Springs: types, materials and common uses

Springs are used widely across industry, in automobile engines, internal-combustion engines and clutches, and in everyday products such as ballpoint pens, clocks, electrical appliances and toys. By the way they are loaded, springs are classified as tension springs, compression springs or torsion springs; stainless steel springs form a separate material-based category.

Classification by shape

By shape, springs can also be divided into disc (butterfly) springs, drum springs, spiral (vortex) springs, wire springs and others, so the classification is a large one.

Carbon spring steel wire

Taking carbon spring steel wire as an example, the wire diameter for B-grade and C-grade wire is typically 0.08 mm to 13.0 mm, and for D-grade wire 0.08 mm to 6.0 mm. The wire is generally used at temperatures from -40 °C to 130 °C. High elasticity and good performance are the main characteristics of carbon spring steel wire.