As the demand for spring brushes continues to grow, so do the technical requirements. Therefore, various strengthening processes are applied to enhance the quality of springs and improve their elastic properties. Let’s delve into the specific processes in detail.
Methods to enhance the elastic performance of spring brushes are as follows:
- Strain Tempering Treatment
This primarily involves applying a tensile stress equivalent to 30% to 50% of the tensile strength at both ends of the tempered steel wire. The wire undergoes slight strain under tension, causing dislocation lines to move. During this time, interstitial solute atoms diffuse near the dislocation lines through temperature, “fixing” the moving dislocations. Simultaneously, the dispersed carbides during the tempering process provide more pinning points, making the “pinning” of dislocations more complete and thorough. This enhances the wire’s resistance to plastic deformation, reduces its plasticity, and improves the overall quality of the wire. - Induction Heating Treatment
Induction heating is rapid, resulting in slight oxidation on the surface of the steel wire without significant decarburization, and it also refines the grain structure. Oil-tempered steel wire is used to make spiral springs through high-frequency induction heating, achieving peak strength and toughness under both static and dynamic loads. The damping performance of the spring is excellent, and the weight can be reduced by 10% to 20% while maintaining all original performance indicators. Particularly for spring steels containing vanadium and niobium, only by using a higher austenitizing temperature can vanadium and niobium be fully dissolved, thereby achieving the tempering secondary hardening effect. Under normal heating conditions, excessively high austenite temperatures lead to coarse grain structure, increased surface oxidation, and decarburization, severely affecting fatigue life. Induction heating to 900°C to 1200°C avoids decarburization, severe oxidation, and grain coarsening, allowing vanadium and niobium-containing spring steels to fully utilize their advantages.
Through the above two methods, the elastic performance of spring brushes can be significantly improved. Have you learned something new? FIFO Brush Industry Co., Ltd. looks forward to collaborating with more customers!