In industries where standard spring materials fail under corrosion, stress, or fatigue, Coiling Technologies provides a proven solution: precision-engineered Elgiloy springs. As a spring manufacturer based in Houston, Texas, we specialize in producing custom Elgiloy springs designed to maintain strength, elasticity, and performance in the harshest environments. From aerospace systems to oil and gas exploration, Elgiloy’s exceptional mechanical properties make it one of the most reliable spring materials available today.
What Are Elgiloy Springs?
Elgiloy springs are manufactured from a cobalt-nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy that offers exceptional resistance to corrosion, oxidation, and fatigue. This alloy is widely used in applications exposed to aggressive environments such as seawater, acids, and high temperatures, ideal for sour well environments (H2S). Springs made from Elgiloy maintain their resilience and dimensional stability even after prolonged exposure to stress and cyclic loading.
The Elgiloy alloy springs produced by Coiling Technologies combine superior material performance with precision engineering. Our in-house design and manufacturing teams ensure every spring meets the strictest dimensional and mechanical tolerances to perform consistently in demanding applications.
Elgiloy Spring Material Properties
Elgiloy’s strength lies in its chemical composition and microstructure, which provides an exceptional combination of tensile strength, corrosion resistance, and fatigue endurance.
| Technical Specification | Elgiloy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Composition |
40% Co, 20% Cr, 15% Ni, 7% Mo, balance Fe |
Cobalt-nickel alloy with chromium and molybdenum |
| Density |
0.300 lb./in3 (8.30 g/cm3) |
Comparable to Inconel alloys |
| Tensile Strength (annealed) |
120–150 ksi (830–1035 MPa) |
Strength can be increased by cold work |
| Spring Temper |
220–290 ksi (1515–2000 MPa) |
Suggested Operating Conditions: -300°F to 850°F (-184°C to 454°C) |
| Spring Temper + Aged |
260–330 ksi (1790 – 2275 Mpa) |
Suggested Operating Conditions: -300°F to 850°F (-184°C to 454°C) |
| Modulus of Elasticity |
29.5 x 10³ ksi (203 GPa) |
Provides a consistent spring rate under load |
| Hardness (annealed) |
290–330 HB |
Adjustable with processing |
| Suggested Operating Temperature |
-300°F to 850°F (-184°C to 454°C) |
Suitable for cryogenic and high-temp applications |
| Corrosion Resistance |
Excellent in acids, seawater, oxidizing, and reducing environments |
Ideal for oil & gas and marine industries |
| Fatigue Life |
Very high |
Excellent for cyclic stress environments |
Elgiloy spring material properties make it one of the most versatile and durable materials available for mission-critical applications.
Benefits of Elgiloy Springs
Elgiloy provides unique advantages compared to other alloys used in spring manufacturing:
- Exceptional resistance to stress corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement
- Retains strength and elasticity after repeated loading
- Resistant to both oxidizing and reducing acids
- Performs reliably in HT/HP environments.
- Non-magnetic and suitable for sensitive instruments
- Excellent fatigue life for continuous cycling applications
For engineers seeking longevity and reliability under extreme service conditions, custom Elgiloy springs are the material of choice.
Elgiloy vs. Other Super Alloys
| Material | Key Strengths | Temperature Limit | Corrosion Resistance | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elgiloy |
Excellent fatigue strength, non-magnetic, superior corrosion resistance |
Up to 850°F (454°C) |
Excellent |
Aerospace, oil & gas, marine |
| Inconel 718 |
High tensile strength, creep resistance |
Up to 1300°F (704°C) |
Very Good |
Turbine engines, high-heat systems |
| Rene 41 |
Outstanding high-temp oxidation resistance |
Up to 1600°F (871°C) |
Good |
Jet engines, heat shields |
| MP35N |
High yield strength, excellent chemical resistance |
Up to 750°F (399°C) |
Excellent |
Chemical processing, medical devices |
This comparison shows that Elgiloy alloy springs offer an ideal balance of corrosion resistance, fatigue life, and temperature performance for a wide range of industrial uses.
Applications of Elgiloy Springs
Coiling Technologies supplies Elgiloy springs for industries where standard materials cannot withstand operating conditions. Typical applications include:
- Aerospace and Defense: Actuators, landing gear, vibration isolation systems
- Oil & Gas: Downhole tools, valves, and safety relief mechanisms
- Marine & Offshore: Corrosion-resistant assemblies and sub-sea equipment
- Petrochemical: Springs exposed to acids and caustic environments
- Medical Devices: Surgical instruments and precision components
- Industrial and Laboratory Equipment: High-cycle, fatigue-resistant components
We also design Elgiloy wave springs for compact applications where space reduction and precise load control are critical.
