Changes

As precipitation hardening alloys CuBe materials, mainly CuBe2 and CuBe1.7 have gained broad usage as current carrying contact springs because of their outstanding mechanical properties. Besides these , CuCo2Be and CuNi2Be, which have medium mechanical strength and a relatively high electricalconductivity, are also used as contact carrier materials. After stamping and forming into desired contact configurations , these CuBe materials are then precipitation hardened. CuBe alloys are available as semi-finished materials in a variety of cold work conditions. They can also be supplied and used in the already precipitation hardened condition , without significant strength losses. In this case , the hardening was already performed at the alloy producer.

Since Beryllium is rated as a carcinogen by the European regulation EU-67/548, it has been tried to reach the application properties of the well established CuBe1.7 and CuBe2 alloys with a lower Be content. The development Development efforts for alternate alternative precipitation hardening materials without toxic and declaration requiring additive materials, for example CuNiCoSideclarable additives are underway, are aimed at the replacement of CuBee. <div id="figures7"> <xr id="fig:Phase_diagram_of_copperberyllium_with_temperature_ranges_for_brazing_and_annealing_treatments"/><!--Figg. 5.28:--> Phase diagram of copper- beryllium with temperature ranges CuNiCoSi as a substitute for brazing and annealing treatments <xr id="fig:Precipitation_hardening_of_CuBe2_at_325°C_after_different_cold_working"/><!--FigCuBe. 5.29:--> Precipitation hardening of CuBe2 at 325°C after different cold working <xr id="fig:Precipitation_hardening_of_CuBe2_(soft)_at_325°C"/><!--Fig. 5.30:--> Precipitation hardening of CuBe2 (soft) at 325°C <xr id="fig:Precipitation_hardening_of_CuBe2_(half hard)_at_different_annealing_temperatures"/><!--Fig. 5.31:--> Precipitation hardening of CuBe2 (half hard) at different annealing temperatures</div>