English Views: 67 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-03-16 Origin: Site
Analysis of the Root Cause of Disc Spring Failure-Influence of Material and Metallurgical Quality
As a high-stress elastic element, the failure of disc spring usually begins from the material itself. The material and metallurgical quality are the root factors that determine the service life of disc spring, which directly affect the elastic limit, fatigue strength and fracture resistance of disc spring.
Disc spring materials commonly include 60Si2MnA and 50CrVA alloy spring steels, as well as 304 and 316 stainless steels and Inconel 718 superalloy. Material selection must strictly match the operating conditions.
60Si2MnA is selected for normal working conditions due to its excellent hardenability and high fatigue strength.
Stainless steel should be selected for corrosive environments to prevent failure caused by corrosion.
High-temperature alloys should be selected for high-temperature operating conditions to ensure elastic stability.
Material mismatch is a common failure cause. A disc spring used in mechanical seals of a chemical equipment, due to the selection of ordinary alloy spring steel in a corrosive environment, experienced accelerated surface corrosion, ultimately leading to fracture failure.
The chemical composition, hardness, and tensile strength of disc spring materials must comply with the GB/T 1972 standard. Excessive carbon content may increase brittleness, while insufficient silicon and chromium content can reduce hardenability and fatigue strength. Material properties can be accurately evaluated through Vickers hardness testing and tensile testing.
Defects such as inclusions, compositional segregation, surface/deep decarburization, and latent cracks within materials can compromise structural integrity and create stress concentration zones. The thin profile of disc springs makes internal defects particularly detrimental. Sulfurized manganese inclusions and oxide inclusions act as fatigue crack initiation sources under cyclic loading, while surface decarburization weakens surface strength and reduces fatigue life.
Metallographic microscopy and X-ray diffraction can effectively detect internal material defects and identify potential hazards promptly. For support in spring material selection or failure analysis services, please contact our business team for details.
