Highly Engineered Alloys for Extreme Environments
Scientific control of precipitation hardening particles from solution enable extreme hardness to be achieved without impacting conductivity.
For most other alloys, there is a compromise between the two, for the first time, the Elite Thermal Alloys, in particular CAL C900 possesses both. The increased conductivity is enhanced by primary and secondary precipitating mechanisms.
The ageing for CuNiSiCr C900 is very complex and there are two hardening mechanisms precipitation hardening by the
formation of Ni2Si,Cr3Si and Cr5Si2 and spinodial decompostion. Through precise control of ageing temperatures, Copper Alloys Ltd can maximise the electrical and thermal conductivity properties using both hardening mechanism whilst still achieving the highest mechanical properties.
The comprehensive employment of highly engineered process technology is revealed by the ability of CAL C900 to maintain its hardness at elevated temperatures, as shown in the charts below.
Chart 2 - Hardness Curve verses Temperature
At 550°C (1022°F) Beryllium copper has a rapid decline in surface hardness after only 30 minutes at temperature resulting in its hardness and tensile properties falling below that of CAL C900.
Chart 3 - Hardness Curve at 550ºc (1022ºF) in relation to time
This is vitally important at the mould, molten metal interface which can reach high temperatures particularly with high throughput rates.