Understanding Options in Spring Materials

There are a wide range of spring designs to accommodate an extensive array of applications, including extension springs, compression springs, torsion springs, and custom spring designs. Spring end types and shapes vary significantly depending upon the type of job they are designed to do. A not so obvious difference in springs is the type of material used in its fabrication. Different spring materials are available to suit the wide variety of jobs they do. Knowing the characteristics of the spring materials you can choose from will help you to choose the right spring for your application.

Even with the broad spectrum of spring applications, the vast variety of springs are fabricated from six basic types of materials. The chart below shows the different materials and their respective characteristics.

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Material Characteristics Music Wire Highest quality cold drawn, high carbon wire. High strength with a good surface finish. Hard Drawn MB Cold drawn wire for average stress applications. Medium strength and low cost. Oil Tempered Wire Wire is cold drawn and heat treated before fabrication. Good general purpose spring wire for torsion springs and springs that require a large wire diameter. Stainless Steel 303 Cold drawn general purpose wire. Features include corrosion and heat resistance. Phosphor Bronze Not used as commonly due to cost. Cold drawn, featuring good corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity. Brass Not used as commonly due to cost. Tends to tarnish and change color over time. Features good corrosion and water resistance.

 

To learn more about spring material options, check out the video below. Then give us a call to discuss your spring needs! In a good spring design, spring material characteristics will be matched, not only to the job demands, but also work environment in which it will be used.

Understanding Wire Types from Mike Witte on Vimeo.