What is the effect of temperature on the elasticity of stainless steel pullback spring

Stainless steel pullback springs are widely used in modern industry, and their performance is affected by many factors, among which temperature changes have a significant impact on their physical properties.

Effect of temperature on elastic modulus
The elastic modulus is an important indicator of the material's ability to resist deformation and is directly related to the stiffness and rebound performance of the stainless steel pull-back spring. As the temperature rises, the atomic vibration amplitude of stainless steel increases and the atomic spacing changes accordingly, which leads to a change in the stress distribution inside the material. Generally, the elastic modulus decreases with increasing temperature. This phenomenon means that under high temperature conditions, the stiffness of the stainless steel return spring is weakened and its rebound performance is reduced, which may cause the spring to be unable to fully recover to its original state after being subjected to force.
It is worth noting that different grades of stainless steel have different sensitivities to temperature. For example, 316L stainless steel can still maintain a relatively stable elastic modulus under high temperature conditions, so it is more suitable for spring manufacturing in high temperature environments. Selecting the right material grade is crucial to ensuring the performance of the spring under specific operating conditions.

Effect of temperature on yield strength
Yield strength is the critical point at which a material begins to undergo plastic deformation under stress. Increasing temperature generally results in a decrease in the yield strength of stainless steel, since the atomic mobility of the material increases at high temperatures, making it more susceptible to plastic deformation. This change may lead to a decrease in the load-bearing capacity of the stainless steel return spring at high temperatures, and even the risk of plastic deformation or fracture.
In some special cases, such as cryogenic environments, the yield strength of stainless steel may increase. This is because the material's lattice structure changes at low temperatures, resulting in an increase in its hardness and strength. However, low temperatures may also reduce the toughness and ductility of the material, which will have an adverse effect on the elasticity and service life of the spring. Therefore, when selecting a stainless steel pull-back spring, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the temperature characteristics of its working environment to ensure the reliability of its performance.

Effect of Temperature on Thermal Expansion
Thermal expansion is the change in volume of a material when the temperature changes. For stainless steel pull-back springs, thermal expansion will cause the size and shape of the spring to change, directly affecting its rebound performance and load-bearing capacity. Under high temperature conditions, the thermal expansion of stainless steel materials will cause the size of the spring to increase, which may prevent it from fully recovering to its original state when loaded, thus affecting its rebound performance. Additionally, thermal expansion may reduce clearances between the spring and other components, increasing the risk of friction and wear.
In order to effectively deal with the effects of thermal expansion, the operating temperature range of the spring should be considered during design, and the material and its geometry should be reasonably selected to ensure that good performance is maintained under temperature changes.

Effect of Temperature on Creep
Creep refers to the continuous deformation of a material under long-term stress, which is especially obvious in a high temperature environment. High temperature will accelerate the creep rate of stainless steel materials, causing the shape and size of the stainless steel pull-back spring to gradually change, thus affecting its rebound performance and load-bearing capacity. For stainless steel return springs working for a long time in high temperature environment, special attention must be paid to their creep characteristics and effective measures must be taken to extend their service life.