All About Stainless Steel Springs
There are various different types of stainless steel springs that contain different materials and are treated in different ways making them more suitable for different purposes. These different treatments and materials affect the performance of the springs.
Many steel springs are made from iron based alloys that contain around 10% chromium. The addition of chromium, as well as the formation of an oxide film over the surface of the spring helps eliminate rusting.
The prevention of rust is one of the most important elements of spring manufacture as this is what gives steel springs their longevity and makes them safe to use in precision applications and machinery such as that used in the aerospace industry.
Springs made from ‘austenetic’ steel are made up of about 15 to 30 percent chromium and also contain two percent nickel. This type of spring has low yield strength but a notably high level of impact strength.
Austenetic springs may also include manganese and nitrogen, which help to prevent rusting. This type of spring is not affected by heat and is non magnetic and is often used as a component in cookware, home appliances and automotive trim.
‘Ferritic’ springs contain between ten and twenty percent chromium and also contain titanium and niobium. This type of spring is very strong but can be susceptible to fractures at lower temperatures. They are highly resistant to corrosion and oxidisation and are also magnetic. They can be found in car exhaust systems and hot water tanks.
‘Martensitic’ springs can have a high level of carbon and contain up to eighteen percent chromium. They are susceptible to brittle fractures at low temperatures and are also magnetic. When heat treated this affects the strength of this type of spring meaning it can be used for different applications.
When springs are heat treated they undergo a procedure which gives them greater strength. They are subjected to temperatures of between five hundred and eight hundred degrees. Heat treated springs are generally used in industries such as aerospace as their extreme strength makes them safe for use in precision applications such as mechanics and machinery used within the aerospace industry.
The types of springs typically used within this industry include stainless steel springs, carbon steel springs, titanium springs, inconel springs and nimonic springs. These springs are treated in such a way as to give them maximum strength and resistance to corrosion.
June 8, 2011
