A wire includes a ferrous core. The ferrous core can be coated. The coatings can include nickel, molybdenum, zinc and Fe. A process of forming a wire can include placing a metal strip alongside a ferrous wire core, bending the strip around the core, and seam welding the strip to form a metal tube around the core. The process of forming a wire can include applying a metal layer to a ferrous metal rod to form a plated rod, placing a metal strip alongside the rod, bending the strip around the rod, and seam welding the strip to form a metal tube around the rod. The process of forming a wire can include coating a ferrous wire core with a layer of nickel, molybdenum or a nickel alloy that circumferentially surrounds the ferrous wire core.