MS20995C32 - Stainless Steel Safety Wire 0.032 Inch Diameter

MS20995C32 – Stainless Steel Safety Wire (.032" Diameter)

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Overview

The MS20995C32 is the definitive, military-specification stainless steel safety wire for the aerospace industry. This is not ordinary wire; it is a flight-critical safety device, engineered to provide a positive, physical locking method for fasteners to prevent them from loosening due to vibration. The .032-inch diameter is the most common, general-purpose size, used in thousands of applications on every type of certified aircraft.

Manufactured from fully annealed Corrosion Resistant Steel (CRES), this wire is specifically designed to be ductile enough for proper, secure installation, yet strong enough to perform its vital locking function under demanding operational conditions. Adherence to the MS20995 standard ensures that every spool of wire meets the rigorous requirements for material composition, diameter tolerance, and physical properties necessary for an airworthy installation.

Key Features

• Positive Locking Device: When properly installed, it provides a physical barrier that prevents fasteners from backing out, representing one of the most reliable locking methods in aviation.

• Corrosion Resistant Steel (CRES): Fabricated from Type 302/304 stainless steel, offering excellent resistance to rust and corrosion in typical airframe and powerplant environments.

• 0.032" General Purpose Diameter: The industry standard size for a vast range of applications, from engine accessories to flight control hardware.

• Fully Annealed for Ductility: The wire is supplied in a soft, annealed condition, allowing it to be twisted and routed without breaking, yet retaining the tensile strength to remain secure.

• MS20995 Specification Compliance: Manufactured in strict accordance with the military standard, ensuring material composition, diameter tolerance, and physical properties are correct.

• Standard Dispenser Canister: Typically packaged in a 1 lb canister for easy, tangle-free dispensing and to protect the wire from contamination and damage.

Technical Specifications

• Part Number: MS20995C32

• Component Type: Lockwire / Safety Wire

• Governing Specification: MS20995

• Material: Corrosion Resistant Steel (CRES), Type 302/304

• Finish: Bright, Uncoated

• Condition: Fully Annealed

• Nominal Diameter: 0.032 inches

• Standard Packaging: Typically 1 lb Dispenser Canister.

Aircraft Compatibility

MS20995C32 is a universal consumable item required for the maintenance of virtually every certified aircraft ever built. It is a fundamental component of safe assembly practices across all aviation sectors:

• Military Aircraft

• Commercial and Transport Category Aircraft

• Business and Corporate Jets

• General Aviation (Piston and Turbine) and Rotorcraft

Note: This is a standard consumable. Applicability is determined by the maintenance procedure for a given fastener or component as detailed in the aircraft's maintenance manual.

Applications

• Securing any drilled-head bolt, nut, screw, cannon plug, or turnbuckle against loosening.

• Common in powerplant, flight control, landing gear, braking, and primary airframe systems.

• Used on engine accessories, filter caps, drain plugs, and electrical connectors.

Why Choose MS20995C32?

Safety wire is one of the most critical and widely used safety items in aircraft maintenance. The reliability of countless bolted joints depends on its integrity. Using genuine, certified MS20995C32 wire guarantees the correct alloy, diameter, and annealed state required for a safe and durable installation. The use of uncertified wire from a non-aviation source introduces a significant risk of failure due to improper material composition (leading to corrosion), incorrect temper (leading to fracture during installation), or inconsistent diameter, any of which would render the locking feature useless.

The material science of MS20995C32 is precisely tailored for its application. It is made from an austenitic stainless steel, typically Type 302 or 304, which is a non-magnetic alloy of iron, chromium, and nickel. This material is supplied in a fully annealed condition, a heat treatment process that recrystallizes the metal's grain structure, relieving internal stresses and maximizing its ductility. This soft, ductile state is critical, as it allows the wire to be tightly twisted and bent during installation without cracking or failing. However, austenitic stainless steels also exhibit a high rate of work hardening. The very act of twisting the wire introduces dislocations into the crystal lattice, significantly increasing its tensile strength and stiffness. This creates an ideal final state: a ductile wire for installation that becomes a strong, rigid, and secure locking member once it is in place.

Note: Safety wiring is a fundamental skill that must be performed by certified A&P mechanics in strict accordance with standard industry practices, such as those detailed in FAA Advisory Circular AC 43.13-1B, Chapter 7. New, clean wire must be used for every application. The wire must be tensioned properly, twisted with the correct number of twists per inch, and the cut pigtail must be bent back toward the part to prevent sharp edges and personal injury.

Documentation

The military standard governing this product is publicly available through the Department of Defense ASSIST database.

• ASSIST Document Summary Page for MS20995: http://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=36934