for heavier structural fasteners

Available Conditions

Nevers stocks C1022 in two spheroidize-annealed conditions, both with phosphate-and-lubricant (P&L) coating applied as standard for cold heading:

• SAFS (Spheroidized Annealed at Finish Size) — our default. Annealing is the final processing step before coating, producing the softest, most ductile condition with the lowest internal stress. Choose SAFS for severe upsetting, deep extrusion, and demanding cold-heading where maximum formability matters.

• SAIP (Spheroidized Annealed In Process) — adds $2/cwt over SAFS. Annealing is followed by a light final cold draw (6–9% reduction) that sets tighter dimensional tolerances and produces a bright drawn finish. Choose SAIP for high-speed automated headers where consistent diameter and smooth feed behavior matter more than maximum formability.

See Cold Heading Wire Finishes: SAFS vs SAIP for a detailed comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is C1022 used for? C1022 is a medium-carbon CHQ steel used primarily for higher-strength fasteners manufactured by cold heading — hex cap screws, bolts, and case-hardened self-tapping screws. It’s also used as an alternative to 10B21 in some Grade 5 fastener applications.

What’s the difference between C1018 and C1022? C1022 has higher carbon (0.18–0.23%) and higher manganese (0.70–1.00%) than C1018, producing meaningfully greater as-headed strength. C1018 is more formable and weldable, while C1022 delivers higher strength without heat treatment.

Can C1022 produce Grade 5 fasteners? Yes, with heat treatment. C1022 can be quenched and tempered to meet SAE J429 Grade 5 requirements, though 10B21’s deeper hardenability makes it the more common choice for larger-diameter through-hardened parts.

Is C1022 weldable? C1022 is welded routinely but requires more care than lower-carbon grades. The heat-affected zone hardens more readily, which can lead to cracking if welding procedures aren’t controlled. Pre-heat may be required for thicker sections.

Can C1022 be case-hardened? Yes. C1022 carburizes well and is commonly used for case-hardened self-tapping and self-drilling screws, producing a hard thread-forming surface with a tough core.

What’s the difference between C1022 and C1038? C1038 has substantially higher carbon (0.35–0.42%) than C1022 (0.18–0.23%), producing higher strength but lower formability. C1022 is more commonly cold-headed; C1038 is used where higher strength is needed and the part geometry permits less aggressive heading.