Stainless Spring Steel Strip
Stainless steel springs provide reliable support for various industrial, mechanical and commercial applications. They are capable of withstanding high bending and twisting forces, yet can also return to their original shape without distortion.
Ulbrich offers a wide range of 301 Stainless Steel Strip in Full Hard temper, with or without stress relief. We also carry 301Si, with an increased Silicon content for applications needing super high strength and ductility.
Durability
Stainless spring steels are designed to Stainless Spring SteelStrip endure a great deal of stress, pressure and strain. They are also resistant to a variety of chemicals, acids and other corrosive substances. These characteristics make them perfect for use in harsh environments and extreme weather conditions. This makes them ideal for a wide variety of applications, including the production of springs.
There are a number of factors that affect the durability of a spring, including its composition and design. In order to ensure that a spring lasts for a long period of time, it must be well-made and free from any imperfections. In addition, it must be able to withstand high temperatures and stress without deforming or breaking. This is why many manufacturers choose to work with springs made from stainless steel.
The durability of a spring is also affected by its tensile strength and elastic limit. These characteristics are critical for ensuring that the spring can be stretched and compressed to its limits without deforming or breaking. Stainless steel is a good choice for these applications because it offers a good balance between tensile strength and elasticity.
Ulbrich stocks a large range of cold rolled and tempered stainless spring steel strip. This includes traditional 301, as well as 301Si, which contains additional silicon and is used for high-strength room temperature springs. Both types of spring steel are available in both full hard and extra hard tempers.
Flexibility
Stainless spring steel is extremely versatile, providing many advantages to the manufacturing of products. Its unique composition gives it strength, corrosion resistance and a high level of ductility. Its corrosion resistance also eliminates the need for coating and plating, which saves money and time. It is also able to maintain its high level of tensile strength when compared with other metals of the same elasticity class.
Unlike other types of springs, 301 stainless steel is capable of being molded into various shapes. This feature allows it to be shaped into a wide range of different products that can be used in a variety of industries. This flexibility makes it ideal for applications that require resistance to harsh environments and abrasion.
Its ability to resist corrosion and abrasion is crucial in many manufacturing processes, particularly those that involve heavy loads or prolonged exposure to the elements. Its special makeup, consisting of a large amount of chromium and moderate amounts of nickel, helps it to stand up to stress, strain, and shock load.
When fabricating springs, choosing a stainless steel strip with the right alloy properties is key. A good choice is spring tempered 301, which has been heated to its critical temperature and then quickly quenched. The spring tempered process relieves stresses, reduces the hardness of the material and increases its ductility.
Ease of Maintenance
While coiling a strip of 301 stainless steel into springs is the primary and center-most process during spring fabrication, the quality of the final product depends on a number of additional treatments that take place before and after this stage. These treatments affect the lifespan, performance and durability of the spring.
The ability of a spring to resist corrosion and abrasion is largely down to its chromium content. The chromium atoms form a protective oxide layer that protects the spring from environmental factors such as moisture and saltwater. The chromium also has great fatigue strength, meaning that the spring can endure repeated stress and bending without failing.
Before a strip of 301 stainless steel is coiled into springs, it undergoes heat treatment in order to harden it. The type of heat treatment that the steel receives will depend on its intended use. For example, medical-grade stainless steel devices require nitric acid passivation.
Depending on the type of spring that is being made, it may then undergo stress-relieving. This process eases the stress that was built up during the coiling process, restoring a new equilibrium on the atomic level and easing any potential brittleness.
In addition to heat and stress-relieving, the 301 stainless steel strip can be finished with deburring or skived edges to improve its uniformity and reduce injuries caused by sharp and rough edges. It can also be annealed and then passivated with an acid solution to remove any remaining iron particles, which prevents oxidation and prevents corrosion.
Environmentally Friendly
Stainless spring steel strip finds use in a variety of applications because of its high tensile strength, corrosion resistance, durability and flexibility. These properties contribute to the durability and reliability of critical parts in machinery, tools and equipment. Stainless spring steel strip also provides aesthetic appeal to architectural accents and can be used as part of kitchenware, utensils and appliances.
Spring Steel is also environmentally friendly, avoiding the need for paint, plating or other forms of surface treatment that can harm the environment. It is easy to Tinplate Sheet supplier clean, making it ideal for job sites with strict hygiene standards, such as hospitals and food processing facilities. The chromium in stainless steel acts as a protective barrier, shielding the underlying iron from environmental factors that would otherwise cause corrosion.
While coiling stainless steel into a spring is the primary and center stage of Spring manufacturing, the many other treatments that take place during and afterward determine the quality of the finished product that reaches your hands. During spring fabrication, you will most likely need to stress relieve your 301 Stainless Steel Strip. This process enables the strip to become a stable equilibrium at the atomic level. Whether you need your strip to be stress relieved is dependent on the bend severity and your application requirements. Ulbrich can help you choose the right stress relieving method based on your specific needs.
