The essential requirements of a spring steel are

  • To accommodate the applied stress (albeit tensile, compressive torsional) without any sign of permanent deformation
  • High elastic limit
  • High resistance to fatigue
  • Long life

Springs are designed and manufactured in the most economic way possible. Their uses are almost infinite but vary from low stressed (commercial) to extremely high stressed (specialised). There are a variety of spring types from coil springs to leaf springs. They are made in many sizes and with a wide range of strength levels.

Most spring steels are made from medium/high carbon range of 0.4-0.95%. Some are relatively simple carbon steels, while others contain boron or alloying additions. Some are extremely specialised, for example, valve springs or parabolic tapered or laminated leaf springs.

There are three principle manufacturing methods of springs as listed below:

  • Cold work the steel to increase elastic limits and form into springs.
  • Cold work the steel, form into springs, harden and temper to maximize limit of proportionality.
  • Hot form into springs and direct quench/temper.
  1. How many springs do you have in your home?
  2. How many springs do you have in your car?
  3. How many springs do you have in your office?

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