Why Choose Stainless Steel Spring Wire?

Reasons to Choose Stainless Wire

High Strength

Resistance to corrosion

Resistance to temperature

Possesses good resistance to abrasion and wear

Aesthetics

300 Series Spring Wire Series

302, 304, 316

AKA the “18-8” grades of stainless. 18-8 stands for the chromium and nickel contents which provide the steel with excellent corrosion resistant properties

Considered Austenitic stainless grades: typically cannot be hardened by heat treatment. Instead, they are hardened by cold working or drawing

17-7 PH

PH stands for precipitation-hardening. Parts gain strength after being heat treated at 900 degrees for I hour. This allows the spring maker to coil the spring in a softer state (Condition C) and then heat treat the springs to gain strength (Condition CH 900)

Not considered to be 18-8 stainless due to the lower chrome and nickel, HOWEVER…

17-7PH has the addition of aluminum which precipitates out of the steel during the heat treat process, giving the steel:

1 additional strength

2 potential gain in tensile strength of 30,000+ PSI

Grades 304, 321, 347

Austenitic (Cr-Ni) grades of stainless: Cannot be hardened by heat treat. Instead, they are hardened by cold working or drawing

Uses: Pool cover springs, non-invasive surgical devices, clips, springs, fasteners

400 Series Stainless Spring Wire

Grades 410, 420, 430

Martensitic (Cr) grades of stainless: can be hardened by heat treatment

Normally used in the annealed condition due to being easily formed

Compared to the 300 Series: cheapest grades of stainless with less strength and inferior corrosion properties

Uses: applications such as fasteners, lock wire, springs, clamps, clips, wire-form