Applications:
- Leaf Springs
- Latches
- Electrical Contacts
- Straps and Clamps
- Applications in virtually all industries
Common Alloys:
- 1050 High Carbon Spring Steel - contains 0.47% to 0.55% carbon. As-quenched hardness of RC58.
- 1074/1075 High Carbon Spring Steel - contains 0.70% to 0.80% carbon. As-quenched hardness of RC64.
- 1095 High Carbon Spring Steel - contains 0.90% to 1.03% carbon. As-quenched hardness of RC66.
- High Carbon Spring Steels are most commonly supplied in annealed condition. Manufacturing processes are followed by heat treating to obtain part design and performance characteristics.
- 1074/1075 & 1095 High Carbon Spring Steels may be purchased from the mill as Blue Tempered Spring Steel, which is pre-heat treated and blued for corrosion resistance. These materials are ideal for simple leaf springs.
Characteristics and Other Things to Know:
- Easy to form.
- Basic Heat Treating:
- Step 1) Harden by heating to 1,450-1,550 degrees F and quench to obtain as-quenched, full hardness.
- Step 2) Temper by heating to a target temperature within a range lower than the hardening temperature, which draws the hardness back to desired spring performance characteristics.
- As tempered parts are very brittle and allow little or no flex without breaking.
- Heat treat quenching may cause certain part configurations to warp, specifically relatively large, flat sections in thinner gauges. Warping can be counteracted to a limited extent, by restraining during the tempering process (clamp tempering).
- Requires surface finish treatment for corrosion resistance.