Spring Materials for Custom Springs
Material choice drives fatigue life, corrosion resistance, and cost stability. The right material prevents premature failure and ensures consistent performance across production runs.
How Material Affects Spring Performance
Understanding material properties helps you avoid costly failures and optimize spring performance for your specific application environment.
Fatigue Life
High-cycle loading applications demand materials with superior fatigue resistance. Poor material selection leads to premature cracking and sudden failure in critical systems.
Recommended: Chrome silicon, chrome vanadium for high-fatigue applications
Corrosion Resistance
Environmental exposure determines whether a spring lasts months or years. Moisture, salt spray, and chemical contact require specific material and coating combinations to prevent degradation.
Recommended: 300-series stainless steel, phosphate coatings, or specialized plating
Formability & Tolerance
Material formability directly affects manufacturing consistency and dimensional accuracy. Complex geometries and tight tolerances require materials with specific mechanical properties and surface quality.
Recommended: Music wire for precision, stainless for complex geometries
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Speak with Material SpecialistQuick Material Selection Guide
Select materials based on your application requirements
Indoor / Dry
Music wire (ASTM A228) or hard drawn wire provides excellent strength-to-cost ratio for controlled environments without corrosion exposure.
Humid / Outdoor
300-series stainless steel or heavily coated carbon steel resists moisture and moderate environmental exposure effectively.
High Fatigue
Chrome silicon (ASTM A401) or chrome vanadium delivers superior cycle life for demanding vibration and repetitive loading applications.
Corrosive Environment
316 stainless steel provides enhanced chloride resistance for marine, chemical processing, or salt spray exposure applications.
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Submit Parameters to EngineerMaterial Families Overview
Structured by performance characteristics and typical applications
Carbon Steel
High strength-to-cost ratio makes this the standard choice for general-purpose applications. Best suited for indoor, controlled environments with protective coatings.
Alloy Steel
Enhanced fatigue resistance and higher temperature capability. Chrome silicon and chrome vanadium deliver superior performance in demanding mechanical applications.
Stainless Steel
Corrosion-resistant properties essential for food processing, medical devices, and outdoor exposure. Available in multiple grades for varying strength and corrosion needs.
Copper Alloys
Electrical conductivity, non-magnetic properties, and excellent corrosion resistance. Phosphor bronze and beryllium copper serve specialized electronic and marine applications.
Explore detailed specifications for each material family
View Complete Material DatabaseMaterial Comparison Table
Side-by-side comparison of key properties to support your material selection decision
| Material | Strength | Corrosion | Temperature | Typical Use | Lead Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music Wire (A228) | High | Low | -40°C to 120°C | Precision springs | Stock |
| Oil Tempered (A229) | High | Low | -40°C to 180°C | Heavy duty springs | Stock |
| Chrome Silicon (A401) | Very High | Medium | -40°C to 220°C | High stress/fatigue | 2-3 weeks |
| 304 Stainless | Medium | High | -200°C to 260°C | General corrosion | Stock |
| 316 Stainless | Medium | Very High | -200°C to 260°C | Marine/chemical | 1-2 weeks |
| Phosphor Bronze | Low-Med | High | -40°C to 120°C | Electrical contacts | 2-3 weeks |
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Ask Engineer to VerifyMaterial Recommendations by Spring Type
Manufacturing process influences optimal material selection for different spring geometries
Compression Springs
Commonly use music wire, oil tempered wire, or stainless steel 302/304. Material selection depends on load cycles, operating environment, and required spring rate consistency.
Critical: Buckling prevention • Stress distribution • Set resistance
Extension Springs
Music wire and hard drawn wire most common. Hook or loop end formations create stress concentration points requiring material with excellent formability and surface quality.
Critical: Hook end forming • Heat treatment • Surface defects
Torsion Springs
Oil tempered and music wire preferred for consistent torque delivery. Material must resist set formation during cyclic torsional loading and maintain leg position under stress.
Critical: Body-to-leg transition • Leg deflection • Coil diameter growth
Flat & Constant Force
Strip materials like 301 stainless or high-carbon steel. Requires precise thickness control and edge quality. Material must deliver consistent deflection-force curve over service life.
Critical: Edge burr control • Thickness uniformity • Curvature stability
Get application-specific material recommendations for your spring design
Request Material AnalysisEnvironment & Corrosion: Beyond Stainless Steel
Material selection and surface treatment work together to protect springs in challenging environments
Environment Classification
Different environments demand specific protection strategies. Indoor controlled environments require minimal protection, while salt spray and chemical exposure need robust material and coating combinations.
Humid/Condensation: Zinc plating or phosphate coatings on carbon steel provide adequate protection for moderate humidity without marine exposure.
Salt Spray/Marine: 316 stainless steel or heavily plated carbon steel with specialized coatings. Standard 304 stainless shows pitting in chloride environments.
Common Protection Misconceptions
⚠ Stainless steel is not rust-proof. Chloride ions cause pitting corrosion in 304 grade.
⚠ Plating offers limited protection under mechanical wear. Assembly friction removes zinc plating, exposing base metal.
Match material and coating to your environmental conditions
Get Environment AssessmentFatigue Life & Permanent Set Prevention
Understanding failure mechanisms helps select materials that extend spring service life and maintain performance
Fatigue Failure Prevention
Material Tensile Strength: Higher tensile strength materials generally offer better fatigue life. Chrome silicon and music wire exceed hard drawn wire by 40-60% in cyclic applications.
Surface Condition: Surface defects, decarburization, and scratches act as crack initiation sites. Material surface quality directly impacts fatigue resistance.
