Quick answer: For Inconel 718 wire, choose the delivery condition together with the forming and final heat-treatment route. Annealed wire is a starting point when formability matters; spring temper describes cold-worked wire, not automatically a finished, age-hardened spring. If aged material is requested, define its prior processing and acceptance requirements. Do not order by the word “718” or by tensile strength alone.
This guide is for buyers and engineers specifying UNS N07718 wire for springs and formed components. It separates the condition received by the fabricator from the condition required in the finished part.
What the three condition names mean
Annealed: a forming-stage condition
Annealing softens wire. For alloy 718 that will undergo substantial fabrication, an annealed starting condition can make sense before the required final treatment. “Annealed” should still be tied to the applicable specification and processing record; it is not a complete description of the final component properties.
Spring temper: strength introduced through cold work
Spring temper is produced by controlled cold working. No. 1 temper is a separate designation with less cold work than full spring temper in the terminology used by Alloy Wire International. These labels must be accompanied by agreed wire properties; “spring temper” and “aged” are not synonyms. See the manufacturer's wire-condition glossary.
Aged: a heat-treated condition, not a universal strength value
Age hardening changes alloy 718 through precipitation. The starting condition and subsequent treatment both matter. Special Metals describes fabrication in a suitable annealed or stress-relieved condition followed by treatment to the governing specification. Its alloy 718 technical bulletin also distinguishes treatment routes; one generic furnace recipe should not be applied to every order.
Why the highest quoted tensile strength is not always the right choice
Compare like-for-like conditions. Alloy Wire International publishes different typical tensile ranges for annealed, No. 1 temper, spring temper and several subsequently aged conditions. These are reference data for that manufacturer's material, not guaranteed SASA ALLOY delivery values or universal acceptance limits. Its 718 wire data also distinguishes direct aging from annealing followed by aging.
For procurement, this means that a quotation for incoming wire and a requirement for the completed spring may describe different stages. Ask the supplier to identify the stage represented by every mechanical-property value. A higher incoming strength does not, by itself, establish that the wire will suit your tooling, geometry or approved process.
Important: Final spring acceptance may require load-deflection, dimensional, relaxation or fatigue checks specified by the designer. A wire tensile result alone does not certify those finished-part requirements. Confirm the operating temperature, loading and environment with the responsible engineer.
Agree the manufacturing route before placing the order
- Define what is being purchased. Is the order for raw wire, wire ready for a particular forming operation, or a finished heat-treated component?
- Separate incoming and final requirements. List the delivery condition and wire acceptance tests separately from the post-forming treatment and final-part checks.
- Name the responsible party. Agree who forms the part, performs any heat treatment, records the process and releases the finished component.
- Resolve deviations before shipment. A different temper or heat-treatment route needs an agreed technical review, not simply a revised product label.
For product enquiries, use our Inconel 718 wire page and include the required delivery condition with your diameter and quantity.
Inconel 718 wire RFQ checklist
A useful request for quotation gives the supplier enough information to identify omissions before material is ordered:
- Material: UNS N07718, the governing specification and its revision, plus any drawing-specific requirements.
- Dimensions: wire diameter or section, tolerance and any ovality or straightness limits.
- Condition: annealed, a defined cold-worked temper, or a specified aged condition; include the required property range and test stage.
- Forming details: component drawing, bend or coil geometry and the planned processing sequence.
- Surface and supply form: finish or coating restrictions, coil or spool dimensions, winding direction and handling requirements.
- Documentation: certificate type, heat/lot traceability and the inspection records required for the order.
- Commercial scope: quantity, delivery destination, requested schedule and packing requirements, all subject to quotation confirmation.
Example enquiry structure: “UNS N07718 wire for a formed spring. Diameter and tolerance: [drawing values]. Incoming condition and properties: [specification]. Final treatment by: [responsible party]. Required records: [list]. Quantity, spool requirements and destination: [details].” Replace every bracketed item before requesting a firm quotation.
Checks when wire arrives
Match the order, package identification and certificate to the same heat or lot. Confirm that the reported condition matches the purchase order and that mechanical results refer to the agreed processing stage. Check dimensions, surface condition and supply form against the inspection plan. If the label says only “718,” request clarification before releasing the wire to production.
Frequently asked questions
Is spring-temper 718 wire already age hardened?
Not necessarily. Spring temper describes cold work; aging is a separate heat-treatment condition. Confirm the actual route and certificate instead of inferring it from the product name.
Can aged wire be formed into any spring shape?
No blanket assumption is appropriate. Aging can restrict further forming, and the geometry and process must be evaluated. Define the required incoming condition with the fabricator rather than assuming that the final-part condition is also the best starting wire condition.
Does this guide specify a production heat-treatment cycle?
No. The applicable material specification, component drawing and approved manufacturing procedure govern the cycle and acceptance tests. Published typical data are useful for discussion, not a substitute for those requirements.
Discuss your wire requirements
Send SASA ALLOY your drawing, wire size, required delivery condition and quantity. Include any certification or post-forming treatment requirements so that the quotation scope can be confirmed.
Post time: Sep-11-2026