Custom 302 Stainless Steel Springs
302 stainless steel is one of the most common stainless alloys used in spring manufacturing. Known for its exceptional strength, 302 stainless steel is a trusted material used in many industries and applications. Our custom 302 stainless steel springs provide the high strength and corrosion resistance needed in many industries such as the food, dairy and chemical industries. Our manufacturing capabilities allow Coiling Technologies to develop custom 302 stainless springs that are perfectly designed and tailored to meet our customers' needs.
Coiling Technologies has the capability to manufacture any type of spring you may need. Whether you are looking for 302 stainless steel extension springs or 302 compression springs, we have the ability to produce the perfect custom spring for your application. Contact us today for a trusted 302 stainless spring manufacturer.
Some types of custom 302 stainless steel springs Coiling Tech can offer include:
- Compression Springs
- Die Springs
- Disc Springs
- Draw Bar Springs
- Extension Springs
- Suspension Springs
- Torsion Springs
- Wave Springs
- Wire Forms
302 Stainless Steel Spring Applications
302 stainless steel is better known for being easily machinable and resistant to corrosion. Additionally, this alloy presents a unique compromise, possessing deep draw ability and sufficient stretch formability. 302 stainless steel has greater corrosion resistance than type 301 and is less expensive, making it an excellent option for applications involving chemicals.
302 stainless steel is a great option in mild service applications, such as food service. Our custom 302 stainless steel springs have a higher strength than our 316 stainless springs and has a temperature resistance of up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. Because 302 stainless also does well in extremely low temperatures, it is also commonly used in cryogenic and aerospace applications.
302 Stainless Steel Springs are commonly used in the following industries:
- Cryogenic
- Medical Equipment
- Food & Beverage Equipment
- Automotive Parts
- Chemical Applications
- Aerospace
If you haven't been able to find the 302 stainless steel spring you are looking for, Coiling Tech is ready to develop your custom spring. We offer seamless engineering and prototyping services. Contact us today to start your 302 stainless custom spring project today!
302 Stainless Steel Spring Wire Properties
| Technical Specification | Stainless Steel 302/304 |
|---|---|
| Nominal Composition |
Cr: 17.0 - 19.0 Ni: 8.0 - 10.0 |
| Density |
0.29 lb./in3 |
| Modulus of Elasticity (E) |
28,000,000 psi |
| Modulus of Rigidity (G) |
10,000,000 psi |
| Coefficient of Expansion |
9.6 µin/in.-°F (70°F) |
| Electrical Resistivity |
72.0 µΩ.cm |
| Thermal Conductivity |
9.4 Btu-in/ft2hr-°F |
| Min Size |
0.005 in (0.130 mm) |
| Max Temp |
260oC (500oF) |
| Uses |
It is effective for use in the food, dairy and chemical industries. Cold drawn, corrosion and heat resistant. Magnetic in spring temper. |
302 Stainless Steel Springs FAQs
What makes 302 stainless steel a good choice for springs?
302 stainless steel is a high-chromium, high-nickel austenitic stainless alloy that offers a useful combination of corrosion resistance, good fatigue properties in the cold-drawn spring temper condition, deep-draw ability, and stretch formability—while also being less expensive than 301 stainless and offering better corrosion resistance than plain carbon spring steels. It is the most widely specified stainless steel spring wire for general-purpose corrosion-resistant applications where the demanding performance of precipitation-hardening grades (17-7 PH) or nickel superalloys is not required.
What is the maximum operating temperature for a 302 stainless steel spring?
302 stainless steel springs are rated for continuous service up to approximately 500°F (260°C). Above this temperature, the alloy begins to lose the cold-work strengthening imparted during wire drawing, resulting in stress relaxation and loss of spring load. For applications requiring service above 500°F, 316 stainless (rated to approximately 700°F), 17-7 PH CH900 (rated to approximately 650°F), or nickel superalloys are more appropriate specifications.
Is 302 stainless steel suitable for food, dairy, or pharmaceutical equipment?
Yes. 302 stainless is suitable for food, dairy, and general pharmaceutical processing applications due to its corrosion resistance, heat resistance, and the clean cold-drawn surface finish that helps meet sanitary equipment requirements. For applications requiring the highest corrosion resistance in cleaning-in-place (CIP) or sterilization environments with high chloride content—such as steam sterilizers using chlorinated water—316 stainless steel's higher molybdenum content provides meaningfully better pitting resistance and is the preferred specification.
Is a 302 stainless steel spring magnetic?
Yes, in the spring temper condition. 302 stainless steel is austenitic in its annealed state and nominally non-magnetic, but the cold-drawing process used to develop tensile strength in spring wire induces a martensitic transformation in a portion of the microstructure—making spring-temper 302 wire moderately magnetic. The degree of magnetism increases with the degree of cold work applied. For applications where any magnetic response is unacceptable—such as MRI-adjacent medical equipment, downhole MWD instruments, or precision electromagnetic assemblies—a non-magnetic material such as beryllium copper, Elgiloy, or Inconel 625 should be specified instead of stainless steel.
How does 302 stainless compare to 316 stainless for spring applications?
302 stainless offers good general corrosion resistance and lower material cost, making it the practical choice for most general-purpose applications where corrosive exposure is mild. 316 stainless adds molybdenum (approximately 2–3%) for meaningfully better pitting and crevice corrosion resistance in chloride-containing environments. If the application is general-purpose, food-grade, or in a non-chloride indoor environment, 302 is usually the more cost-effective specification. If the application involves seawater exposure, marine atmospheres, chlorinated cleaning chemicals, or other chloride-containing media, 316 stainless is the correct upgrade.
What are the most common applications for 302 stainless steel springs?
302 stainless steel springs are used across a broad range of applications: general industrial machinery return springs, food processing equipment springs, laboratory instrument springs, precision medical device springs (non-implantable), electronic connector springs (where moderate corrosion resistance is sufficient and BeCu cost is not justified), commercial and architectural hardware, and any application requiring a clean, corrosion-resistant spring at lower cost than specialty alloys. Its combination of adequate performance across a wide range of conditions and lower material cost relative to specialty stainless or nickel alloy grades makes it the default specification for general-purpose corrosion-resistant spring programs.
