To clearly understand the unique properties of beryllium copper we need to first understand what it is. Beryllium copper is an amalgamation of beryllium metal and other chemical elements which are extremely pliable, ductile and good conductors of electricity. Beryllium is denoted by Be among the chemical elements and its physical appearance is silver greyish, hard, shiny, extremely strong and yet light weighted metal which allows it to combine with other elements. These properties make it the most desirable material for building aircraft components, space crafts, satellites and missiles.
Beryllium copper also commonly known as copper beryllium denoted by CuBe or spring copper combines qualities such as high strength, high electrical and thermal conductivity and great metal workings making it the most favorable element when it comes to making tools. Beryllium copper is most commonly used in oil and gas rigs, coal mines and grain elevators.
Amongst the many properties of Beryllium copper it has some unique ones that stand out of the rest and is what beryllium cooper is mostly used for.
5 Unique Properties Of Beryllium Copper
Being as versatile as beryllium copper, and desirable for many industries and application, the following are its 5 unique properties based on its widespread use in various fields.
- High Strength
- Electrical And Thermal Conductivity
- Corrosion Resistance
- Machinability
- Hardness
- High strength
The one thing beryllium copper is most known for is the fact that it is a high strength alloy. It at times is even considered stronger than steel. Due to high endurance it can maintain its strength even at the lowest temperatures. That is mainly the reason why it’s used in cryogenic equipment. It is also why tools such as wrenches, hammers and screwdrivers are made of this material and mostly have BeCu inscribed on them so that the people using it know that it is safer to use them under specific circumstances. Its degree of strength is further classified into two groups. The high strength beryllium copper and the high conductivity beryllium copper.
The high strength beryllium copper, as the name suggests, has indeed the highest strength than any other copper or alloy. Same goes for the high conductivity beryllium copper which can maintain good thermal and electric conductivity even at a level of 200000 psi.
- Electrical And Thermal Conductivity
Beryllium copper is known for efficiently transmitting heat and electricity. This is one reason why it’s used in making wires, connectors, electronic components for computers and telco devices. Since it’s a good conductor of heat it won’t heat up so much so that it sparks under high temperatures like steel would thus reducing the risk of causing a hazardous fire which can lead to fatal or unfavorable circumstances that may result in injury.
- Corrosion Resistant
When compared with other existing copper allows, beryllium copper surely ranks high in this category as it’s highly corrosion resistant. Corrosion takes place in products that face high levels of wear and tear with each use. In such products, alloys that can withstand such high corrosiveness, are used for their production. Few such products are wires, springs, oil and gas rig equipment’s automotive vehicles as well as under water products. Some other instances where the products are exposed to acidic solutions or environments, beryllium copper proves to be the best choice as it can withstand high levels of corrosion.
- Hardness
Although beryllium copper has a high level of strength its hardness levels are just about moderate. And this characteristics of the beryllium copper allows it to become harder or softer as different heat treatments are applied to it. This feature of the beryllium copper is what allow it to be easily shaped into or molded into complex shapes with high precision. The end result are clear patterns, good finished casting molds (which can be reused as it can be easily molded thus saving costs) and short production cycles. Throughout this process the beryllium copper stands firm to retain its other unique properties such as strength and corrosive resistance alongside thermal and electrical productivity which go unchanged.
- Machinability
Last but not the least is the machining ability of beryllium copper. Keeping in mind the rest of its properties i.e. stiffness and strength, durability and hardness, ability to withstand different temperatures, and corrosive resistance it becomes the perfect alloy to be used for machining projects all around the world. Not only does beryllium copper withstand all the fluctuating factors it also yields cost effective machining options which enable top notch machining quality and speed. It is also economically a better choice when compared to other available options such as steel and is more suited to soldering, welding and brazing. With numerous benefits the only deficit is the drilling of beryllium copper which is not favorable as its dust fumes become hazardous for inhalation.
To say that beryllium copper has been thorough in delivering the most favorable working characteristics possessed by a metal when forged with alloy would be an understatement. Besides a few negligible traits the properties beryllium copper possesses, reap benefits far beyond any other metal alloy. Not only is it durable, moldable, financially more favorable but also improves the overall quality cost and efficiency of the products it is used with. Such versatility allows it to spread out in a vast category of different field be it marine, oil and gas, telco, computing aerospace and so many more. We can witness it in our daily lives amongst the products we use or the services we receive. It is the uniqueness of its properties and the combination of them that beryllium copper stands out amongst the many other close options available as rivals in the market. Many industries widely use beryllium copper for multiple purposes from machining to producing a product for the same reason. The ever so changing market has easily been replacing the competitor alloys in order to make more effective end products, which are more environment friendly.