springsteel

Springsteel is a term used in metallurgy and industry to denote a class of high-strength steels engineered for springs and fatigue-critical components. It encompasses several grades designed to combine high yield strength with good elasticity and fatigue resistance.

Composition varies by grade, but springsteels typically contain carbon in the moderate to high range (roughly 0.5–1.0%), with alloying elements such as silicon, manganese, chromium, vanadium, and molybdenum to improve hardenability, strength, and wear resistance. Precise formulas are defined by standards such as SAE, EN, or JIS.

Heat treatment is central to springsteel performance. Most grades are austenitized, quenched to create a hard martensitic structure, and tempered to balance stiffness with toughness. Processes may include oil or air cooling, induction hardening, and sometimes austempering, depending on application.

Properties commonly cited for springsteel include high yield strength, excellent fatigue life, and good elastic recovery after deformation. Hardness can be tuned by tempering, while machinability and weldability vary by grade; corrosion resistance is generally modest unless stainless or coated variants are used.

Applications include automotive leaf and coil springs, clock and watch springs, tool springs, and various wire forms and stampings. Springsteel is often supplied in bars, wires, or strips suitable for forming and precision spring manufacture.

There is no single universal "springsteel" grade; rather, many standards designate spring-ready steels (for example SAE and EN grades) and each is chosen for specific strength, toughness, and manufacturing requirements.