Corrosion Resistant Alloys for Spring Energizers

Inconel® 625 offers the best resistance to seawater corrosion among the four alloys, with outstanding resistance to chloride pitting, crevice corrosion, and stress-corrosion cracking. It is widely used in marine and offshore applications where 316L stainless steel would experience rapid pitting.

Elgiloy® offers the highest fatigue strength among corrosion-resistant spring materials, making it the preferred choice for dynamic sealing applications in corrosive environments. MP35N® also provides excellent fatigue resistance with ultra-high strength.

Yes. Both Elgiloy® and MP35N® are available for applications requiring NACE MR0175 compliance and offer excellent resistance to sulfide stress cracking (SSC) and corrosion in H₂S environments. They are widely used in downhole tools and subsea sealing applications.

No — for applications requiring resistance to strong acids, seawater, wet chlorine, or sour gas, 316L stainless cannot replace these alloys. 316L is susceptible to pitting, crevice corrosion, and stress-corrosion cracking in aggressive environments where Hastelloy® C-276, Inconel® 625, Elgiloy®, or MP35N® would provide reliable long-term service. 316L offers improved resistance to chlorides and pitting compared with standard stainless steels, but is not suitable for severe corrosive service.

Pitting corrosion is a localized form of attack that creates small cavities or holes in metal surfaces. For spring energizers, pitting can create stress concentration points that initiate cracking and lead to premature spring failure. Alloys like Inconel® 625 and Hastelloy® C-276 are specifically designed to resist pitting in chloride-containing environments.

Stress-corrosion cracking (SCC) is the failure of a material under the combined action of tensile stress and a corrosive environment. Spring energizers operate under constant load, making them particularly susceptible to SCC in aggressive media. Corrosion-resistant alloys like C-276, 625, Elgiloy, and MP35N are specifically designed to resist SCC in chloride, sour gas, and chemical environments.

Hastelloy® C-276 is the premier choice for chemical processing applications involving strong acids (HCl, H₂SO₄), wet chlorine, and aggressive chemical media. It offers outstanding resistance to oxidizing and reducing acids that would rapidly attack standard stainless steels and even Inconel 625.

Inconel® 625 offers the best elevated-temperature performance among these alloys, with service capabilities up to 540°C while maintaining corrosion resistance. In addition to elevated-temperature performance, Inconel 625 also provides excellent resistance to seawater and chloride environments. Hastelloy® C-276 is typically used up to 540°C. Elgiloy and MP35N are generally limited to 400°C but offer superior room-temperature and moderate-temperature corrosion resistance.

Handa Spring manufactures a wide range of spring types from corrosion-resistant alloys, including canted coil springs, helical spring energizers, cantilever V/U springs, full-contact springs, and detached-leg springs. Custom geometries are available upon request.

Elgiloy® and MP35N® are the preferred materials for semiconductor applications due to their very low magnetic permeability, low outgassing, and excellent corrosion resistance. These properties are essential for cleanroom environments and high-purity processing systems.

Elgiloy® offers slightly higher fatigue life and better stress relaxation resistance, making it ideal for dynamic sealing applications. MP35N® provides higher tensile strength (up to approximately 2000 MPa depending on condition) and is preferred for high-load, compact spring designs. Both are very low magnetic and corrosion-resistant.

Inconel® 625 generally offers the best balance of cost and performance for corrosive service in marine and chemical environments. Elgiloy® provides the best value for dynamic applications requiring both corrosion resistance and fatigue strength. Hastelloy® C-276 and MP35N® are premium materials for the most demanding applications.

Yes. We provide material certificates (3.1, 3.2) and compliance certifications (RoHS, REACH) upon request. Full material traceability is maintained for all spring products. NACE MR0175 compliance certifications are available for Elgiloy® and MP35N® springs upon request.

Selection depends on the specific media, temperature, pressure, and mechanical requirements. Contact our engineering team with your application details — we will recommend the optimal alloy based on corrosion resistance data, mechanical properties, and cost targets.