Age hardened beryllium alloy and cermets

US4306907A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Byong H. Ahn · Springfield, US
• Dilip K. Das · Bedford, US
• Kaplesh Kumar · Wellesley, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 12, 1980
• Grant date: Dec 22, 1981
• Expiry date: Sep 12, 2000

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C22C32/0047
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Process for the formation of precipitation hardened beryllium-nickel, beryllium-iron, and beryllium-cobalt alloys and cermets for structural and bearing use respectively in precision instruments and such alloys and cermets. A beryllium-nickel, -iron, or -cobalt high solute solution at elevated temperature is rapidly cooled to provide a readily machined solid solution. After machining, the alloy is reheated to an intermediate temperature under controlled conditions where precipitation hardening occurs through limited precipitate cluster formation. A cermet is formed in the process with the addition of a ceramic material to the beryllium alloy in the initial steps.