Spring Materials
Welcome to our comprehensive guide on spring materials, where you will find detailed information, specifications, and attributes of various spring wires used across multiple industries. Understanding the properties and performance of different materials is crucial for selecting the right spring wire for your application. Whether you need high carbon steels, alloy steels, stainless steels, copper alloys, or nickel alloys, we provide in-depth data to help you make informed decisions. Our guide covers everything from tensile strength and chemical composition to operating temperatures and primary uses, ensuring you have all the necessary information to choose the best material for your specific needs.
Why Choose High Carbon Steels for Springs?
High carbon steels, such as Oil Tempered MB, Hard Drawn MB, and Music Wire, offer excellent strength and durability for a variety of spring applications. These materials are highly magnetic and capable of withstanding high stress, making them ideal for various industrial uses. Their ability to operate at temperatures up to 250°F ensures reliability even in challenging environments. Whether you need a general-purpose spring wire for average stress applications or a high-quality wire with superior fatigue life, our range of high carbon steels has you covered.
Oil Tempered MB (ASTM A229)
Nominal Chemistry: C 0.55 - 0.85%, Mn 0.30 - 1.20%
Density: 0.28 lb/in³
Minimum Tensile Strength: Class I: 165 - 293 ksi, Class II: 191 - 324 ksi
Modulus of Elasticity (E): 30 psi x 10⁶
Modulus in Torsion (G): 11.5 psi x 10⁶
Maximum Operating Temperature: 250°F
Description & Primary Use: Oil Tempered MB is a general-purpose spring wire designed for average stress applications. It is highly magnetic and is often used for larger wire sizes when Music Wire is not available.
Hard Drawn MB (ASTM A227)
Nominal Chemistry: C 0.45 - 0.85%, Mn 0.30 - 1.30%
Density: 0.28 lb/in³
Minimum Tensile Strength: Class I: 147 - 283 ksi, Class II: 171 - 324 ksi
Modulus of Elasticity (E): 30 psi x 10⁶
Modulus in Torsion (G): 11.5 psi x 10⁶
Maximum Operating Temperature: 250°F
Description & Primary Use: Hard Drawn MB is a general-purpose spring wire suited for low to average stress applications. It is cold drawn to achieve the desired properties and is highly magnetic.
Why Choose Alloy Steels for Springs?
Alloy steels such as Oil Tempered Chrome Vanadium and Oil Tempered Chrome Silicon offer exceptional performance in demanding applications. These materials are designed to handle shock loads and elevated temperatures, making them ideal for use in automotive, aerospace, and industrial settings. With their high tensile strength, excellent elasticity, and strong magnetic properties, alloy steels provide the reliability and durability required for critical components like valve springs. Choose our range of alloy steels for your high-performance needs and experience the advantages of superior material quality.
Stainless Steel 17-7 PH (AMS 5678)
Nominal Chemistry:Cr 16.0 - 18.0%, Ni 6.5 - 7.7%, Al 0.75 - 1.5%
Density:0.28 lb/in³
Minimum Tensile Strength:Cond. CH900: 230 - 343 ksi
Modulus of Elasticity (E):29.5 psi x 10⁶
Modulus in Torsion (G): 11 psi x 10⁶
Maximum Operating Temperature: 600°F
Description & Primary Use: Stainless Steel 17-7 PH offers improved strength over 300 Series stainless steels while maintaining similar heat and corrosion resistance. It is slightly magnetic and is precipitation hardened after spring fabrication to achieve the desired properties, making it suitable for various high-performance applications.
Stainless Steel 316 (ASTM A313)
Nominal Chemistry: Cr 16.5 - 18.0%, Ni 10.5 - 13.5%, Mo 2.0 - 2.5%
Density: 0.29 lb/in³
Minimum Tensile Strength: 125 - 245 ksi
Modulus of Elasticity (E): 28 psi x 10⁶
Modulus in Torsion (G): 10 psi x 10⁶
Maximum Operating Temperature: 550°F
Description & Primary Use: Stainless Steel 316 is known for its general heat resistance and superior corrosion resistance compared to Type 302/304. It is slightly magnetic and often used in marine applications due to its resistance to chloride attack.
