Uses
Beryllium copper is not really a compound, but a very useful alloy that often contains other
metals such as cobalt or nickel in small amounts. It is a hard, strong alloy with excellent electrical
conductivity, which makes it very useful in electrical switching equipment owing to its
nonsparking qualities. It makes excellent spot-welding electrodes, springs, and metal bushings,
cams, and diaphragms.
Definition
Any of a group of copper-tin alloys
usually containing 0.5–10% of tin.
They are generally harder, stronger in compression,
and more corrosion resistant
than brass. Zinc is often added, as in gunmetal
(2–4% zinc), to increase strength
and corrosion-resistance; bronze coins
often contain more zinc (2.5%) than tin
(0.5%). The presence of lead improves its
machining qualities.
Some copper-rich alloys containing no
tin are also called bronzes. Aluminum
bronzes, for example, with up to 10% aluminum,
are strong, resistant to corrosion
and wear, and can be worked cold or hot;
silicon bronzes, with 1–5% silicon, have
high corrosion-resistance; beryllium
bronzes, with about 2% beryllium, are
very hard and strong.
