Experimental Heat Treatment of Beryllium Copper Alloy

A cold-rolled beryllium copper alloy, in bar form, was experiencing deformation bowing during machining. Several experimental heat treatments were performed in order to develop a procedure that would alleviate this condition. These treatments consisted of 1 an age-hardening overaging and 2 a solution treatment and age-hardening. The minimum desired ultimate tensile strength UTS value was achieved in both heat-treating conducted. For the age- hardening experiment, any aging time between one-half hour and two hours would obtain the desired UTS. For the solution treatment and age-hardening experiment, aging for one-half hour or greater at 500 deg F would fulfill the UTS requirement. Our recommendation for the remaining beryllium copper bars was a one hour age-hardening at 900 deg F Beryllium copper, Heat treatment, Age- hardening, Overaging