One of the highest strength copper based alloys available on the market today is beryllium copper, also known as spring copper or beryllium bronze. The commercial grades of beryllium copper contain 0.4 to 2.0 percent beryllium. The small ratio of beryllium to copper creates a family of high copper alloys with strength as high as alloy steel. The first of the two families, C17200 and C17300, includes high strength with moderate conductivity, while the second family, C17500 and C17510, offers high conductivity with moderate strength. The principle characteristics of these alloys are their excellent response to precipitation-hardening treatments, excellent thermal conductivity, and resistance to stress relaxation.Copper-beryllium alloys offer a combination of mechanical and electrical properties which is unique for copper alloys. The mechanical strength achieved after heat treatment ranks highest among all copper alloy materials and is combined with an electrical conductivity which outperforms that of bronzes. In extreme cases, when the spring properties are critical even at high temperatures, nickel-beryllium is used as the solution of choice.

Longda is capable of producing the following grade of beryllium copper Plates/sheets, Rods, such as CuBe2-UNS. C17200, CuCo2Be-UNS.C17500, CuNi2Be-UNS.C17510, CuCo1Ni1Be in Plate/sheet, bar, rod, disc etc.

Alloy 25, C17200, CW101C:

This alloy which contains approximatively 2 % of beryllium and achieves the highest mechanical strength and hardness after heat treatment of all copper beryllium alloys. In soft or slightly re-rolled condition, Alloy 25, C17200, CW101C exhibits excellent bending behaviour. It distinguishes itself by high fatigue strength, outstanding relaxation resistance at elevated temperatures and a unique combination of high strength and excellent electrical conductivity.

Alloy 190, C17200, CW101C

We also supply mill hardened CuBe2 alloys, the so-called alloy 190. When using this alloy, heat treatment at the customer is no longer necessary, preventing also the distorsion of the finished product. Alloy 190, C17200, CW101C provides outstanding bending behaviour, which however varies according to the different tempers.

Alloy M25, C17300, CW102C:

It is identical to a version of lead-containing alloy 25 and achieves the same exceptional strength after hardening. This alloy is supplied as wires and rods which are mainly employed for machined products. Its low lead content improves its machinability (shorter chips and reduced wear of tools). The alloy is normally hardened after machining. Alloy M25, C17300, CW102C can however be soft-annealed again so that it can be crimped and electroplated. This alloy distinguishes by high endurance limit, outstanding relaxation resistance at exposure to heat and a unique strength-conductivity ratio.

Alloy 3, C17510/C17500, CW110C:

SAE J461, ASTM B441, ASTM B534

C17500/C17510 offers a combination of high electrical and thermal conductivity with good strength compared to most copper based alloys. C17500 alloy is the mirror image of alloy C17510 in terms of its properties and characteristics. The beryllium copper differ in that C175 specifies a cobalt alloying addition (2.40-2.70%) and alloy 17510 specifies a nickel alloying addition (1.40-2.20%), but their performance are the same.

Alloy 174, C17410:

Copper alloy with low beryllium content. It contains only few alloy elements: Beryllium and cobalt. Alloy 174, C17410 combines outstanding electric conductivity with high mechanical strength (typical values: 50% et 750N/mm² Alloy 174 is supplied hardened so that a later heat treatment of the products is not necessary. This reduces production costs and prevents the deformation of the finished products. Although alloy 174 is supplied in hardened condition, it shows excellent bending behavior. This alloy distinguishes by excellent bending behavior in connection with mechanical strength and conductivity, which outperforms any other copper alloy of this price level.

Alloy 390, C17460:

This alloy is an innovation of Brush Wellman. Alloy 390, C17460 is supplied hardened and offers very high mechanical strength and in relation to this strength exceptionally high electric conductivity.

Alloy 360, N03360:

Alloy 360, N03360 is a Nickel alloy containing approximatively 2 % of beryllium. It is used for all applications that require good elastical properties at elevated temperatures. Mechanical strength is rather high and when hardened is even higher than that of alloy 25.

Applications of Beryllium Copper

Beryllium copper and its variety of alloys are utilized in very specific and often tailor-made applications such as oilfield tools, aerospace landing gears, robotic welding, and mold making applications. Additional non-magnetic properties make it ideal for down-hole wire line tools. These specific applications are the reason this copper is known as spring copper and other various names.