The Benefits of Using a Spring Steel Coil
Coil springs are made of a variety of metal alloys. The specific alloys used can vary by wire diameter and tensile strength requirements.
Stainless steel 302 is often used for spring applications. It offers good corrosion resistance in normal atmospheres and can be heat treated and quenched to achieve high tensile strengths.
Strength
When creating coil springs, there are many materials to choose from. Most springs are made from steel alloys that contain some form of carbon, which provides strength, hardness, and a resistance to wear. The specific metal alloy used will vary depending on the application and type of spring. The manufacturer of the spring will often include information about the type of steel alloy used in the manufacturing process on their product documentation or packaging.
Medium and high-carbon steels are the most commonly used types of spring material, especially when coiling into a helix shape. These grades of spring steel can be heat treated to improve their strength and ductility. Heat treatments include annealing, quenching, and tempering. These processes involve heating the steel to a specific spring steel coil temperature, then rapidly cooling it, which makes it harder and stronger. Other processes, such as shot peening, are also used to improve the strength of coiled springs.
Stainless spring steels also provide excellent strength and durability, particularly in humid or corrosive environments. They are often able to withstand temperatures well below zero, making them suitable for use in construction and engineering applications. Stainless spring steels also have a lower risk of corrosion than other metallic materials. Stainless spring steels like 301, 303, and 302 have low costs and are suitable for coil springs in many industries. Other alloys, such as nickel chromium, can be used for even more demanding applications.
Flexibility
Using spring steel coils allows for greater flexibility in a variety of applications. For example, this type of metal is perfect for creating clips and fasteners that hold a wide range of things together including furniture pieces, tools like hammers or wrenches and sports equipment such as golf clubs or tennis rackets.
This material’s versatility is largely due to its high yield strength. However, alloying elements such as silicon, manganese and chromium also contribute to its flexibility. These additional attributes allow spring steel to be easily formed, shaped and post-heat treated to create specific characteristics that are required by certain industrial applications.
The diameter of the wire used in spring steel also plays an important role in its overall flexibility. For example, thinner wires are more likely to produce a flexible spring while thicker wires will yield more rigid results. However, these are just two of the many factors that can be adjusted to manipulate a coil’s flexibility.
In addition, progressive adjustments in the process of heat treating and coiling can help to soften the initial tension of a spring and improve its ability to withstand dynamic environments. One common method for doing this is pre-stressing, which involves placing a spring under a stress that’s higher than what the product will experience during its actual use. This method has been shown to realign the spring’s grain structure, allowing it to better resist deformation.
Corrosion Resistance
When exposed to water, oxygen and other elements, metals begin to rust. This corrosion can cause springs to break and fail. To avoid this, corrosion-resistant steel coils are used. They can be coated with a zinc-based compound or passivated. They also possess the ability to resist high temperatures and rust-causing chemicals.
Zinc and chromium can be applied to spring steel during the manufacturing process to protect it from corrosion. This type of coating is referred to as galvanization. It can be applied to all types of spring wires, but it is especially useful for smaller-diameter wires that are not likely to be ground or otherwise shaped. The coating can be used to color or mark springs.
Chromium vanadium is another option for coating springs. It has a medium carbon content that adds strength while increasing toughness. It can be heat treated and shaped without breaking. This material is used in Stainless Hardened SteelStrip applications that require moderately elevated temperatures and high fatigue resistance.
Stainless steel is known for its resistance to heat and moisture, making it an excellent choice for springs. It is available in various grades, including 304, 316 and 17-7, each with varying degrees of tensile strength, heat resistance and corrosion resistance. It is important to note that these properties are affected by the type of heat treatment performed on the steel.
Durability
The resilience of coil springs allows them to withstand bending, twisting and compression. They can also absorb energy and bounce back into place without sustaining damage or deformation. This is possible due to their high yield strength, which is the result of specific alloying and hardening processes. This makes them ideal for applications that require long life and durability, such as automotive springs.
Coil springs are often coated to protect them from corrosion and other environmental factors that can affect their performance. These coatings may be sprayed, dipped or electroplated on the steel surface. In addition, they are usually treated with heat and pressure to make them harder, which increases their tensile strength.
When a spring is not in use, it should be stored properly to maintain its quality and prevent rusting or other damage. It is best to store them in a dry, controlled environment so that moisture does not build up over time. It is also important to keep them vertically stacked and not layered together, as this could cause them to bend or deform over time.
For example, music wire is made of a high-quality carbon spring steel that is highly uniform and has a very high tensile strength. It also has good ductility, making it perfect for pianos and other musical instruments. This material is also resistant to temperature changes.