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Beryllium Copper (BeCu / C17200)
Beryllium Copper, most commonly grade C17200, is a high-performance age-hardenable copper alloy containing 1.8–2.0% beryllium and cobalt or nickel as secondary alloying elements. It is renowned for achieving the highest strength among all copper alloys (up to 1,300+ MPa after precipitation hardening) while retaining useful electrical and thermal conductivity. Its unique combination of high strength, excellent fatigue resistance, non-sparking characteristics, and outstanding mold-making properties makes it indispensable for precision molds, springs, and critical aerospace components.
Mechanical Properties
- Density: 8.25 g/cm³
- Tensile Strength: 1,100 – 1,300 MPa (aged condition)
- Yield Strength: 965 – 1,200 MPa (aged condition)
- Elongation at Break: 1 – 3% (aged condition)
- Hardness: HRC 36 – 42 (aged condition)
- Modulus of Elasticity: 131 GPa
- Thermal Conductivity: 115 W/m·K
- Electrical Conductivity: 22 % IACS
- Melting Point: 865 – 955 °C
- Coefficient of Thermal Expansion: 16.6 ×10⁻⁶ /°C
Note: Values shown are for peak-aged (AT/HT) condition. Solution-annealed (A temper) material has significantly lower strength (~240–550 MPa) with much higher ductility.
Advantages
✅ Exceptional Strength — The strongest copper alloy available; aged C17200 rivals many steels in tensile strength while maintaining copper's inherent advantages
✅ Excellent Fatigue Resistance — Superior performance in cyclic loading applications such as springs, diaphragms, and flexures over millions of cycles
✅ Non-Sparking & Non-Magnetic — Intrinsically safe for use in explosive atmospheres (oil & gas, mining) and sensitive electromagnetic environments
✅ Superior Mold-Making Performance — High hardness after aging, excellent thermal conductivity for rapid heat dissipation in injection molding tools; industry-standard for mold inserts and cores
✅ Good Corrosion Resistance — Resists stress-corrosion cracking better than many other high-strength copper alloys
Machining & Manufacturing
| Parameter | Specification | Notes |
| Cutting Speed | 80–200 SFM (25–60 m/min) for carbide tooling (solution-annealed state) | Reduce speed by 30–50% for aged/hardened material |
| Feed Rate | 0.03–0.12 mm/rev (solution-annealed); 0.02–0.06 mm/rev (hardened) | Lower feed rate is needed for hardened condition |
| Tooling | Solid carbide end mills and inserts; 5°–10° positive rake sharp geometries | TiAlN or TiN coated tools greatly extend tool life |
| Coolant | Water-soluble oil or synthetic coolant, full-flood cooling required | Suppress beryllium dust and prolong tool life; dust extraction system is required for safety |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate (Soft/A Temper) to Difficult (Hard/Aged) | Soft material is similar to tough brass; aged material has cutting resistance comparable to stainless steel |
Special Notes:
- ⚠️SAETY FIRST: Always machine under adequate ventilation or dust collection. Wear appropriate PPE (N95/P100 respirator minimum). Never dry-machine beryllium copper
- Machine in solution-annealed (A) temper whenever possible, then heat-treat (age) the finished part to final hardness
- Work-hardening can occur if tools become dull — maintain sharp cutting edges consistently
- EDM (electrical discharge machining) is commonly used for complex mold insert geometries
Common Applications
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