scope:

This part of ISO 683 gives the technical delivery requirements for semi-finished products (e.g. blooms, billets, slabs), bars, and wire rod, manufactured from the free-cutting steels listed in Ta ble 2 and supplied in one of the treatment conditions given for the different types of products in Ta ble 1, rows 2 to 4.

This part of ISO 683 covers three groups of free-cutting steels for mechanical purposes as listed in Ta ble 2, namely

a) not intended for heat treatment,

b) suitable for case-hardening, and

c) suitable for quenching and tempering.

Free-cutting steels are often used as bright bars. For these products please refer to ISO 683-18.

In special cases, variations in these technical delivery requirements or additions to them can form the subject of an agreement at the time of enquiry and order (see Annex B).

In addition to this part of ISO 683, the general technical delivery requirements of ISO 404 are applicable.