Materials used in springs and their uses

a. Carbon steel and alloy steel: When manufacturing springs, metal elements such as silicon, manganese, chromium, vanadium and molybdenum are often added to the steel to increase the elasticity and fatigue limit of the spring and make it impact resistant.

b. Large springs are mostly processed by hot work, that is, the spring material is rolled into a rod at high temperature, and then processed and formed at high temperature, then quenched in oil or water at about 780 to 850 degrees, and then tempered at 400 to 500 degrees.

c. Small springs are first annealed, then cold worked, rolled and then hardened and tempered, such as steel wire, piano wire or steel strip.

d. Piano wire is made of high carbon steel (0.65~0.95%) with few impurities. When the diameter is usually less than 1/4, it is drawn into wires at room temperature after quenching treatment. It has good mechanical properties, high tensile strength and stiffness, and is an excellent spiral spring material.

e. Stainless steel wire is used in places susceptible to corrosion. High-speed steel and stainless steel can be used to withstand high temperatures.

f. The carbon content of oil tempering wire is 0.6~0.7% and should contain manganese. 0.6~1.0% is commonly used in coil springs.

g. Leaf springs commonly use 0.9-1.0% ordinary steel, and higher-grade ones use chromium vanadium steel and silicon-manganese steel.