Chromium Vanadium Springs vs. Chromium Silicone Springs

Without reading the specs of the specific springs....

Generally, the specifications of the two metals are very close. They are both designed for high temperature/ tensile applications. Silicon will handle high temperatures better , however it has lower ductility (easier to overstretch).

see

http://www.msm.cam.ac.uk/phase-trans/2005/LINK/62.pdf

Thank you. Our application requires only about .5 inch compression momentarilythen snap back so no worries about stretching. I appreciate the info.

I hope the reliability of a weapons system does not rely on answers received in this forum. Without going into technicalities 1) you mean silicon - not silicone steel, and 2) knowing the total deflection of the spring doesn't provide adequate information to make a material recommendation. Strain is normally measured in inches/inch. You can appreciate that 0.5 inch deflection isn't much strain on a 1.0 foot long spring (strain=0.5/12 inches/inch, but it is 12 times higher on a 1.0 inch long spring(strain=0.5/1.0 inches/inch. Because engineering strains are much smaller than this, they are often listed in units of micro inches/inch.

I promise that before I autuhorize this substitution there will be rigorous testing as I said in the origonal posting. I am just looking for general things to be concerned about. Thanks for all of the info.

thanks for the clarification - I was making incorrect assumptions.

If Chrome-Vanadium was oK ,{at 20 deg C - max.Tensile Strength=1128MN/m²

Chrome Silicon is good till 90% of thatstress -" " " = 941 MN/m²

The VANADIUM spring IS GOOD FOR very rapid-fire triggers.Yours looks like once in a day.

Are Chrome Vanadium springs hard to find? Can someone sell me 100 Chrome Vanadium Springs? - and how does the cost differ from the same Chrome Silicon Spring?

According to these manufacturers they are virtually identical (some even claim the silicone springs are better.)

From http://www.springsfast.com/glossary-coil-springs.htm

Wire - chrome silicon Same as chrome vanadium except can handle higher stresses also know as ASTM A 401. Modulus of elasticity is 30,000,000 psi, the modulus in torsion is 11,500,000 psi, and maximum operating temperature is 250 degree F. Wire - chrome vanadium An alloy material used for high stresses in larger wire sizes also known as ASTM A 231. Modulus of elasticity is 30,000,000 psi, the modulus in torsion is 11,500,000 psi, and maximum operating temperature is 250 degree F

http://www.sprinco.com/springs.html

http://www.directindustry.com/industrial-manufacturer/compression-spring-62130.html