(A) Alloy and non-alloy elements
Carbon steel wire has almost non-alloy elements mainly for C, Si, Mn, S, and P.
However, stainless steel wire has various alloy elements especially for Cr and Ni that occupy 12% Minimum in percentage.
Various chemical elements lead to large discrepancy on mechanical property and working process for final use.

(B) Corrosion resistance
Carbon steel wire apparently shows weak anti-corrosion ability due to its higher carbon component. In order to avoid any rust, slushing oil is necessarily in conventional use for un-galvanized carbon wires during storage and transportation.
On the other hand, stainless steel wire has quite stronger anti-corrosion ability to meet market consumption, especially for SS 300 series.

(C) Magnetism
Carbon steel wire possesses obviously strong magnetism. Stainless steel wire has none or weak magnetism for both SS 200 series and 300 series, but there is distinct magnetism for SS 400 series on account of its martensitic structure.

(D) Wire surface
Carbon steel wire surface is normally black and shiny, however stainless steel wire is always in silver bright color (Some part of SS wires with dull surface for special application) due to its abundant alloy elements involved, as well as its clearly smooth surface.

SS 201 and 202 are both of high manganese (Mn) stainless steel, in which much manganese come into use instead of nickel (Ni) and get the nearly same effect as 304 in some weakly anticorrosion environment. Additionally, due to the cheaper cost, SS 200 series still remain the competitive advantage to satisfy those certain needs in market.

SS 301,304 and 316 are all of classic stainless steel, who have been enjoyed most popularity and widely used in world.

SS 200 Series and SS 300 series are belonged to Austenite structure with nonmagnetic or weakly magnetic property, which is distinguished from SS 400 series who are of Martensitic structure with strong magnetism.