Abstract: The composition of a new type GRST-5 steel for carding wire was designed according to the performance requirements of carding wires of combing equipment, toughening principle and microalloying principle of high carbon steel, and the steel was prepared. The cold working performance, hardness, microstructure and wear resistance were studied, and compared with those of traditional 80WV steel carding wires. The results show that the designed GRST-5 steel contained 0.030wt%-0.040wt% niobium and 0.08wt%-0.12wt% vanadium. The cold working performance of GRST-5 steel was better than that of 80WV steel; the intermediate process decreased, and the production cost decreased obviously. The average hardness of carding wire tooth tips made of GRST-5 steel was 820.25 HV, increasing by 30 HV compared with that made of 80WV steel. The microstructure of GRST-5 steel carding wires consisted of cryptocrystalline martensite, and the size of austenite was 3-5 μm. GRST-5 steel carding wires had the same wear resistance as 80WV steel carding wires had, indicating that GRST-5 steel could be a substitute material of 80WV steel in the manufacture of carding wires.