The range of materials for Smalley wave springs available exclusively through TFC is extensive. It includes not only regular carbon steel and 17-7 stainless steels for standard applications but also superalloys for those assemblies in contact with aggressive fluids or gases, operating at extreme temperature or a combination of both.
The single and multi-turn wave springs by Smalley can help overcome many of the issues faced by design engineers across a wide range of industries. They save space and support product miniaturisation helping design engineers improve the performance and design of their product.
To ensure that design engineers and manufacturers of equipment used in exceptionally demanding and hostile environments can also benefit from these advantages, Smalley continuously expands the list of materials available for manufacturing wave springs. In addition to carbon steels and a range of stainless steels they can offer superalloys developed and approved for use in petrochemical, offshore, high-temperature, aerospace and UHV applications.
The production of wave springs is carried out using Smalley’s proprietary Circular-Grain® edge coiling process, with different heat treatments used to ensure the required material properties are achieved. This unique process is incredibly flexible and can handle the characteristics of these more complex metals. Additionally, since it does not require specific tooling, it maximises the potential for cost-effective production of prototypes and small batches right through to full production runs,” explains TFC Technical Manager, Simon Ward.
When the Heat is On
Inconel® X-750 is widely specified and used in the manufacture of wave springs, this nickel-chromium alloy, precipitation hardened to a spring temper condition offers high strength and can operate up to 370°C. Alternative heat treatments will provide enhanced corrosion resistance and different physical properties. Other grades of Inconel are also offered including 718 and 625, both offer slightly different characteristics to suit the demands of the environment where the spring must operate. Inconel is approved for use across many industry sectors including Aerospace, Space, Oil & Gas Production and Chemical Processing.
A286 is a nickel-iron based alloy offering similar properties to Inconel X750 and can operate up to about 540°C in its spring temper condition, again this material is used across many of the industries previously mentioned but in addition has been regularly specified within EGR assemblies and in automotive turbochargers for a variety of vehicle platforms.
These materials can also be specified at the opposite temperature extreme in cryogenic applications. Extreme low temperature are just as challenging as elevated temperatures, so specifying the right spring material is critical to the operation of valves, mechanical seals or pumps used to control the flow liquid gases
No Chance for Corrosion
For applications where corrosion resistance is paramount, Hastelloy® C-276 is often specified. This nickel-molybdenum-chromium alloy with tungsten gives wave springs high resistance to crevice corrosion, pitting, and stress corrosion cracking, even under high temperatures. Such environments are typical for many assemblies in the chemical processing industry, including mechanical seals, pressure vessels and control valves.
Elgiloy® and MP35N® are both nickel-cobalt allows known for high strength and excellent corrosion resistance and are regularly specified for subsea applications in the Oil & Gas sector particularly when sour gases are present. Elgiloy® shows improved resistance to sulphide stress cracking over other NACE approved materials.
Small Quantities, Big Possibilities
In addition to the applications previously mentioned, TFC offers Smalley wave springs for assemblies used in food processing equipment, medical equipment, marine engineering, and across all areas of the automotive sector. These material options can be specified across the full range of Smalley retaining rings, Spirolox®, Hoopster®, Wavering® and the all new Revolox™ design, for those high rotational speed applications. Whether you need just a one of spring for a very specific project or require large quantities for automotive, medical or consumer products this could be the solution you are looking for.
TFC, Europe’s No.1 Choice for Wave Spring Solutions
TFC is known across Europe as the leading supplier of retaining rings and wave springs manufactured by Smalley. With technical centres in the UK and Germany TFC are perfectly placed to support the whole process from initial design consultations through prototype and testing to full production.
Find out more about the Smalley range here
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