Working environment: Consider the temperature range of the environment in which the piston rod is located. High-temperature environments may require high-temperature resistant materials, such as certain alloy steels; low-temperature environments require materials with good low-temperature toughness.

Load and stress: Evaluate the static load, dynamic load, and impact load that the piston rod is subjected to during operation. High load conditions may require stronger materials, such as high-strength alloy steel.