Heat Treatment: Proper heat treatment relieves residual stresses and optimizes material microstructure. Inadequate heat treatment reduces fatigue life by 30-50%.
Permanent Set Control
Material Yield Strength: Set occurs when stress exceeds material yield point. Using materials with higher yield strength or reducing working stress prevents permanent deformation.
Pre-set Loading: Controlled overloading during manufacturing removes initial set tendency. Material must withstand this process without weakening or cracking.
Temperature Effects: Elevated temperatures accelerate set formation. Chrome silicon and chrome vanadium maintain properties up to 220°C versus 120°C for music wire.
Calculate expected fatigue life and set behavior for your application
Request Failure AnalysisMaterial Control & Traceability
Batch-to-batch consistency ensures predictable spring performance across production runs
Incoming Material Verification
Every wire coil or strip lot receives dimensional verification, surface inspection, and certification review. Material Test Certificates document chemical composition and mechanical properties.
Lot Number Traceability
Heat numbers and batch codes track material from mill through finished product. If performance issues arise, specific material lots can be identified and isolated.
In-Process Control
Forming parameters, heat treatment cycles, and surface finishing processes are monitored and documented. Process control ensures material properties remain consistent.
Final Product Verification
Finished springs undergo dimensional inspection, load testing, and visual examination. Test reports link back to material certifications providing complete documentation chain.
Ensure full material documentation for your quality system
Request Certification PackageSurface Treatment & Material Combinations
Pairing the right material with appropriate surface finishing maximizes corrosion protection and performance
Carbon Steel Base Materials
Zinc Plating: Most economical corrosion protection for indoor applications. Clear, yellow, or black chromate topcoats enhance protection. Hydrogen embrittlement risk requires baking for high-strength materials.
Black Oxide: Minimal dimensional change with mild corrosion resistance. Requires oil coating for outdoor use. Common for aesthetic requirements in controlled environments.
Alloy Steel Base Materials
Shot Peening + Coating: Shot peening induces compressive surface stress improving fatigue life by 30-50%. Follow with protective coating for corrosion resistance without sacrificing fatigue benefits.
Electroless Nickel: Uniform coating thickness on complex geometries. Excellent wear and corrosion resistance. Higher cost but eliminates hydrogen embrittlement concerns.
Stainless Steel Base Materials
Passivation: Chemical treatment removes free iron and enhances natural oxide layer. Required after welding or machining operations. Improves corrosion resistance without dimensional changes.
Electropolish: Removes surface material creating ultra-smooth finish. Reduces friction, improves cleanability for medical and food applications. Removes micro-cracks that could initiate stress corrosion cracking.
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Request Protection StrategyMaterial Availability & Lead Time Considerations
Engineering decisions must account for material supply chain realities
Stock Material Range
We maintain inventory of commonly-specified materials in standard wire diameters and strip thicknesses for rapid prototyping and short lead times.
- Music wire: 0.3mm - 8.0mm diameter
- Oil tempered: 0.5mm - 12.0mm diameter
- 304 Stainless: 0.4mm - 6.0mm diameter
- Hard drawn: 0.8mm - 15.0mm diameter
Special Order Materials
Non-standard materials require supplier lead time and minimum order quantities. Planning ahead prevents project delays.
- Chrome silicon: 2-3 week lead time, 50kg MOQ
- 316 Stainless: 1-2 week lead time, 25kg MOQ
- Beryllium copper: 4-6 week lead time, 30kg MOQ
- Inconel alloys: 6-8 week lead time, consult for MOQ
Rapid Prototyping Strategy
Use equivalent materials from stock inventory to validate spring design and performance before committing to special material procurement for production.
- Prototype with stock music wire instead of chrome silicon
- Test functionality with 302 stainless vs. 316
- Verify geometry before ordering exotic materials
- Transition to production material after design validation
Tell us your target timeline and we'll recommend material options
Submit Target Lead TimeMaterial Selection Case Studies
Real applications showing how material choice creates different outcomes
Indoor Equipment Assembly
APPLICATION
Compression springs for consumer electronics enclosure latches
MATERIAL CHOICE
Music wire ASTM A228 with light zinc plating for handling protection
RESULT
Optimal cost-performance balance. Zero corrosion issues. Consistent spring rates across production. 40% cost savings vs. stainless alternative.
Marine Equipment Application
APPLICATION
Extension springs for dock equipment operating mechanisms
MATERIAL CHOICE
316 stainless steel ASTM A313 with electropolished finish for enhanced protection
RESULT
Exceeded 12-year field performance. No corrosion-related failures. Higher initial cost offset by zero replacement expense and downtime elimination.
Heavy Machinery Suspension
APPLICATION
Large compression springs for industrial equipment vibration isolation
MATERIAL CHOICE
Chrome silicon alloy ASTM A401 with shot peening and black oxide coating
RESULT
Fatigue life increased 60% vs. oil tempered alternative. Predictable maintenance intervals established. No unexpected failures in 5+ year operation.
Discuss your application and get similar case-based recommendations
Review Your ApplicationMaterial Selection Questions
Common material-related questions that affect procurement decisions
Have specific material questions about your application?
Ask Material SpecialistMaterial Verification by Engineers
Uncertain about material selection? Submit your application parameters and receive engineering-reviewed material recommendations within 48 hours.
Our technical team analyzes your operating environment, load requirements, and service life expectations to recommend optimal material and surface treatment combinations.
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Related Technical Resources
Explore additional guides covering spring manufacturing and quality processes
Finishes & Coatings
Heat Treatment
Quality Control
Spring Types
Prototyping