Dissolving roughly 2% beryllium in copper can yield a variety of beryllium copper alloys. Beryllium copper alloy is the “king of elasticity” among copper alloys, with a strength that is roughly double that of other copper alloys. At the same time, beryllium copper alloy has high thermal and electrical conductivity, great processing performance, is nonmagnetic, and emits no sparks when struck.
As a result, beryllium copper alloys have a wide range of applications, particularly in the following areas:
Beryllium copper alloys are used as conductive and elastic sensitive elements.
More than 60% of beryllium copper’s total output is used to make elastic materials. In the electronics and instrument sectors, it is commonly utilized as elastic elements such as switches, reeds, contacts, bellows, and diaphragms.
Beryllium copper alloys are used for sliding bearings and wear-resistant components.
Because of its excellent wear resistance, beryllium copper alloy is utilized to manufacture bearings in computers and many passenger airliners. For example, American Airlines replaced copper bearings with beryllium copper bearings, extending the service life from 8000h to 28000h.
Furthermore, the wires of electric locomotives and trams are made of beryllium copper, which is not only corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant, and strong, but also has high conductivity.
Beryllium copper alloys are used as an explosion proof tool.
Because beryllium copper does not emit sparks when touched, it can be used in a variety of working tools in the petroleum, chemical, and other industries. In addition, beryllium copper operating tools have been employed in a variety of explosion-proof applications.
Application of Beryllium Copper Alloy in Mold
Because beryllium copper alloy has great hardness, strength, thermal conductivity, and castability, it can be used to cast molds with extremely high precision and complex shapes.
Furthermore, the beryllium copper alloy mold has a good polish, distinct patterns, a quick manufacturing cycle, and the old mold material may be reused, reducing costs. Beryllium copper alloy has been utilized in plastic molds, pressure casting molds, and precision casting molds, among other applications.
Applications In High-Conductivity
Cu-Ni-Be and Co-Cu-Be alloys, for example, are strong and electrically conductive, with conductivities of up to 50% IACS. Highly conductive beryllium copper alloys are mostly employed as contact electrodes in electric welding machines and elastic components with high conductivity in electronic goods. The range of applications for this alloy is steadily expanding.
More on Beryllium Copper Alloys
Beryllium copper alloy can be classified into two types. Beryllium concentration in copper alloys ranges from 0.2% to 0.6% for high conductivity and 1.6% to 2.0% for high strength.
Brush Wellman, in the United States, is the world’s largest maker of beryllium copper alloys. Its corporate standards are consistent with international norms and have a certain authority.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading our essay; we hope it will help you better comprehend beryllium copper alloys. If you want to learn more about beryllium, visit Advanced Refractory Metals (ARM).
