Properties of Common Spring Materials
The properties of common spring materials chart lists some commonly used alloys along with data for material selection purposes. These specifications were developed exclusively for high quality material for spring applications and are generally more detailed and stringent than other specifications.
High-Carbon Spring Wire | Alloy Steel Wire | Stainless Steel Wire | Non-Ferrous Alloy Wire | High-Temperature Alloy Wire
High-Carbon Spring Wire
| Material |
Music Wire
ASTM A 228 |
Hard Drawn
ASTM A 277 |
High Tensile
Hard Drawn
ASTM A 679 |
Oil Tempered
ASTM A 229 |
Carbon Valve
ASTM A 230 |
| Nominal Analysis |
| C |
.70 - 1.00% |
| Mn |
.20 - 60% | |
| C |
.45 - .85% |
| Mn |
.60 - 1.30% | |
| C |
.65 - 1.00% |
| Mn |
.20 - 1.30% | |
| C |
.55 - .85% |
| Mn |
.60 - 1.20% | |
| C |
.60 - .75% |
| Mn |
.60 - .90% | |
| Minimum Tensile Strength |
230-399 |
CLI 147-283
CLII 171-324 |
238-350 |
CLI 165-293
CLII 191-324 |
215-240 |
Modulus of Elasticity E
psi x 103 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
| Design Stress % Minimum Tensile |
45 |
40 |
45 |
45 |
45 |
Modulus in Torsion
G psi x 106 |
11.5 |
11.5 |
11.5 |
11.5 |
11.5 |
| Maximum Temp. °F |
250 |
250 |
250 |
250 |
250 |
| Maximum Temp. °C |
121 |
121 |
121 |
121 |
121 |
| Rockwell Hardness |
C41-60 |
C31-52 |
C41-60 |
C42-55 |
C45-49 |
| Method of Manufacture Chief Uses Special Properties |
Cold drawn. High and uniform tensile. High quality springs and wire forms. |
Cold drawn. Average stress applications. Lower cost springs and wire forms. |
Cold drawn. Higher quality springs and wire forms. |
Cold drawn and heat treated before fabrication, General purpose spring wire. |
Cold drawn and heat treated before fabrication. Suitable for cyclic applications. |
| General. High-carbon spring steels are the most commonly used of all springs materials. Try to use these materials in preference to others because they are the least expensive, readily available, easily worked, and most popular. These materials are not satisfactory for high or low temperatures or for shock or impact loading. |
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| Alloy Steel Wire |
Stainless Steel Wire |
| Material |
Chrome Vanadium
ASTM A 231 |
Chrome Silicon
ASTM A 401 |
AISI 302/304
ASTM A 313 |
AISI 316
ASTM A 313 |
17-7 PH
ASTM A 313 (631) |
| Nominal Analysis |
| C |
.48 - .53% |
| Cr |
.80 - 1.10% |
| V |
.15 min% | |
| C |
.51 - .59% |
| Cr |
.60 - .80% |
| Si1 |
.20 - 1.60% | |
| Cr |
17.0 - 19.0% |
| Ni |
8.0 - 10.0% |
| |
| |
| Cr |
16.0 - 18.0% |
| Ni |
10.0 - 14.0% |
| Mo |
2.0 - 3.0% | |
| Cr |
16 - 18% |
| Ni |
6.5 - 7.5% |
| Al |
.75 - 1.5% | |
| Minimum Tensile Strength |
190-300 |
235-300 |
125-325 |
110-245 |
Cond CH
235-335 |
Modulus of Elasticity E
psi x 103 |
30 |
30 |
28 |
28 |
29.5 |
Design Stress % Minimum
Tensile |
45 |
45 |
30-40 |
40 |
45 |
Modulus in Torsion
G psi x 106 |
11.5 |
11.5 |
10 |
10 |
11 |
| Maximum Temp. °F |
425 |
475 |
550 |
550 |
650 |
| Maximum Temp. °C |
218.5 |
246 |
288 |
288 |
343 |
| Rockwell Hardness |
C41-55 |
C48-55 |
C35-45 |
C35-45 |
C38-57 |
| Method of Manufacture Chief Uses Special Properties |
Cold drawn and heat treated before fabrication. Used for shock loads and moderately elevated temperature. |
Cold drawn and heat treated before fabrication. Used for shock loads and moderately elevated temperature. |
Cold drawn, general purpose, corrosion and heat resistant. Magnetic in spring temper. |
Cold drawn. Heat resistant and better corrosion resistance than 302. Magnetic in spring temper. |
Cold drawn & precipitation hardened after fabrication. High strength and general purpose corrosion resistance. Slightly magnetic in spring temper. |
| General. The alloy spring steels have a definite place in the field of spring materials, particularly for conditions involving high stress and for applications where shock or impact loading occurs. Alloy spring steels also can withstand higher and lower temperatures than the high-carbon steels and are obtainable in either the annealed or pre tempered conditions. Note: These materials are not regularly stocked in a wide variety of sizes. |
