AlBeMet
Encyclopedia
AlBeMet® is the trade name
of the Materion Brush Beryllium & Composites (formerly known as Brush Wellman) company for a beryllium
and aluminium
composite material
derived by a powder metallurgy
process. AlBeMet® is formed by hot consolidating gas atomized prealloyed powder. Each powder particle contains aluminium between beryllium dendrites producing a uniform microstructure. Since beryllium is the second least dense
elemental
metal
, these alloys are significantly less dense than aluminium.
Be-Al alloys are primarily of interest to the aerospace
industry, due to the weight advantage they provide. They are currently used in satellite
s.
Due to the high toxicity of beryllium the machining has to be conducted with caution to prevent exposure of the workers.
of 2.071 g/cm³ (0.07482 lb/in³).
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
The mechanical properties of AM162 have been extensively characterized in all three-product forms. But a significant design database has been developed for the extruded product form. The extruded bar is fabricated by Cold Isostatic Pressing (CIPing) the isotropic spherical aluminum-beryllium powder into semi-dense billets and then canning the billet for subsequent extrusion with a minimum of a 4:1 reduction ratio. Mechanical properties are minimum values at room temperature. Wrought mechanical properties for extrusions are in the longitudinal direction. Transverse properties are generally lower. A number of standard extrusion dies are available. Rolled product is available in a thickness range of 0.063” to 0.313” x 25” (0.16 to 0.795 cm x 63.5 cm) length time’s width dependent on gauge. Mechanical properties for HIP’d, extruded, and/or rolled AlBe metal matrix composites are in the annealed condition.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
1. High modulus-to-density ratio, 3.8 times that of aluminum or steel, minimizes flexure and reduces the chance of mechanically induced failure.
2. Thermal conductivity of approximately 210 W/m•K exceeds by about 25% that of common aluminum metal matrix composites such as Al 6061.
3. The CTE of 13.9 ppm/K matches that of the ceramic chip carriers (alumina has CTE of ~8ppm/K) more closely than does aluminum, which has a CTE of 24ppm/K.
4. The stiffness and low density of AlBeMet® are beneficial in aircraft, where high loads generated during tight maneuvering can cause flexure of circuit boards, and subsequent mechanical failure.
FATIGUE PROPERTIES
Is Cyclic fatigue critical to the life cycle of your component? The fatigue properties of AlBeMet® extruded material have been tested using the Krause rotating beam fatigue test utilizing fully reversed cycles with a R= +0.1. The fatigue limit, 1 x 10-7 cycles was about 207 MPa (30Ksi) in the longitudinal direction and 165 MPa (25 Ksi) in the transverse direction. This property is approximately 75% of the minimum RT yield strength, which is two times that of typical fatigue properties of 6061T6 aluminum.
THERMAL PROPERTIES
Most important fact in Surface Mount Technology (SMT) circuit board cores is coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE).The better the CTE match, the less strain imposed on solder joints. Less strain translates into better fatigue life for solder joints and longer life for the board. Thermal management capabilities, characterized by the thermal conductivity and heat capacity, have also been found to be important factors.
Song S.G.; Beals J.T.; Nardone V.C. Materials Science and Technology, Volume 16, Number 5, May 2000 , pp. 551–555(5)
Beryllium metal matrix composites for aerospace and commercial applications Parsonage T. Materials Science and Technology, Volume 16, Numbers 7-8, July 2000 , pp. 732–738(7)
Characterization of AlBeMet® AM-162 as an optical substrate material
Heber, James E.; Parsonage, Thomas B.
Optical Materials and Structures Technologies. Edited by Goodman, William A. Proceedings of the SPIE, Volume 5179, pp. 56–62 (2003).-->
Trade name
A trade name, also known as a trading name or a business name, is the name which a business trades under for commercial purposes, although its registered, legal name, used for contracts and other formal situations, may be another....
of the Materion Brush Beryllium & Composites (formerly known as Brush Wellman) company for a beryllium
Beryllium
Beryllium is the chemical element with the symbol Be and atomic number 4. It is a divalent element which occurs naturally only in combination with other elements in minerals. Notable gemstones which contain beryllium include beryl and chrysoberyl...
and aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
composite material
Composite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
derived by a powder metallurgy
Powder metallurgy
Powder metallurgy is the process of blending fine powdered materials, pressing them into a desired shape , and then heating the compressed material in a controlled atmosphere to bond the material . The powder metallurgy process generally consists of four basic steps: powder manufacture, powder...
