Stainless Spring Steel Strip
Stainless spring steel strip is an ideal material for making clips and fasteners. It has high tensile strength and can withstand harsh conditions.
Cold rolling enables a TRIP/TWIP effect that allows for a very high plasticity reserve until the failure point in work-hardened tensile test specimens. This is a significant advantage over other materials.
Corrosion Resistance
The corrosion resistance of stainless spring steel is a crucial feature, especially in applications that have direct contact with bodily fluids and other chemicals. Its resistance to rust and other corrosive elements allows it to be used in a variety of applications, from food processing to automotive components.
This resistance also makes it an ideal material for use in the medical industry, where its biocompatibility and ability to be sterilized are important qualities. Stainless spring steel can be found in medical devices and implants, as well as equipment for hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Stainless spring steel is subdivided into several metallurgical types, including ferritic, martensitic, and duplex. Different grades offer varying degrees of corrosion resistance, strength, and elasticity. The specific chemistry of each grade is dependent on the alloying metals and materials that have been mixed with iron during production. These grades are further categorized into subgroups based on their unique properties, such as hardness and tensile strength.
For example, Stainless Type 302 has the highest tensile strength of any spring steel alloy, but it is not suitable for use in sub-zero temperatures. On the other hand, Stainless Type 414 has an average tensile strength that is 15 percent lower than that of 301 and can be heat-treated to reach higher levels of tensile Stainless Spring Steel Strip strength. This material is nonmagnetic in its annealed state but becomes slightly magnetic in its spring temper, making it well-suited for spring fabrication and other uses requiring cold-working.
High Strength
While spring steel has high strength compared to other metals of similar elasticity, it is still relatively soft — making it easy to work with. In addition, it resists corrosion better than copper alloy springs, which saves you money by eliminating the need for plating or coating.
When creating your spring, the amount of bending that you do will have an impact on the material’s tensile strength and elastic modulus. Depending on the bend severity, additional treatment may be required in order to prevent damage at the atomic level.
The 301-series stainless steel strip that we carry at Small Parts & Bearings Hardened & Tempered Steel Strip Supplier is a low carbon, non-magnetic austenitic grade that possesses very good workability properties and corrosion resistance, without the need for extra plating or coatings. Additionally, it has excellent fatigue and ductility values for use in clips and fasteners.
Cold rolled strip has inherent anisotropy that must be taken into consideration when working with it, as its strength is generally strongest in the direction perpendicular to the rolling process and weakest in the direction parallel to it. This is why it is important to ensure that you are bending the steel in the correct way in order to maximize its performance. The best method of achieving this is by heating the steel to red hot before attempting to bend it, or alternatively annealing it and then reheating it in order to redo the process.
High Elasticity
Spring steel is resilient and can absorb a great deal of force without permanently deforming. This elasticity helps the material to resist the cyclical loads that can fatigue other alloys. The ability to withstand the impact of a sudden and large load is also important when designing the components for high-performance applications such as spring diaphragms in automobiles or retractor springs found in seat belt systems.
The high elasticity of spring steel is possible because it’s been heat treated. Heat treatment increases the tensile strength of the material while making it less susceptible to permanent deformation. It can also be subjected to a process called work hardening, which is when it’s hammered, drawn or otherwise physically manipulated to increase its tensile strength.
Stainless spring steel can be used in a variety of applications because it’s available in different tempers for various performance levels. The most common is 301, which can be ordered in full and extra-full hard tempers for room temperature compression springs. For higher tensile strength requirements Ulbrich offers 301si, which has more silicon for superior formability at super-high tensile strengths.
301 spring steel strip is also available in different finishes for cosmetic enhancement, corrosion prevention or both. This can include passivation, which is an acid solution that eliminates iron on the surface of the strip.
Excellent Durability
Stainless spring steel strip is durable and can easily be shaped and curved to create a variety of forms. Its tensile strength and corrosion resistance make it ideal for automotive and aerospace components. It is also used in manufacturing equipment, such as valves and pumps. In addition, it can withstand heavy loads and high temperatures. Choosing the right material is important to ensure optimal application performance. There are many options available, including carbon and alloy steels. Each has its pros and cons, but determining which is best for your project depends on specific application requirements.
To achieve the desired elasticity, resilience and tensile strength, the stainless steel spring is coiled using precision machinery. It then undergoes a heat treatment process to enhance its durability. This involves heating the coiled steel to a certain temperature and rapidly cooling it to achieve the desired properties.
Stress relieving is another common process for enhancing the durability of a spring. This is achieved by reheating the spring and slowly cooling it to create a new equilibrium at the atomic level. Ulbrich can offer this service for 301 spring steel strip to increase yield strength and hardness without affecting ductility.
Whether you need traditional 301 stainless steel or a more versatile material with increased ductility, such as SORBITEX from Waelzholz, we can help you find the perfect spring steel strip for your needs. Contact us today to learn more about our products or to request a quote.