Remarks on Special Issue on Bar & Wire Rod
ξ Bar and wire rods are steel materials which undergo a variety of manufacturing processes, such as
ξ drawing, heat treatment, forging and machining,
ξ before they are made into final products
ξ They are also “high-strength members” that have the inherent properties of the steel materials developed by heat treatment, etc.
ξ In respect to automotive parts alone, for example, many different products are made from bar and wire rods, including
ξ the engine crankshaft, transmission gear, valve spring, suspension spring, bearings, bolts and tire cord

Trends in Product Developments of Bars and Wire Rods
ξ There is a certain tendency towards better function or higher strength of steel products,
ξ fewer manufacturing process from customers’needs with increasing importance of global environment preservation.
ξ To satisfy these requirements, Nippon Steel has been keeping on supplying new products of high performance.
ξ Authors introduce several examples of developed bars and wire rods of special steel,
ξ high carbon steel wires and the latest nano-level materials characterization techniques
ξ which supports microstructure control of these products.