Manufacturing Capabilities
As a trusted Elgiloy spring manufacturer, Coiling Technologies offers:
- Custom designs based on client-supplied specs or samples
- CNC coiling and forming for precise tolerances
- Heat treatment to enhance mechanical properties.
- Surface finishing options such as electropolish.
- Load testing, NDT, and dimensional inspection
- Production runs from prototypes to high-volume orders
All processes are performed under ISO 9001:2015-certified quality control standards to ensure repeatability and reliability.
Why Choose Coiling Technologies?
Coiling Technologies is one of the few manufacturers in the U.S. capable of producing large and small Elgiloy springs in Texas using advanced precision techniques. Our expertise with exotic alloys—such as Rene 41, Inconel, and Titanium—ensures that each spring is engineered to meet your application’s performance requirements.
Our advantages include:
- Over 45 years of experience in precision spring manufacturing
- Expertise with aerospace and petrochemical-grade materials>
- Ability to produce large Elgiloy springs for industrial systems
- Full-service engineering support from design to final testing
Get A Quote on Elgiloy Springs Today
If your project requires corrosion-resistant, high-fatigue Elgiloy springs, Coiling Technologies can engineer a custom solution to your exact requirements. Our experience with exotic alloys and precision manufacturing ensures performance you can depend on. Contact us or request a quote today to find out more.
Elgiloy Springs FAQs
What is Elgiloy and what properties make it suitable for spring manufacturing?
Elgiloy is the trade name for a proprietary cobalt-chromium-nickel-molybdenum-iron alloy (ASTM F1058 / UNS R30003), classified as a cobalt-based superalloy. It is cold worked to very high strength levels and can optionally be age hardened to achieve maximum properties. Elgiloy is characterized by exceptional corrosion resistance (comparable to or exceeding Inconel 625 in many aggressive environments), non-magnetic behavior, excellent fatigue resistance, high strength, and good biocompatibility. These properties make it highly valued for demanding spring applications where multiple performance requirements must be simultaneously satisfied.
How does Elgiloy compare to stainless steel or Inconel in corrosive environments?
Elgiloy offers corrosion resistance comparable to Inconel 625 and significantly superior to standard austenitic stainless steel grades (302, 316, 17-7 PH) in many aggressive environments. It resists chloride-induced pitting and crevice corrosion, stress corrosion cracking in seawater and chloride-containing media, and many organic and inorganic acids. In some highly corrosive environments encountered in chemical processing and marine applications, Elgiloy and Inconel 625 are considered approximately equivalent, with the selection depending on strength requirements, temperature range, formability, and application-specific factors.
What industries and applications are Elgiloy springs used in?
Elgiloy springs are found in: medical devices (cardiac pacemaker lead springs, surgical staples, endoscopic instrument springs, implantable device components where non-magnetic, corrosion-resistant, fatigue-resistant properties are all required), precision instrument and watch movements (high-precision hairsprings where extreme dimensional stability and fine wire diameter are required), marine and oceanographic instruments (deep sea corrosion-critical mechanisms), aerospace components requiring non-magnetic, high-strength, corrosion-resistant springs, chemical processing in highly aggressive media, and defense equipment requiring small, lightweight, high-strength springs with non-magnetic properties.
Is Elgiloy biocompatible and suitable for medical device springs?
Yes. Elgiloy is recognized for its biocompatibility and has been used in implantable medical devices for decades, most notably in cardiac pacemaker lead designs where corrosion resistance, fatigue life, and non-magnetic behavior are simultaneously required. Elgiloy wire used in medical devices is subject to biocompatibility evaluation per ISO 10993 standards and must meet specific chemistry and cleanliness requirements. Coiling Technologies manufactures Elgiloy springs for medical device applications using appropriate handling and process controls to maintain material cleanliness and traceability.
What heat treatment is used to achieve maximum properties in Elgiloy springs?
Elgiloy can be used in the as-drawn (cold-worked) condition, but optional age hardening at approximately 900°F (480°C) for several hours significantly increases tensile and yield strength. In the as-drawn condition, Elgiloy typically exhibits tensile strengths of approximately 270,000–290,000 psi depending on wire diameter. After aging, tensile strength increases to approximately 300,000–340,000 psi or higher—placing it among the highest-strength spring wire materials commercially available. For springs where maximum strength and fatigue resistance are required, the age-hardened condition is typically specified.
What wire diameters are available for Elgiloy spring manufacturing?
Elgiloy is commercially available in wire diameters ranging from approximately 0.001 inch (0.025 mm) for extremely fine watch and instrument hairspring applications up to approximately 0.250 inch for heavier spring programs. The alloy is particularly well suited for fine-wire applications where its combination of high strength, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility provides unique value that no other commonly available spring material can match at equivalent wire diameters. Coiling Technologies manufactures Elgiloy springs in the full available wire diameter range for both medical device and industrial programs.