Stainless Steel 302/304 (ASTM A313)
Nominal Chemistry: Cr 17.0 - 20.0%, Ni 8.0 - 10.5%
Density: 0.29 lb/in³
Minimum Tensile Strength: 130 - 325 ksi
Modulus of Elasticity (E): 28 psi x 10⁶
Modulus in Torsion (G): 10 psi x 10⁶
Maximum Operating Temperature: 550°F
Description & Primary Use: Stainless Steel 302/304 is a general-purpose corrosion and heat-resistant spring wire. It is slightly magnetic, with Type 304 having less carbon than Type 302 but considered commercially equivalent for stock springs.
Why Choose Copper Alloy for Springs?
Copper alloys, including Monel K 500, Monel 400, Brass, Beryllium Copper, and Phosphor Bronze, offer unique combinations of strength, corrosion resistance, and conductivity. These materials are suitable for a wide range of applications, from marine and chemical processing to electrical components and cold working processes. With their excellent mechanical properties and ability to perform in various environments, our copper alloys ensure reliability and durability for your critical applications. Choose our copper alloy materials for their superior performance and versatility.
Monel K 500 (QQ-N-286)
Nominal Chemistry: Ni 63.0 min%, Cu 27.0 - 33.0%, Al 2.3 - 3.1%
Density: 0.31 lb/in³
Minimum Tensile Strength: 160 - 200 ksi
Modulus of Elasticity (E): 26 psi x 10⁶
Modulus in Torsion (G): 9.5 psi x 10⁶
Maximum Operating Temperature: 500°F
Description & Primary Use: Monel K 500 offers similar corrosion and heat resistance to Monel 400 but with enhanced strength. It is particularly suitable for subzero and cryogenic applications, making it ideal for environments where both strength and corrosion resistance are critical.
Monel 400 (AMS 7233)
Nominal Chemistry: Ni 63.0 min%, Cu 28.0 - 34.0%
Density: 0.32 lb/in³
Minimum Tensile Strength: 145 - 180 ksi
Modulus of Elasticity (E): 26 psi x 10⁶
Modulus in Torsion (G): 9.5 psi x 10⁶
Maximum Operating Temperature: 450°F
Description & Primary Use: Monel 400 is a nickel-copper alloy spring wire known for its good corrosion resistance at moderately elevated temperatures. It has excellent mechanical properties at subzero temperatures and is generally resistant to hydrofluoric, sulfuric, and hydrochloric acids, making it suitable for marine and chemical processing applications.
Brass (ASTM B134)
Nominal Chemistry: Cu 68.5 - 71.5%, Zn 28.5 - 31.5%
Density: 0.31 lb/in³
Minimum Tensile Strength: 120 ksi
Modulus of Elasticity (E): 16 psi x 10⁶
Modulus in Torsion (G): 6 psi x 10⁶
Maximum Operating Temperature: 200°F
Description & Primary Use: Brass offers a good combination of strength and ductility, particularly for cold working. The properties are based on 70-30 Spring Brass (C26000) sub-type, making it ideal for fresh water and seawater applications.
Beryllium Copper (ASTM B197)
Nominal Chemistry: Cu 98.0%, Be 1.8 - 2.0%
Density: 0.30 lb/in³
Minimum Tensile Strength: 160 - 230 ksi
Modulus of Elasticity (E): 18.5 psi x 10⁶
Modulus in Torsion (G): 7 psi x 10⁶
Maximum Operating Temperature: 400°F
Description & Primary Use: Beryllium Copper is a non-ferrous spring wire known for its good corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity. It offers improved strength over phosphor bronze and is non-magnetic. The material is precipitation hardened after spring fabrication to achieve desired properties, making it suitable for a range of high-performance applications.
Phosphor Bronze (ASTM B159)
Nominal Chemistry: Cu 94.0 - 96.0%, Sn 4.0 - 6.0%
Density: 0.32 lb/in³
Minimum Tensile Strength: 105 - 145 ksi
Modulus of Elasticity (E): 15 psi x 10⁶
Modulus in Torsion (G): 6.25 psi x 10⁶
Maximum Operating Temperature: 200°F
Description & Primary Use: Phosphor Bronze is a non-ferrous spring wire with excellent corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity. It is non-magnetic, making it ideal for applications that require these properties.
Why Choose Nickel Alloy for Springs?
Nickel alloys, including Hastelloy, NiSpan C, Elgiloy, and various grades of Inconel, offer exceptional strength, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature performance. These materials are suitable for a wide range of applications, from chemical processing and marine environments to aerospace and high-precision instruments. Their unique properties ensure reliability and durability under demanding conditions. Choose our nickel alloy materials for superior performance and versatility in your critical applications.
