A LOW-CARBON STEEL, HAVING HIGHER MANGANESE CONTENT THAN CERTAIN OTHER LOW CARBON STEELS, SUCH AS 1020. BEING RICHER IN MANGANESE, 1018 IS A BETTER STEEL FOR CARBURIZED PARTS, SINCE IT PRODUCES A HARDER AND MORE UNIFORM CASE. IT ALSO HAS HIGHER MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND BETTER MACHINING CHARACTERISTICS. THE HOT ROLLED BARS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THIS PRODUCT ARE OF SPECIAL QUALITY.

MOST COLD FINISHED BARS ARE PRODUCED BY COLD DRAWING. IN THIS PROCESS,
OVERSIZE HOT ROLLED BARS, WHICH HAVE BEEN CLEANED TO REMOVE SCALE, ARE DRAWN THROUGH DIES TO THE REQUIRED SIZE. THE LARGER SIZES ARE GENERALLY TURNED AND POLISHED, THE HOT ROLLED BARS HAVING BEEN MACHINE TURNED, RATHER THAN DRAWN, FOLLOWED BY ABRASIVE POLISHING. TURNED AND POLISHED BARS TEND TO HAVE A SOMEWHAT BRIGHTER FINISH THAN COLD DRAWN BARS.