BeCu is versatile and reliable for specialised applications

8 October 2003 Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services Financial (Industry)

Multi-Alloys distributes a range of beryllium copper wire and strip products locally on behalf of Brush Wellman. BeCu (beryllium copper) is the strongest copper alloy, the most conductive, as well as the most formable high strength alloy, and is available in heat-treatable and mill-hardened versions, making it ideally suited for a diverse range of specialised applications, eg, shielding to meet emission and sus-ceptibility requirements.

BeCu features excellent resistance to temperature relaxation and also shares the good corrosion resistance of copper alloys such as bronze and brass. With no hydrogen embrittlement better fatigue life in humid atmospheres is possible. It is easy to plate and solder and being non-magnetic is the best spring material for disk drives, guidance systems and meter movements.

Fingerstock is the largest user of copper beryllium strip and is one of the most common types of shielding used. Available in a variety of shapes, forms and sizes, shielding protects circuit boards, connectors, etc. against radiated electromagnetic energy. Methods of shielding can also vary greatly. There are four principles of shielding gaskets: beryllium copper spring fingers, beryllium copper wire mesh hollow core tubing, Monel/SnCuFe wire mesh and metal filled conductive elastomers. These RF gasket materials have distinct advantages and disadvantages, depending on the application.

Regardless of gasket type, the most important factors to be considered are: impedance (R +jX) where R is resistance and jX the inductive reactance; shielding effectiveness; material compatibility; corrosion control; compression forces; compressibility; compression range; compression set and environmental sealing.

Shielding is the only suppression technique with no impact on current high-speed electronic devices and effectiveness depends primarily upon the number, configuration and treatment of discontinuities in the shield.

For more information contact Ken Perel, Multi-Alloys, 011 466 2480, [email protected]

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