Hastelloy (C276) (ASTM B574)
Nominal Chemistry: Ni 51.0 - 63.5%, Cr 14.5 - 16.5%, Mo 15.0 - 17.0%, Fe 4.0 - 7.0%
Density: 0.32 lb/in³
Minimum Tensile Strength: 100 - 200 ksi
Modulus of Elasticity (E): 30.7 psi x 10⁶
Modulus in Torsion (G): 11.8 psi x 10⁶
Maximum Operating Temperature: 700°F
Description & Primary Use: Hastelloy C276 is renowned for its excellent corrosion resistance in chemical process environments. It is highly resistant to sulfur and chloride compounds, making it useful in marine and waste treatment industries.
NiSpan C (AMS 5225)
Nominal Chemistry: Fe 45.0 - 51.0%, Ni 41.0 - 43.5%, Cr 4.9 - 5.75%, Ti 2.25 - 2.75%, Al 0.3 - 0.8%
Density: 0.29 lb/in³
Minimum Tensile Strength: 150 - 190 ksi
Modulus of Elasticity (E): 24.0 - 29.0 psi x 10⁶
Modulus in Torsion (G): 9.0 - 10.0 psi x 10⁶
Maximum Operating Temperature: 150°F
Description & Primary Use: NiSpan C is a special alloy that is heat-treatable to maintain a constant modulus over a range of operating temperatures. It is not stainless but is magnetic, and it is typically used in timing devices, weighing instruments, and geophysical instruments.
Elgiloy (AMS 5833)
Nominal Chemistry: Co 39.0 - 41.0%, Ni 15.0 - 16.0%, Cr 19.0 - 21.0%, Fe 15.0 - 18.0%
Density: 0.30 lb/in³
Minimum Tensile Strength: 270 - 300 ksi
Modulus of Elasticity (E): 32 psi x 10⁶
Modulus in Torsion (G): 12 psi x 10⁶
Maximum Operating Temperature: 850°F
Description & Primary Use: Elgiloy is a cobalt-nickel alloy known for its strength and non-magnetic qualities. It offers excellent corrosion resistance and is suitable for environments involving acetic acid, ammonium chloride, citric acid, sodium chloride, and sodium sulfite. The material is precipitation hardened after spring fabrication to achieve desired properties.
Inconel X750 (AMS 5698 / 5699)
Nominal Chemistry: Ni 70.0 min%, Cr 14.0 - 17.0%, Fe 5.0 - 9.0%
Density: 0.30 lb/in³
Minimum Tensile Strength: No. 1 Temper: 155 Min, Spring Temper: 180 - 220 ksi
Modulus of Elasticity (E): 31 psi x 10⁶
Modulus in Torsion (G): 12 psi x 10⁶
Maximum Operating Temperature: 750 - 1100°F
Description & Primary Use: Inconel X750 offers better strength compared to Inconel 600. It is precipitation hardened after spring fabrication to achieve desired properties. No. 1 Temper provides better heat resistance, making it suitable for high-temperature applications.
Inconel 718 (ASTM B637)
Nominal Chemistry: Ni 50.0 - 55.0%, Cr 17.0 - 21.0%, Fe 11.0 - 24.0%
Density: 0.30 lb/in³
Minimum Tensile Strength: 210 - 250 ksi
Modulus of Elasticity (E): 29 psi x 10⁶
Modulus in Torsion (G): 11.2 psi x 10⁶
Maximum Operating Temperature: 1100°F
Description & Primary Use: Inconel 718 offers improved strength and heat resistance over Inconel 600. It is precipitation hardened after spring fabrication to achieve desired properties, making it ideal for high-temperature and high-stress applications.
Inconel 600 (ASTM B166)
Nominal Chemistry: Ni 72.0 min%, Cr 14.0 - 17.0%, Fe 6.0 - 10.0%
Density: 0.31 lb/in³
Minimum Tensile Strength: 140 - 185 ksi
Modulus of Elasticity (E): 31 psi x 10⁶
Modulus in Torsion (G): 11 psi x 10⁶
Maximum Operating Temperature: 700°F
Description & Primary Use: Inconel 600 provides good corrosion resistance and mechanical properties at moderately elevated temperatures. It is also effective in cryogenic applications and is widely used in chemical processing, heat-treating, and aerospace industries.
Learn about Spring Coatings and Surface Treatment Options