Beryllium Copper: Advantages and Applications in Industry

Beryllium Copper Alloy is a copper alloy product with beryllium as the main alloying element, also known as beryllium bronze or beryllium copper.

It is a superior high-grade elastic material among copper alloys, featuring high strength, elasticity, hardness, fatigue strength, low elastic hysteresis, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, cold resistance, high electrical conductivity, non-magnetism, and no spark generation upon impact, among a series of excellent physical, chemical and mechanical properties.

Beryllium copper alloy can be used as various mold materials, corrosion-resistant materials, electrode materials and safety tool materials.

Beryllium copper alloys can be classified into two types based on material. According to the content of beryllium, they can be divided into high-conductivity (thermal or electrical) beryllium copper alloys and high-strength (high-elasticity) beryllium copper alloys.

The main beryllium copper alloys include: beryllium copper (C17200), beryllium cobalt copper (C17500), beryllium nickel copper (C17510), and beryllium nickel cobalt copper (CW103C).

According to the production process, beryllium copper alloys can be further classified into processed beryllium copper alloys and cast beryllium copper alloys.

Commonly used casting beryllium copper alloys include Cu-2Be-0.5Co-0.3Si, Cu-2.6Be-0.5Co-0.3Si, Cu-0.5Be-2.5Co, etc.

When processing beryllium copper alloys, the beryllium content should be controlled below 2%. For domestic beryllium copper, 0.3% nickel or 0.3% cobalt is added.

Commonly used beryllium copper alloys for processing include: Cu-2Be-0.3Ni, Cu-1.9Be-0.3Ni, 0.2Ti, etc.

Beryllium copper alloy is a heat-treated strengthened alloy. Processed beryllium copper alloy is mainly used as various high-grade elastic components, especially those that require good conductivity, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, cold resistance and non-magnetism. It is widely used as diaphragm boxes, diaphragms, bellows, micro switches, etc.

Cast beryllium copper alloy is used in explosion-proof tools, various molds, bearings, bearing shells, bushings, gears and various electrodes, etc.