Rollers and coatings
Z1000 is RTP Paganoni's sintered zirconium oxide for non-ferrous wire drawing
In non-ferrous wire drawing, product quality depends largely on the components that come into direct contact with the wire. Cones, capstans, rollers, bushings and wire guides face continuous sliding, high contact pressures, localized heating, and steady surface wear.
To address these challenges, RTP Paganoni has developed Z1000: a sintered zirconium oxide formulated and fine-tuned specifically for drawing non-ferrous wire.
Z1000 isn't a generic zirconia adapted after the application. It's a technical material engineered for high performance in the most critical points of the drawing line, where dimensional stability, wear resistance, and contact-surface quality directly impact the final result.
What is zirconium oxide
Zirconium oxide, or simply zirconia, is an advanced technical ceramic known for high hardness, mechanical strength and chemical stability. Unlike traditional ceramics, it also offers high fracture toughness. Thanks to this property it can withstand impacts, vibrations, localized loads, and repeated stress with less risk of chipping or unexpected damage.
That combination makes zirconium oxide well suited to components that have to work under heavy sliding, friction and wear.
Z1000: a zirconia built for wire drawing
Z1000 was developed specifically for non-ferrous wire drawing. Its composition, the pressing process, the sintering cycle, and downstream machining operations have all been optimized to ensure components hold their geometric precision and surface quality over time.
The material is engineered for:
- copper wire;
- tinned copper;
- aluminum;
- non-ferrous alloys;
- fine and capillary wires.
Z1000 works well both in traditional wire-drawing applications and in more delicate processes, where even a small imperfection in a guide component can cause scoring, abrasion, tension variation, or surface defects on the wire.
High wear resistance
During the drawing process, the wire repeatedly slides over the same surfaces, generating abrasive stresses and concentrated pressures. Over time, a worn component can develop grooves, deformations, or irregularities that alter the correct wire feed.
Z1000 was developed to counter these phenomena and preserve the component's original geometry for longer. Its high hardness, combined with a compact and homogeneous microstructure, helps reduce wear on the contact surfaces, extending the operating life of components and stability of the machine’s working conditions.
Protection of the wire surface
Copper, aluminum and other non-ferrous materials are particularly sensitive to scoring, abrasion, and sliding marks. For this reason, the quality of the surfaces that come into contact with the wire is essential.
Z1000 components can be ground, lapped, and polished to achieve extremely smooth finishes. The combination of wear resistance and precision finishing limits defects and preserves the wire's aesthetic and performance.
This aspect is particularly relevant for wire intended for:
- cables and electrical conductors;
- wiring harnesses;
- windings for electric motors;
- transformers;
- automotive components;
- fine and capillary wires.
Greater process stability
As rings, cones, rollers, and wire guides begin to wear, the contact profile shifts and wire tension changes with it, leading to potential vibrations, misalignments, feed instability and a less uniform quality.
Thanks to its dimensional stability, Z1000 helps preserve the precision of functional geometries for longer, resulting in:
- smoother wire guidance;
- more uniform tension;
- greater process repeatability;
- more consistent quality;
- fewer adjustments.
The component's stability translates into greater production continuity and tighter control over the wire-drawing process.
Mechanical strength and toughness
Wear isn’t the only type of stress that drawing components need to face: they also have to handle vibrations, accidental impacts, misaligned loads, as well as sudden shocks or even wire breaks.
Z1000 pairs high hardness with excellent fracture toughness, offering greater resistance compared to other brittle ceramics. As long as the component is sized, mounted, and used appropriately, chipping and sudden breakage become less likely.
Chemical resistance and absence of corrosion
Z1000 is a chemically stable technical ceramic and is not subject to the oxidation and corrosion typical of metallic materials — which gives it a practical edge in lines where components are exposed to:
- process water;
- lubricants;
- emulsions;
- washing solutions;
- humid environments;
- moderately aggressive substances.
Because it doesn't corrode, the surface also stays cleaner and more consistent over time.
Reduced wire contamination
Worn or corroded metal components can shed particles or residues onto the wire surface. Z1000 has no metallic matrix, reducing the risk of contamination entirely.
That’s especially valuable when processing red copper, tinned copper, and other materials intended for subsequent coating, enameling, soldering or electrical connections.
Reconditioning potential
When the component's geometry and remaining thickness allow, Z1000 parts made entirely of Z1000 can be reground, re-lapped, and re-polished rather than replaced outright.
Recondition extends service life and cuts down:
- replacement frequency
- machine downtime;
- overall component consumption;
- long-term operating cost.
Components available in Z1000
The Z1000 range manufactured by RTP Paganoni includes components for the main wire contact and guide point:
- wire-drawing cones;
- capstans;
- roughing rings;
- rollers;
- pulleys;
- bushings;
- wire guides;
- components for copper-plating tanks;
- special custom parts.
Each component can be produced according to the customer's specific requirements, from a single piece up to larger production batches.
The advantages of Z1000
Longer component life
High wear resistance extends service life and reduces replacement rate.
Better wire surface quality
Ground and polished surfaces reduce scoring, abrasion, and periodic defects.
Geometric stability over time
A profile that holds its shape means more consistent drawing conditions.
Lower contamination risk
No metallic matrix = no metal residues on the wire.
Corrosion resistance
No rust = safe to use around water, lubricants, and emulsions.
Reduced machine downtime
Longer service life reduces maintenance and replacement interventions.
Reconditioning potential
Components can be ground and repolished multiple times, where feasible.
Lower overall operating cost
Durability, process stability, and reconditioning can offset the higher upfront investment.
A solution developed for wire quality
As a technical solution specific for non- ferrous wires, Z1000 stands out for its wear resistance, dimensional stability, toughness, chemical resistance, and surface quality. It is not simply a hard ceramic, but a zirconia fine-tuned to deliver reliable performance under real operating conditions.
The result? Longer component life, better surface quality, a more stable process, and reduced maintenance costs.
For more information, contact RTP Paganoni using the references on this page.
