| Stainless steel springs are made from a special | | | | steel. Their resistance to corrosion is undoubtedly |
| kind of steel that is resistant to rusting. This is | | | | the most important. It isn't only rusting they are |
| where the "stainless" part comes in. The metal | | | | resistant to, however. They are resistant to |
| keeps its shiny appearance in most types of | | | | corrosion and damage from a variety of |
| conditions. You can usually find this steel in the | | | | chemicals, which makes them very suitable for |
| home as most kitchen knife blades as well as | | | | use within mechanised plant in the food processing |
| cutlery and other kitchen utensils are made to | | | | industry, as well as in the medical industry and in |
| resist the effects of rust. | | | | many marine environments. |
| Steel is what the ancient people of the Iron Age | | | | The use of austenitic stainless steel springs allows |
| really wanted to get their hands on - even if they | | | | them to be operational in relatively high |
| didn't know it. It could be described as iron on | | | | temperatures. This is a steel that can operate in |
| steroids in a way, as it greatly enhances the | | | | temperatures up to 344 degrees Celsius. Springs |
| natural mineral. Basically, it is a simple alloy with a | | | | made of oil tempered steel can only work in high |
| composition made up mainly of iron with a small | | | | temperatures of up to about 121 degrees Celsius. |
| percentage of carbon. While it depends on the | | | | This makes it a steel spring with much greater |
| particular grade of steel, the carbon percentage | | | | versatility, and therefore greater practical uses |
| can be between 0.2% and 2.1% as measured by | | | | too. Austenitic stainless springs can't be hardened |
| weight. | | | | through heat treatment, but they can develop |
| There are other elements added to iron to | | | | high tensile strength through cold drawing of the |
| produce steel. They include manganese, vanadium, | | | | wire. |
| tungsten and chromium. It is the latter that that | | | | Stainless steel is not in itself a single steel grade. |
| holds the key to making stainless steel springs, | | | | There are many steel grades that can be |
| for when a minimum of 12% of chromium is | | | | considered stainless. They differ in their |
| added to the steel making process, you produce | | | | compositions and different steels are used in |
| a metal that is highly resistant to oxidation and | | | | different ways depending on the application. Spring |
| the characteristic reddish brown rust stains. Nickel | | | | steel can come in a wide variety of hardness and |
| is also added to the mix at about 8%. | | | | tensile strength to suit a large number of |
| Stainless steel springs have a number of | | | | applications. |
| advantages compared to those made of carbon | | | | |