What’s the big deal about carbon? This is a very common element in the universe and it has become controversial regarding “Carbon Credits” and “Carbon Dating.”

Carbon Fun Facts:

  • Carbon is a non-metal that can form 10 million elements.
  • Pure Carbon is one of the few elements that exist free in nature.
  • 18% of your body weight is carbon
    Carbon Picture

In the spring industry, Carbon is a key element that makes the material have “Spring”. What does it do to common ore? By adding small traces of carbon to Iron, the spring industry was created. The common spring materials are for flat stock:

  • SAE 1050
  • SAE 1070
  • SAE 1075
  • SAE 1095

Typically this material is in a soft Annealed state and is heat-treated to bring it up to hardness. See the previous post on Heat treatment. Low Carbon Materials are easier to form, and usually have about 8-20 points of carbon:

  • CRS 1008
  • CRS 1010
  • CRS 1015
  • CRS 1020

Pre-Tempered Music wire has about 65-70 points of Carbon. There are many combinations of materials with different carbon content. How do you select which material to use?

Don’t worry about it, just give us a call, and we can call out the appropriate material selection based on your needs and usage.

How Can We Help?

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