General. The alloy spring steels have a definite place in the field of spring materials, particularly for conditions involving high stress and for applications where shock or impact loading occurs. Alloy spring steels also can withstand higher and lower temperatures than the high-carbon steels and are obtainable in either the annealed or pre tempered conditions. Note: These materials are not regularly stocked in a wide variety of sizes. |
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Non-Ferrous Alloy Wire
| Material |
Phosphor Bronze
Grade A
ASTM B 159 |
Beryllium Copper
ASTM B 197 |
Monel 400
AMS 7233 |
Monel 400
AMS 7233 |
| Nominal Analysis |
| Cu |
94% - 96% |
| Sn |
4.0 - 6.0% |
| |
| |
|
|
| Ni |
65.0% |
| Cu |
29.5% |
| C/Fe/A/Ti |
| |
| Minimum Tensile Strength |
105-145 |
150-230 |
145-180 |
160-200 |
Modulus of Elasticity E
psi x 103 |
15 |
18.5 |
26 |
26 |
Design Stress % Minimum
Tensile |
40 |
45 |
40 |
40 |
Modulus in Torsion
G psi x 106 |
6.25 |
7 |
9.5 |
9.5 |
| Maximum Temp. °F |
200 |
400 |
450 |
550 |
| Maximum Temp. °C |
93.8 |
204 |
232 |
288 |
| Rockwell Hardness |
B98-104 |
C35-42 |
C23-32 |
C23-35 |
| Method of Manufacture Chief Uses Special Properties |
Cold drawn. Good corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity. |
Cold drawn and may be mill hardened before fabrication. Good corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity. High physicals. |
Cold drawn. Good corrosion resistance at moderately elevated temperature. |
Excellent corrosion resistance at moderately elevated temperature. |
| General. Copper-base alloys are important spring materials because of their good electrical properties combined with their excellent resistance to corrosion. Although these materials are more expensive than the high-carbon and the alloy steels, they nevertheless are frequently used in electrical components and in subzero temperatures. All copper-base alloys are drawn to the American wire gage (same as Brown & Sharpe gage) and are nonmagnetic. |
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High-Temperature Alloy Wire
| Material |
A 286 Alloy |
Inconel 600
QQ-W-390 |
Inconel 718 |
Inconel X-750
AMS 5698, 5699 |
| Nominal Analysis |
| Ni |
26.0% |
| Cr |
15.0% |
| Fe |
53.0% | |
| Ni |
76.0% |
| Cr |
15.8% |
| Fe |
7.2% | |
| Ni |
52.5% |
| Cr |
18.6% |
| Fe |
18.5% | |
| Inconel X-750 |
| AMS 5698,5699 |
| | |
| Minimum Tensile Strength |
160-200 |
170-230 |
210-2500 |
No.IT 155 min.
Spg.T 190-230 |
Modulus of Elasticity E
psi x 103 |
29 |
31 |
29 |
31 |
Design Stress % Minimum
Tensile |
35 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
Modulus in Torsion
G psi x 106 |
10.4 |
11 |
11.2 |
12 |
| Maximum Temp. °F |
950 |
700 |
1100 |
750-1100 |
| Maximum Temp. °C |
510 |
371 |
593 |
399-593 |
| Rockwell Hardness |
C35-42 |
C35-45 |
C45-50 |
C34-39
C42-48 |
| Method of Manufacture Chief Uses Special Properties |
Cold drawn and precipitation hardened after fabrication. Good corrosion resistance at elevated temperature. |
Cold drawn. Good corrosion resistance at elevated temperature. |
Cold drawn and precipitation hardened after fabrication. Good corrosion resistance at elevated temperature. |
Cold drawn and precipitation hardened after fabrication. Good corrosion resistance at elevated temperature. |
| General. Nickel-based alloys are especially useful spring materials to combat corrosion and to withstand both elevated and below-zero temperature application. Their nonmagnetic characteristic is important for such devices as gyroscopes, chronoscopes, and indicating instruments. These materials have high electrical resistance and should not be used for conductors of electrical current. |
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