Plates / Blocks

We offer plates up to 2 mm thick and blocks in standard sizes (500 x 300 x 600 mm).

Plates are available in Berylco 14 and Berylco 25. Blocks are available in Berylco 25 only.

Berylco 25 (UNS C17200) reaches tensile strength up to 1400 MPa and hardness up to 420 Vickers.
Berylco 33-25 (UNS C17300) is the free-machining version with similar properties. With 25% conductivity, these alloys provide the best wear resistance, fatigue strength, and hardness in the copper alloy family.

Berylco 14 (UNS C17510) offers conductivity above 45% IACS and tensile strength up to 970 MPa, making it ideal for heat dissipation modules, resistance welding components, and other electrical applications.

Beryllium copper can be machined into complex shapes. In its age-hardened condition, its machinability rivals other copper-based alloys and surpasses stainless steels.

Its dimensional stability far exceeds any other copper alloy.

Thanks to protective oxide films, beryllium copper performs better than many copper and ferrous alloys in wear applications. Age-hardened parts can handle loads far exceeding typical copper alloys and are compatible with high-strength steel components.

Beryllium copper has corrosion resistance comparable to nickel silver and is not subject to hydrogen embrittlement.

Its toughness and resistance to localized deformation provide excellent fatigue resistance.

The non-magnetic properties make it ideal for sensitive components affected by magnetic fields.

Heat treatment is the most critical process in this alloy system. While all copper alloys are hardenable by cold work, beryllium copper is unique in being hardenable through a simple low-temperature thermal process. It consists of two main stages:

The material is heated to about 100°C below its melting point. At this stage, the beryllium is dissolved into the copper matrix (alpha phase). A rapid quench to room temperature retains this solid solution. The material becomes very soft and ductile, allowing cold working by drawing, rolling, or cold heading.
This step is performed by NGK Berylco at the mill and is generally not done by the customer. Critical parameters such as temperature, hold time, quenching rate, grain size, and hardness are tightly controlled.

Aging significantly increases the material’s strength. This process is typically carried out between 260°C and 540°C depending on the alloy and desired properties.
During aging, dissolved beryllium precipitates as a beryllium-rich gamma phase within the matrix and grain boundaries. These precipitates are responsible for the substantial strength gain.
The mechanical properties obtained depend on both temperature and time. Beryllium copper does not age-harden at room temperature. NGK products are available in cold-worked or age-hardened conditions.

Improved performance means improved profitability. NGK Berylco France offers three types of alloys for molds and inserts used in plastic injection molding:

NGK’s Plus, Supra, and Ultra grades are recognized as some of the best mold alloys available, thanks to their optimal combination of properties such as hardness, wear resistance, thermal fatigue resistance, and thermal conductivity.

They are known for producing high-quality plastic parts with lower overall production costs compared to competing mold materials.