In a tire the strength of steel cord and the resilience of rubber are a successful combination. However, in some specific areas of a tire, more elongation is expected from the steel cord, while still a sufficient degree of stiffness is expected. A steel cord is presented that has these properties. The steel cord comprises two or more steel elements that are twisted together. The steel elements comprise one or more steel filaments. In total the steel cord comprises N filaments, each with a cross sectional area A. When the steel elements are individualised out of the steel cord they show a helix pitch length of L.sub.o, while a single pitch has a centre line length of S. The inventive steel cord shows a P value of at least 50 newton, wherein P=NE (A/S).sup.2. Further methods are presented to produce this steel cord.

In a tire the strength of steel cord and the resilience of rubber are a successful combination. However, in some specific areas of a tire, more elongation is expected from the steel cord, while still a sufficient degree of stiffness is expected. A steel cord is presented that has these properties. The steel cord comprises two or more steel elements that are twisted together. The steel elements comprise one or more steel filaments. In total the steel cord comprises N filaments, each with a cross sectional area A. When the steel elements are individualised out of the steel cord they show a helix pitch length of L.sub.o, while a single pitch has a centre line length of S. The inventive steel cord shows a P value of at least 50 newton, wherein P=NE (A/S).sup.2. Further methods are presented to produce this steel cord.

The steel wire of diameter d expressed in mm has a completely ferritic, pearlitic or ferritic-pearlitic microstructure and a weight content of carbon C such that 0.05%C<0.4%, a weight content of chromium Cr such that Cr<12% and a maximum tensile strength R, expressed in MPa, such that R175+930.C600.In(d) and R1500 MPa.

The steel wire of diameter d expressed in mm has a completely ferritic, pearlitic or ferritic-pearlitic microstructure and a weight content of carbon C such that 0.05%C<0.4%, a weight content of chromium Cr such that Cr<12% and a maximum tensile strength R, expressed in MPa, such that R175+930.C600.In(d) and R1500 MPa.

A steel wire has a microstructure that is completely ferritic, a mixture of ferrite and cementite or a mixture of ferrite and pearlite and has a weight content of carbon C such that C<0.05% and a weight content of chromium Cr such that Cr<12%. The process for drawing the wire comprises: at least one first uninterrupted series of steps of drawing the wire from a diameter D to a diameter d, at least one second uninterrupted series of steps of drawing the wire of diameter d to a diameter d, and one or more intermediate steps between the first and second uninterrupted series of steps of drawing the wire, the wire having a temperature less than or equal to 300 C. during the or each intermediate step.

A steel wire has a microstructure that is completely ferritic, a mixture of ferrite and cementite or a mixture of ferrite and pearlite and has a weight content of carbon C such that C<0.05% and a weight content of chromium Cr such that Cr<12%. The process for drawing the wire comprises: at least one first uninterrupted series of steps of drawing the wire from a diameter D to a diameter d, at least one second uninterrupted series of steps of drawing the wire of diameter d to a diameter d, and one or more intermediate steps between the first and second uninterrupted series of steps of drawing the wire, the wire having a temperature less than or equal to 300 C. during the or each intermediate step.

A wire rope for face shovels or draglines, comprising: a core, said core is made from a plurality of core strands a plurality of outer strands laid on said core, a plurality of separator strands located in the interstices between said core strands and said outer strands, a plastic jacket around said plurality of outer strands, said plurality of separator strands and said core strands, wherein said plurality of separator strands extend from said core strands and in-between each pair of said plurality of outer strands so as to produce and maintain gaps between said pair of said plurality of outer strands; wherein said core strands are compacted, and the gap between said core strands is less than 0.4% of the diameter of the core strand.

A wire rope for face shovels or draglines, comprising: a core, said core is made from a plurality of core strands a plurality of outer strands laid on said core, a plurality of separator strands located in the interstices between said core strands and said outer strands, a plastic jacket around said plurality of outer strands, said plurality of separator strands and said core strands, wherein said plurality of separator strands extend from said core strands and in-between each pair of said plurality of outer strands so as to produce and maintain gaps between said pair of said plurality of outer strands; wherein said core strands are compacted, and the gap between said core strands is less than 0.4% of the diameter of the core strand.