ASTM A641/A641M-19 (2025) PDF

Full title and description

ASTM A641/A641M-19 (reissued/annotated 2025) — Standard Specification for Zinc–Coated (Galvanized) Carbon Steel Wire. This specification defines requirements for soft, medium, and hard temper zinc‑coated carbon steel wire supplied in coils for general use, including coating classes, tensile strength limits, and coating adhesion and weight requirements.

Abstract

The standard covers zinc‑coated (galvanized) carbon steel wire in soft, medium and hard tempers, requires compliance with specified tensile strengths, specifies minimum zinc coating weights for the various coating classes (and allows a “regular coating” with full zinc coverage but no minimum mass), and requires adhesion testing and other supplementary requirements for nails, staples, and formed parts. The specification is published in both inch‑pound (A641) and SI (A641M) units.

General information

• Status: Current (reapproved/updated and published in the 2025 issue).
• Publication date: April 1, 2025.
• Publisher: ASTM International.
• ICS / categories: 77.140.65 (steel wire, wire ropes and link chains).
• Edition / version: A641/A641M‑19 (2019 designation; shown as the 2019 standard with 2025 reissue/approval).
• Number of pages: 5.

Scope

This specification applies to zinc‑coated (galvanized) carbon steel wire supplied in coils for general use and covers temper classifications (soft, medium, hard), tensile strength requirements, minimum zinc coating weights for specified coating classes, a “regular coating” designation where full zinc coverage is required without a specified minimum weight, and supplementary requirements covering nails, staples, and wire used to form them. The specification is published in both inch‑pound and SI unit systems (A641 and A641M) which are to be used independently.

Key topics and requirements

• Temper classifications: soft, medium, and hard temper wire.
• Tensile strength and mechanical requirements appropriate to the chosen temper.
• Zinc (galvanized) coating classes with specified minimum coating weights (and a “regular coating” option requiring full coverage without a minimum mass).
• Adhesion testing of the zinc coating.
• Supplementary requirements addressing coating weights for nails, staples, and wire from which such parts are formed.
• Ordering in either inch‑pound (A641) or SI (A641M) units; each unit system is treated independently.

Typical use and users

Used by steel‑wire manufacturers, fastener and nail producers, metal forming firms, procurement/specification engineers, quality control and test laboratories, and design professionals (architects and engineers) who require standardized galvanized wire for building components, fasteners, fencing, springs and general‑purpose wire applications.

Related standards

Standards commonly referenced with or used alongside A641/A641M include test and coating standards and other wire specifications such as ASTM A90/A90M (weight of coating tests), ASTM A123/A123M (zinc coatings on iron and steel), ASTM A780 (repair of galvanized coatings), and related ASTM wire specifications (for example A809, A856 and A370 for mechanical testing). These documents are frequently cited together in product and construction specifications.

Keywords

galvanized wire, zinc‑coated steel wire, carbon steel wire, coating weight, adhesion test, soft/medium/hard temper, coils, fasteners, A641, A641M.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM A641/A641M‑19 is the ASTM International specification that defines requirements for zinc‑coated (galvanized) carbon steel wire in coils, covering mechanical properties, coating classes, and testing.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers temper classifications (soft, medium, hard), tensile strength requirements, minimum zinc coating weights for specified classes (and a regular coating option), adhesion testing, and supplementary requirements for nails, staples and related formed parts.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Wire manufacturers, fastener producers, metal fabricators, specification and procurement engineers, and testing/quality laboratories use this standard to ensure consistent galvanized wire quality and performance.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The A641/A641M‑19 designation is the active version cited here and the document was reissued/approved in the 2025 release (publication/approval listed as April 1, 2025), so it is current as of that 2025 reissue date. Users should verify any later revisions before specifying.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of ASTM’s family of metallic‑coating and steel‑wire standards (Book of Standards Vol. 01.06) and is commonly used alongside related ASTM test methods and coating standards.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Galvanized wire; zinc‑coated; carbon steel wire; coating weight; adhesion; temper (soft/medium/hard); A641; A641M.