Beryllium-Containing Master Alloys

Various beryllium-containing master alloys are available for different applications. Beryllium copper, beryllium aluminum and beryllium magnesium master alloys are used to add beryllium to aluminum and magnesium alloys. Further, beryllium copper and beryllium nickel are used to make proprietary copper and nickel alloys or when additional beryllium is required to recycle beryllium copper scrap.

Aluminum and Magnesium Alloys

Minute additions of beryllium have long proven beneficial to aluminum and magnesium alloys. Such additions provide a number of advantages both in therms of the manufacturing process and the performance characteristics of the finished material.

Specifically, the addition of beryllium to aluminum alloys effectively limits magnesium and and sodium losses, reduces drossing, increases metal yeild and cleanliness, improves fluidity, limits absorption of hydrogen, and provides a significant barrier to vapor loss. Finally, varying levels of beryllium can be added to critical castings, such as those involved in aerospace applications, to improve strength, ductility and toughness. This effect results from beryllium's ability to change brittle iron intermetallic crystals from large needle and plate-like shapes to small equiaxed crystals.

Magnesium alloys are particularly sensitive to both oxidation and actual burning when magnesium comes in contact with oxygen. Beryllium additions as small as 0.001% increase the ignition temperature and minimize loss. In wrought alloys, beryllium provides improved resistance to high temperature oxidation and sea water corrosion.

Copper and Nickel Alloys

Beryllium copper and beryllium nickel master alloys are commonly used to produce proprietary beryllium-containing copper and nickel alloys. They are also used in scrap remelting operations where a caster is seeking to increase beryllium content. Beryllium has a high affinity for oxygen and is easily lost in remelting, making beryllium additions necessary. It is important to note that remelting and casting scrap is only recommended for noncritical applications because impurity levels and adequate beryllium concentration are critical to alloy performance. Chemistry testing is recommended to ensure product uniformity. 

Copper Beryllium Casting Alloys

High Strength Copper Beryllium Casting Alloys

Alloys 275C, 245C, 21C, 20Cand 165C represent Brush Wellman's high strength copper beryllium casting alloys. The high strength alloys provide peak strength and hardness greater than many steels, but with a thermal conductivity similar to that of aluminum and up to five times greater than steel. In addition, the high strength copper beryllium casting alloys offer good electrical conductivity, excellent wear and galling resistance, and the highest accuracy in replicating cast detail. Typically, the high strength alloys are specified in applications demanding maximum strength, hardness and fine detail in the finished product.

High Conductivity Copper Beryllium Casting Alloys

Alloys 3C and 10C represent Brush Wellman's family of high conductivity casting alloys. Both alloys offer excellent electrical conductivity, good strength, wear and galling resistance, and accurate replication of detail. Typically, high conductivity alloys are specified in applications demanding superior electrical or thermal conductivity in the finished product. The only difference between the alloys is that Alloy 3C's thermal conductivity is 30% higher than Alloy 10C, twice that of many commonly used aluminum alloys and times that of steel.

Fine Grain Copper Beryllium Casting Alloys

The high strength copper beryllium casting alloys are also avialable in fine grain equivalents. The fine grain alloys' properties and manufacturing characteristics are similar to those of the standard alloys. Melting, pouring, age hardening and annealing also follow standard alloy practices. Grain refinement is achieved by adding either titanium or colbalt. The standard alloys are suitable for the majority of applications. The fine grain casting alloys are preferred in applications such as plastics molds.