Beryllium Copper (17510), (17200)
Applications for Beryllium Copper
- Resistance Welding
- Plastic Injection Mold tooling
- Oil & Gas
- Aerospace
- Electronics & Telecommunications
- Foundry Products
Beryllium Copper (17510) Class 3
- ASTM B441
- ASTM B534
- MIL C-81021
- SAE J461
- SAE J463
- UNS C17510
- Class 3 Copper
Class 3 Alloy is specifically recommended for projection welding dies, flash and butt welding dies, current carrying shafts and bushings. As castings, Class 3 Alloy (having higher strength than Class 2), is recommended for highly stressed welder structural current carrying members and heavy duty offset electrode holders.
Class 3 Alloy is generally recommended for spot welding and seam welding steels having high electrical resistance, such as stainless steels. The Class 3 Alloy is heat treatable.
Beryllium Copper (17200) Class 4
- AMS 4651
- AMS 4725
- ASTM B194
- ASTM B196
- ASTM B197
- ASTM B570
- MIL C-21657
- SAE J461
- SAE J463
- UNS C17200
- Class 4 Copper
Class 4 Alloy has extremely high hardness and ultimate tensile strength although the electrical conductivity is lower than the Class 3 Alloy
Class 4 Beryllium Copper (17200) is available in heat treatable tempers. Alloys are used in a wide range of applications requiring high strength and stiffness with good conductivity.
Typical uses include electrical/electronic connectors, current-carrying springs, precision screw machined parts, welding electrodes, bearings, plastic molds and corrosion resistant components.
| RWMA Class/(Temper) | Alloy Number | Hardness | Conductivity(%) | Tensile Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 3 (HT) | 17510 | B95-102 | 48-60 | 110-140 ksi |
| Class 3 (HT) | 17200 | C38-44 | 22-28 | 180-220 ksi |
Tempers
TB00 or A
This produces the softest form of the material. This is the condition or temper resulting from heating the material to a temperature sufficient to allow the beryllium to dissolve into a solid solution within the copper base metal, followed by rapid cooling.
Hardness (17510): B20-45
TF00 or AT
This process is often referred to as Aging, Age Hardening or Heat Treating. This is the condition or temper resulting from the application of a specific time and temperature combination. This action produces an extreme strengthening effect within the material. The tensile properties change from copper-like to steel-like and the thermal and electrical properties also increase. The specific combination of time and temperature applied determines the final properties.
Hardness (17510): B92-100
TD04 or H
In Beryllium Copper this means that the material is processed like the TB00/A temper material and then gets drawn through a die to make a shape. The extra drawing through the die makes the material harder.
Hardness (17510): B78-88
TH04 or HT
In Beryllium Copper this means that the material is carefully annealed and then cold drawn to a specific size and then heat treated.
Hardness (17510): B95-102
