CORROSION PROTECTION OF METAL SPRINGS

In the design and fabrication of a metal spring, corrosion protection is essential to ensure the application performs as required over its intended service life. The materials selected and the environmental conditions in which the application will function are prime design considerations to protect the spring from corrosion and its harmful effects on the metal and its properties.

Stainless steels and other exotic alloys come to mind as obvious solutions to prevent premature corrosion in spring applications. However, some spring applications require carbon steels such as spring steel, music wire, or chrome vanadium that, because they do not hold similar corrosion resistance properties as stainless steel, must be treated with a protective coating to achieve the desired service life.

Rather than substituting one material for another, there are a variety of coatings that offer corrosion protection without changing materials. Carbon steel materials can be galvanized, oil tempered, electroplated, treated with black oxide or subjected to bead blasting. Any of these common coating measures will accomplish desired corrosion protection for a spring.