Coil of new Carpenter 302HQ-SFQ™ stainless steel wire for cold forming applications.

Wyomissing, Pa., USA – (August 28, 2003) – Carpenter Technology Corporation (NYSE:CRS) is now offering a more price-competitive heading alloy with quality pedigree that can be considered for less demanding cold forming operations requiring less severe upset and extrusion.

The company’s 302HQ-SFQ™ stainless heading wire, a companion to its well known Custom Flow 302HQ stainless (UNS 30430), provides all the properties needed for standard fastener quality (SFQ) material at what Carpenter describes as a value price. It is manufactured using streamlined finishing operations.

Like its partner alloy, which is designed for severe cold heading applications, 302HQ-SFQ stainless has a very low work hardening rate, making it among the easiest of the 300 series stainless steels to cold form.

The modified alloy has been made free from hot mill defects to a maximum of 1 percent of product diameter. It is available in the same range of drawing options as 302HQ stainless heading wire. Carpenter offers technical assistance in selection of the best coating and condition characteristics for intended applications.

Nominal chemical composition of 302HQ-SFQ stainless remains the same as its predecessor alloy, 302HQ stainless: carbon 0.025 percent, manganese 2.00 percent, phosphorus 0.045 percent, sulfur 0.03 percent, silicon 1.00 percent, chromium 18 percent, nickel 9 percent, copper 3.5 percent, balance iron.

Carpenter 302HQ-SFQ stainless is available to meet user production schedules or just-in-time requirements. Mill orders as small as 1,800 lbs. can be delivered in five weeks or less. Smaller quantities are available for next-day delivery from stock. All wire is shipped on stems/carriers, stretch- or paper-wrapped for protection.

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For more information about Carpenter 302HQ-SFQ stainless heading wire and other Carpenter products, you can access the company’s technical database at www.cartech.com or call 1-800-545-6910.

Carpenter Technology Corporation, based in Wyomissing, Pa., is a leading manufacturer and distributor of specialty alloys and various engineered products. Information about the company can be found at www.cartech.com, with selected products for sale at www.carpenterdirect.com.