METHOD DOR PRODUCING COATED METAL WIRE
A method for producing a metal wire intended to reinforce elastomeric materials, of the type comprising a core and a metal coating layer, as well as a metal wire and a metal cord intended to reinforce such materials are described. The method comprising the following steps of: a) conveying a metal core having a predetermined initial diameter along a predetermined conveying direction; b) depositing a metal coating layer having a predetermined initial thickness on said metal core by means of a plasma deposition technique; and c) drawing the core thus coated until a wire comprising a core having a final diameter smaller than said predetermined initial diameter and a metal coating layer having a final thickness smaller than said predetermined initial thickness is obtained. Advantageously, it is possible to obtain a wire coated in a uniform and homogeneous manner, in which the variations of amount of metal deposited and the concentration gradients of the components of metal alloys are minimized both in the axial direction and in the radial direction.