Beryllium copper alloys are mainly based on copper with a beryllium addition. High strength beryllium copper alloys contain 0.4 to 2% of beryllium with about 0.3 to 2.7% of other alloying elements such as nickel, cobalt, iron or lead. The high mechanical strength is achieved by precipitation hardening or age hardening.
CUBERYLLIUM® manufactures copper beryllium in several distinct compositions.
These fall into two categories: high strength beryllium copper alloys 172(UNS. C17200), 173(UNS. C17300), 170(UNS. C17000), and copper alloys selected for high conductivity 751(UNS. 17510), 750(UNS. 17500), 741(UNS. 17410).
We also supply master alloys : Cuberyllium-200, Cuberyllium-275, Cuberyllium-350 and Cuberyllium-400 to global factory.
CUBERYLLIUM® could supply all the forms of beryllium copper alloys as customers' demands, including beryllium copper strip, beryllium copper tape, beryllium copper round rod, beryllium copper bar, beryllium copper flat bar, beryllium copper plate, beryllium copper sheet, beryllium copper wire, beryllium copper tube, etc.
The fundamental property of beryllium copper alloys:
After a simple thermal treatment which produces a structural precipitation hardening, the beryllium copper alloy has a very high mechanical properties and improved electrical conductivity.
- The alloys can be supplied in tempers which allow plastic deformation almost equivalent to copper. After forming deep-drawn parts, or parts with complex bends, they can be heat treated to obtain very high mechanical properties.
- They have very high tensile strength, up to 1500 N/mm².
- They exhibit an outstanding fatigue strength and excellent resistance to fafatigue in reveerse bending and vibrations.
- Hardness as high as 400 Vickers or Brinell, possibly greater, can be obtained.
- They have excellent wear resistance.
- They present complete resistance to anelastic behaviour under elastic deformation.
- They can operate over a wide range of temperatures, particularly very low cryogenic temperatures, but also at elevated temperatures which are above those normally acceptable for the common copper alloys.
Advantages of Beryllium Copper Alloys:
- Beryllium copper exhibit a high electrical conductivity ranges from 22 to 70% IACS depending on the alloys and temper.
- They are non-magnetic.
- They have excellent corrosion resistance and are ideal for use in marine and industrial environments.
- They have good machinability.
- They are non-sparking.
- They have a high fluidity and good castability.