process. AlBeMet® is formed by hot consolidating gas atomized prealloyed powder. Each powder particle contains aluminium between beryllium dendrites producing a uniform microstructure. Since beryllium is the second least dense
Density
The mass density or density of a material is defined as its mass per unit volume. The symbol most often used for density is ρ . In some cases , density is also defined as its weight per unit volume; although, this quantity is more properly called specific weight...
elemental
Chemical element
A chemical element is a pure chemical substance consisting of one type of atom distinguished by its atomic number, which is the number of protons in its nucleus. Familiar examples of elements include carbon, oxygen, aluminum, iron, copper, gold, mercury, and lead.As of November 2011, 118 elements...
metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...
, these alloys are significantly less dense than aluminium.
Be-Al alloys are primarily of interest to the aerospace
Aerospace
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
industry, due to the weight advantage they provide. They are currently used in satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
s.
Due to the high toxicity of beryllium the machining has to be conducted with caution to prevent exposure of the workers.
Basic properties
AlBeMet® has a densityDensity
The mass density or density of a material is defined as its mass per unit volume. The symbol most often used for density is ρ . In some cases , density is also defined as its weight per unit volume; although, this quantity is more properly called specific weight...
of 2.071 g/cm³ (0.07482 lb/in³).
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
The mechanical properties of AM162 have been extensively characterized in all three-product forms. But a significant design database has been developed for the extruded product form. The extruded bar is fabricated by Cold Isostatic Pressing (CIPing) the isotropic spherical aluminum-beryllium powder into semi-dense billets and then canning the billet for subsequent extrusion with a minimum of a 4:1 reduction ratio. Mechanical properties are minimum values at room temperature. Wrought mechanical properties for extrusions are in the longitudinal direction. Transverse properties are generally lower. A number of standard extrusion dies are available. Rolled product is available in a thickness range of 0.063” to 0.313” x 25” (0.16 to 0.795 cm x 63.5 cm) length time’s width dependent on gauge. Mechanical properties for HIP’d, extruded, and/or rolled AlBe metal matrix composites are in the annealed condition.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
1. High modulus-to-density ratio, 3.8 times that of aluminum or steel, minimizes flexure and reduces the chance of mechanically induced failure.
2. Thermal conductivity of approximately 210 W/m•K exceeds by about 25% that of common aluminum metal matrix composites such as Al 6061.
3. The CTE of 13.9 ppm/K matches that of the ceramic chip carriers (alumina has CTE of ~8ppm/K) more closely than does aluminum, which has a CTE of 24ppm/K.
4. The stiffness and low density of AlBeMet® are beneficial in aircraft, where high loads generated during tight maneuvering can cause flexure of circuit boards, and subsequent mechanical failure.
FATIGUE PROPERTIES
Is Cyclic fatigue critical to the life cycle of your component? The fatigue properties of AlBeMet® extruded material have been tested using the Krause rotating beam fatigue test utilizing fully reversed cycles with a R= +0.1. The fatigue limit, 1 x 10-7 cycles was about 207 MPa (30Ksi) in the longitudinal direction and 165 MPa (25 Ksi) in the transverse direction. This property is approximately 75% of the minimum RT yield strength, which is two times that of typical fatigue properties of 6061T6 aluminum.
THERMAL PROPERTIES
Most important fact in Surface Mount Technology (SMT) circuit board cores is coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE).The better the CTE match, the less strain imposed on solder joints. Less strain translates into better fatigue life for solder joints and longer life for the board. Thermal management capabilities, characterized by the thermal conductivity and heat capacity, have also been found to be important factors.
External links
Creep and stress rupture behaviour of Be/Al composite material AlBeMet® AM162Song S.G.; Beals J.T.; Nardone V.C. Materials Science and Technology, Volume 16, Number 5, May 2000 , pp. 551–555(5)
Beryllium metal matrix composites for aerospace and commercial applications Parsonage T. Materials Science and Technology, Volume 16, Numbers 7-8, July 2000 , pp. 732–738(7)
Characterization of AlBeMet® AM-162 as an optical substrate material
Heber, James E.; Parsonage, Thomas B.
Optical Materials and Structures Technologies. Edited by Goodman, William A. Proceedings of the SPIE, Volume 5179, pp. 56–62 (2003).-->