Why is beryllium copper strong and still conductive?
Because the strength comes from age hardening rather than from heavy alloying that would drag conductivity down. Materion's published property values are stated for the "precipitation age hardened (heat treated)" condition. Before ageing the material is softer and easier to form, which is why some parts are formed first and heat treated afterwards.
Materion states that all of its CuBe alloys combine conductivity, strength, hardness and corrosion resistance; the grades differ in how they balance them.
What are the main types of beryllium copper?
Materion divides beryllium copper into two classes: high strength and high conductivity. Representative grades are C17200 (Alloy 25) and C17510 (Alloy 3).
- High strength: C17200, which Materion calls the strongest CuBe alloy it makes, with tensile strength that can exceed 1380 MPa and 25–30% IACS conductivity (rod, age-hardened).
- High conductivity: C17510, a copper-nickel-beryllium alloy at 45–60% IACS (strip, age-hardened), with moderate strength and good stress-relaxation resistance.
- Connector strip grades such as C17410 (Alloy 174) and C17460 (Alloy 390) sit between the two.
If you are choosing between the two main grades, read C17200 vs C17510 compared.
Is beryllium copper magnetic?
No. Materion describes beryllium copper as nonmagnetic, and notes that cold work or deformation does not change its magnetic behaviour, unlike some austenitic stainless steels that can develop magnetic spots after machining or bending. That is why it is specified for parts that work near magnetic fields and in survey instruments.
What is beryllium copper used for?
It is used wherever a part needs spring force or fatigue life together with current-carrying or heat removal. Materion makes it as rod, bar, wire, tube, plate, strip, forgings and extrusions. Common uses include:
- Springs, contacts and connectors in automotive, telecom and electronics
- High-load bushings and bearings in aerospace, and oil and gas drilling equipment
- Plastic mold inserts that must shed heat quickly, as the MoldMAX mold alloys
What precautions does beryllium copper need?
Solid parts are handled normally. What must be controlled is dust, fume or mist produced when the material is ground, polished, welded or machined, following the producer's safety data sheet (SDS). The details are in Is beryllium copper safe?, and every grade is listed on the beryllium copper page.
Frequently asked questions
- Are beryllium copper, CuBe and BeCu the same material?
- Yes. CuBe and BeCu are short names for beryllium copper. The actual grade is identified by its UNS number, such as C17200 or C17510.
- How conductive is beryllium copper?
- It depends on the grade. Materion lists C17200 (rod, age-hardened) at 25–30% IACS and C17510 (strip, age-hardened) at 45–60% IACS.
- Does beryllium copper corrode easily?
- Materion lists corrosion resistance among the core properties of its CuBe alloys, alongside strength and conductivity. Check suitability for a specific environment against the grade's datasheet.
- How do I start choosing a beryllium copper grade?
- Start with what the part needs most. For strength and spring force look at C17200; for carrying current or moving heat look at C17510. Then confirm the form and temper in the quotation.
References
- Materion — High-Strength Copper-Beryllium Alloys
- Materion — High-Conductivity Copper-Beryllium Alloys
- Materion — In Our Element: What Are the Magnetic Properties of Copper Beryllium?
- Materion — MoldMAX Alloys
Sources read on 5 October 2026. Producer data changes; confirm values against the current datasheet before design.