At Airedale Springs, the cornerstone of our business is clearly our provision of high quality springs. However, compression springs, tension springs, torsion springs and wire forms that we manufacture are only as good as the materials that we use, and so we always make sure we give our customers the best advice on material selection and commercial implications. Here is a brief rundown of the types of materials that we generally deal with:
Carbon Steels
Carbon steels are the most common material used for spring manufacture however they are not suitable for use in spring applications across the board, but their niche is a valuable one nonetheless. There are two classes of high tensile wire, cold or hard drawn and pre-tempered or oil tempered wire. Carbon steels are very affordable, making springs that are manufactured from this material less expensive than Stainless and Alloy steels.
The weakness of carbon steel becomes evident when they are exposed to an unprotected environment, as without proper coating, sealing or lubrication they can easily corrode or become damaged. However, special finishes are available to effectively assuage this potential problem.
Alloy Steels
The strength of alloy steels naturally comes from them being combined with another type of material, as they can bind together a number of advantageous properties into one form. The combination of various elements in alloys can result in substantially increased durability, and also better resistances to extreme temperatures and corrosion. Springs are frequently exposed to tremendous forces when they are in use, and their ubiquity within mechanical devices also subjects them to fairly regular heat. Typical Alloy steels are Chrome Vanadium and Silicone Chrome.
Stainless Steels
High Chromium-Nickel Austenitic Stainless steels are more expensive than carbon steels however they benefit from having good corrosion resistance and the ability to withstand elevated temperatures.Industries revolving around food, medical and marine work, for example, always need springs that are especially hard-wearing in the face of corrosion, and stainless steel truly excels in this respect. In addition to the damage that corrosion causes to a spring itself, it can also act as a contaminant in sensitive sectors like the medical industry, so being able to negate such a complication is a great benefit.
Copper Based Alloys
Copper based alloys present the opportunity to manufacture springs and wire forms which exhibit good electrical conductivity properties combined with good corrosion resistance. Typical types are Spring-Brass, Phosphor Bronze and Beryllium Copper.
Nickel Based Alloys
Nickel based alloys are resistant to corrosion and typical examples are Monel alloy 400 an alloy of nickel and copper. Nickel-chromium types such as Inconel alloy 600, Inconel alloy X750 and Nimonic alloy 90 are particularly suitable for applications where the resistance to deformation when working at high temperatures are required.
As you can see, choosing the correct material for your springs is an important consideration, and that’s why we take it so seriously at Airedale Springs. Because we’ve been operating since 1945, we know exactly what it takes to create the best quality springs, but our family oriented ethos also brings great attention to personal detail as well. Whatever springs you are looking for, contact us now to discuss your requirements.