Annealed Copper Washers

Annealing involves controlled heating and gradual cooling, resulting in copper washers that offer exceptional benefits:

Softness and Flexibility

Annealed copper washers exhibit remarkable softness and flexibility, making them ideal for applications where conformity to uneven surfaces is crucial. This flexibility ensures a secure seal even on irregular mating surfaces.

Enhanced Conformity

The malleability of these washers allows them to conform precisely to mating surfaces, creating reliable and leak-resistant seals. Industries such as plumbing and automotive benefit from this sealing capability.

Resistance to Work Hardening

Unlike non-annealed copper washers, annealed counterparts are resistant to work hardening, which can lead to brittleness and cracking under stress. This durability ensures they can withstand pressure effectively.

Improved Sealing

The softness of these washers enhances their sealing properties, providing tight and dependable seals, vital in applications where leak prevention or pressure maintenance is paramount, like hydraulic systems and pipelines.

Heat Resistance

Annealing enhances copper’s natural heat resistance, making these washers suitable for applications involving temperature fluctuations or high-temperature environments..

Corrosion Resistance

Copper’s inherent resistance to corrosion is preserved through annealing. As a result, these washers thrive in outdoor and harsh environments where exposure to moisture or corrosive substances is a concern.

Electrical Conductivity

Copper’s excellent electrical conductivity remains unaffected by annealing, making these washers essential in electrical connections where reliability and conductivity are critical.

Low Galling Tendency

These washers exhibit a reduced tendency to gall, a form of wear that can affect metal surfaces sliding against each other. This is advantageous in wear-minimising applications.

Easy Installation

The softness and flexibility of these washers simplify installation, reducing the need for excessive force or torque during assembly.

Versatility

These washers find uses across diverse industries, including automotive, plumbing, electronics, and industrial equipment, thanks to their versatile properties.

While annealed copper washers offer numerous benefits, it’s important to note that they might not be suitable for all applications.
Consider factors like temperature, pressure, chemical compatibility, and mechanical requirements when selecting the appropriate washer material.

Manufacturing Excellence: Annealed Copper Washers by Stephens Gaskets

Stephens Gaskets Limited specialises in manufacturing shims, washers, and gaskets to precise customer specifications. Our copper washers undergo meticulous annealing in a controlled atmosphere, ensuring a clean, scale-free finish.

The annealing process, conducted under vacuum-controlled conditions with inert gases, imparts stress-free properties to the copper washers, rendering their surfaces softer and promoting excellent sealing performance in their intended applications.

Stephens Gaskets is equipped to produce copper washers in any required size, including non-standard dimensions, with a focus on meeting tight tolerances. Whether you need R&D batch sizes or bulk production, we’ve got you covered.

FAQs

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