Spring steel is a name given to a wide range of steels used in the manufacture of different products, including swords, saw blades, springs and many more. These steels are generally low-alloy manganese, medium-carbon steel or high-carbon steel with a very high yield strength. This allows objects made of spring steel to return to their original shape despite significant deflection or twisting.

Grades

Many grades of steel can be hardened and tempered to increase elasticity and resist deformation; however, some steels are inherently more elastic than others:

+ Common spring steel grades SAE grade (ASTM grade) Composition Yield strength Hardness (HRC) Comments Typical Maximum10700.65-0.75% C, 0.60-0.90% Mn, max .050% S, max .040% PNormally supplied annealed165vpn180vpnCS70, CK67, C70E 1074/1075 0.70–0.80% C, 0.50–0.80% Mn, max. 0.030% P, max. 0.035% S 44–50 50 Scaleless blue, or Polished Bright 1080 (A228) 0.7–1.0% C, 0.2–0.6% Mn, 0.1–0.3% SiPiano wire, music wire, springs, clutch discs 1095 (A684) 0.90–1.03% C, 0.30–0.50% Mn, max. 0.030% P, max. 0.035% S , annealed 48–51 59 Blue, or polished bright spring steel 5160 (A689) 0.55–0.65% C, 0.75–1.00% Mn, 0.70–0.90% CrOberg, Erik, and F D. Jones. Machinery's Handbook. 15th ed. New York: The Industrial Press, 1956. 1546–1551. Print. 63 Chrome-silicon spring steel; fatigue-resistant 50CrV4 (EN 10277) 0.47–0.55% C, max. 1.10% Mn, 0.90–1.20% Cr, 0.10–0.20% V, max. 0.40% Si Old British 735 H1steel, SAE 6150, 735A51 9255 0.50–0.60% C, 0.70–0.95% Mn, 1.80–2.20% Si 301 spring-tempered 0.08–0.15% C, max. 2.00% Mn, 16.00–18.00% Cr, 6.00–8.00% Ni 42Equivalents EN 10088-2 1.4310, X10CrNi18-8

Applications

Applications include piano wire, spring clamps, antennas, springs (e. g. vehicle coil springs or leaf springs), and s-tines. Spring steel is commonly used in the manufacture of swords with rounded edges for training or stage combat, as well as sharpened swords for collectors and live combat. Spring steel is one of the most popular materials used in the fabrication of lockpicks due to its pliability and resilience. Tubular spring steel is used in the landing gear of some small aircraft due to its ability to absorb the impact of landing. It is frequently used in the making of knives, machetes, and other edged tools. It is a key component in electrician's fish tape. It is used in binder clips. Used extensively in shims due to its resistance to deformation in low thicknesses.

See also Martensite

References

Bibliography