Stainless steel spring wire

The corrosion resistance of stainless steels removes the requirement for any additional protective coatings making them the ideal material for springs operating in a range of corrosive conditions, high temperatures and in locations where maintenance and replacement are difficult.

All BS Stainless spring wires are manufactured to a high and consistent quality including;

• Tensile strength – offering consistent spring forming capabilities.
• Surface finish and soap coating – to lubricate and aid the forming of the springs when running at high speeds through spring forming machines providing good spring coiling charac­te­ristics.
• Cast & helix – offering maximum product performance.

The spring properties of stainless spring wires from BS Stainless are obtained by precision cold drawing meaning the tensile strength of the spring wires are maintained at operating temperatures up to 250°C with stainless steel springs able to be used in reduced stress levels up to 450°C.

The most common grades of stainless spring wires

302 stainless

Grade 302 stainless is a general purpose stainless which is typically made up of 18% Chromium and 8% Nickel. 302 is the most commonly used stainless wire for springs due to the high corrosion resistance and good tensile properties it offers.

316 stainless

Grade 316 stainless is comparable to 302 in composition with a slightly higher Nickel content with an added 2-2.50% of Molybdenum offering a greater corrosion resistance over 302. The slight differences in chemistry mean that the tensile strength of 316 spring wires are approx. 15% lower than that of 302.

17/7 stainless

Grade 17/7 stainless contains 17% Chromium and 7% Nickel giving a corrosion resistance similar to that of 302 with added strength and heat resistance. Once the springs have been formed from the wire they are generally heat treated which has the effect of hardening the material giving the maximum tensile properties to the spring.

Most common types of coiled springs

A spring is a mechanism that changes shape when an external force is applied to it. When this force is removed the spring will return to its original shape. Generally the degree of shape change is directly associated to the size of the applied force.

Extension Springs

An extension spring is a coiled spring that usually has the coils touching each other. A force is applied to the spring to stretch the spring separating the coils.

Compression Spring

A compression spring is a coiled spring that must have space between the coils. A force is applied to the spring to compress the coils closer together shortening the spring.

Torsion Spring

A torsion spring is designed in such a way that the applied force twists the coils into a tighter spiral.

Watch Spring

The watch spring is a coiled flat spiral of spring strip. One end of the coil is the centre of the spring coil, the other end of the spring coil is on the outer edge.

Types of non-coiled springs

Disc Springs

Disc springs are usually similar to washers that are formed into a conical shape. When a force is applied this compresses the conical disc.

Leaf Spring

Some springs are made without coils such as the leaf spring. The leaf spring is a strip of spring material formed into an arch shape used mainly in automobile suspension systems.

BS Stainless currently offer an ever increasing stock range of 1.4310 302 from 0.300mm to 4.06mm all to EN10270-3 specification. The wires are usually stocked in catch weight coils but other forms of packaging can be offered upon request. For orders taken from our extensive stock range next day delivery can be arranged upon request.

For additional information or a quotation on any of the spring wires please contact our offices +44 (0) 1772 33755 or email sales@bsstainless.com, in addition we have a full range of stainless steel wire from stock.

17th March 2021

Posted in Company news on

Most springs are made of metal, but some of them are made of different types of metal than others. There are stainless steel springs, and there are music wire springs. Both stainless steel and music wire springs are capable of storing energy under a load, but they are made of different types of metals.

What Are Stainless Steel Springs?

Stainless steel springs are energy-storing devices that feature a stainless steel construction. They are made of stainless steel, which is an iron alloy with a chromium content of at least 11%.

You can find extension and compression springs in stainless steel. Extension springs become longer under a load, whereas compression springs become shorter under a loan. Stainless steel is used to make both extension and compression springs.

What Are Music Wire Springs?

Music wire springs are energy-storing devices that feature a music wire construction. Also known as piano wire, music wire is a type of high-carbon steel. It’s commonly used in musical instruments, such as pianos.

Music wire is made by stretching high-carbon steel. It’s then used in musical instruments, springs or other products that require a spring.

Differences Between Stainless Steel and Music Wire Springs

Music wire springs may look like stainless steel springs, but they contain a different type of steel in their construction. Stainless steel and music wire are both iron alloys. The latter, however, contains a higher concentration of chromium, resulting in higher tensile strength.

Music wire springs have a higher tensile strength than stainless steel springs. This means they can withstand more force and repeated stress and strain without permanent deformation.

You don’t have to worry about breaking music springs, either. Thanks to their high tensile strength, they can handle bends. This is one of the reasons why music wire is commonly used in musical instruments. Musicians can bend music wire-based strings without snapping or breaking them.

Stainless steel springs, on the other hand, are better protected against corrosion. Stainless steel contains chromium, which acts as a shield for the underlying iron. The chromium in it will react with the oxygen in the surrounding air. This chemical reaction, known as oxidation, will result in the formation of an invisible and protective barrier over the surface of stainless steel.

Stainless steel springs can also withstand more heat than music wire springs. Music wire springs may warp when exposed to hot temperatures. For high-temperature applications, stainless steel springs are the way to go.