Manufacturer Price C17200 Beryllium Copper Bar C17500 Bronze Brass Wire C17300 Alloy Round Rod 30mm Diameter Cu Be Ni Series Rods for Aerospace Field

C17500 is a beryllium copper alloy belonging to the Cu-Be-Ni series. Due to its unique chemical composition and precipitation hardening properties, C17500 is widely used in fields that require high strength combined with high conductivity. This section details the chemical composition, precipitation hardening treatment, physical and mechanical properties, application areas, and comparison with other alloys of C17500 copper alloy.

The chemical composition of C17500 copper alloy is mainly composed of copper (Cu), beryllium (Be), and nickel (Ni). The presence of beryllium allows the C17500 alloy to undergo precipitation hardening after appropriate heat treatment, significantly improving its hardness and strength. The specific chemical composition is shown in the table below.

Precipitation hardening is a process that enhances the strength of metal materials through controlled heating and cooling treatments. C17500 copper alloy achieves precipitation hardening through the following steps:

• Solution treatment: Heating the C17500 alloy to a high temperature of 780°C–820°C to fully dissolve beryllium in the copper matrix, then rapidly quenching (usually water quenching) to maintain a uniform distribution of solute atoms in the solid solution.
• Aging treatment: Heating the alloy after solution treatment to 310°C–330°C and holding it for several hours to allow beryllium atoms to precipitate from the solid solution and form fine strengthening phases. The precipitated phases are usually γ (CuBe) or δ (NiBe) phases, which hinder dislocation movement and thereby improve the strength and hardness of the alloy.

The precipitation hardening treatment of C17500 alloy results in excellent performance, especially achieving a good balance between high strength and high conductivity. Key property data for C17200 and C17500 are compared in the table below.

Due to its excellent mechanical and physical properties, C17500 alloy is widely used in the following fields:

• Electronics industry: C17500 alloy is commonly used to manufacture high-performance contactors, switches, connectors, and spring plates. Its high conductivity and strength ensure the reliability and durability of these electronic components.
• Aerospace: In the aerospace field, C17500 alloy is commonly used to manufacture components that require high strength and lightweight properties, such as springs and structural elements.
• Mold manufacturing: Due to its excellent wear resistance and thermal conductivity, C17500 alloy is also used to manufacture plastic molds and die-casting molds, thereby improving the service life and molding quality of the molds.