The common heat treatment methods for C17200 beryllium copper mainly include solution treatment and aging treatment. Solution treatment involves heating C17200 beryllium copper to a high temperature, typically ranging from 760 - 780℃, allowing the beryllium atoms to fully dissolve in the copper matrix to form a uniform solid solution. Then, it is rapidly cooled, usually by water quenching, which can retain the high-temperature solid solution structure at room temperature, keeping the alloy in an unstable state, preparing it for the subsequent aging treatment. Aging treatment is carried out at a lower temperature, generally ranging from 320 - 340℃, with a certain period of holding. During the aging process, the over-saturated solid solution will gradually precipitate, forming fine and dispersed precipitates, which can hinder the movement of dislocations, thereby enhancing the strength and hardness of the alloy. By reasonably controlling the process parameters of solution treatment and aging treatment, such as heating temperature, holding time, and cooling rate, different performance requirements of C17200 beryllium copper can be achieved to meet the needs of various application scenarios.

C17200 Beryllium Copper

Standard: ASTM B194-1992, B196M-1990/B197M-2001

Properties and Applications

The C17200 beryllium copper has excellent cold working properties and good hot working properties. C17200 beryllium copper is mainly used for diaphragms, diaphragm boxes, bellows, and springs. It also has the characteristic of not generating sparks.

The core steps of heat treatment for beryllium bronze

The heat treatment process of beryllium bronze involves precisely controlling the temperature to increase its hardness. It mainly consists of three steps:

Solution treatment: Heat to 780-820℃, allowing the beryllium element to dissolve uniformly, and then quickly cool to lock the state

Aging strengthening: Hold at 320-380℃ for 2-4 hours, causing the precipitation of strengthening phases to increase the hardness

Cooling control: Air cooling or water cooling, different cooling speeds affect the final performance

The special formula of C17200 beryllium copper

As the star of the beryllium copper family, C17200 has unique requirements for its heat treatment:

The temperature window is narrower: The solution treatment must be strictly controlled at 790 ± 5℃

Dual aging options are available: First, medium temperature (315℃) followed by low temperature (260℃) treatment can balance toughness and strength

Surface oxidation protection: During heat treatment, protective gas must be supplied to prevent the volatilization of beryllium elements

The golden rule of temperature control

The success or failure of beryllium copper heat treatment lies in the fraction of a degree of temperature:

Lower temperature limit: Below 760℃ will result in insufficient solution treatment, and the material will not "get enough"

Upper temperature limit: Exceeding 830℃ may cause grain coarsening and a decline in strength

Ageing temperature difference: For every 10℃ increase or decrease in ageing temperature, the hardness changes approximately by 5 HRB

Temperature measurement technique: It is recommended to use multiple thermocouples to avoid areas with uneven furnace temperature