Aluminum-beryllium metal matrix composites combine the high modulus and low-density characteristics of beryllium with the fabrication and mechanical property behavior of aluminum. Aluminum beryllium metal matrix composites offer excellent specific stiffness and processing characteristics. This makes it more suitable for cost sensitive markets such as semi-conductor assembly and inspection equipment, avionics, and satellite electronics.
These metal matrix composites are weldable, and can be formed, machined, and brazed like conventional aluminum metal matrix composites. Aluminum beryllium metal matrix composites do not display sensitivity to machining damage and do not require etching after machining like beryllium. As aerospace systems become more weight sensitive, complex, and cost sensitive, these metal matrix composites provide benefits in many applications. When compared to metal matrix and organic composites,aluminum beryllium metal matrix composites are simpler to use and easier to fabricate.
Aluminum-beryllium metal matrix composites is a family of metal matrix composites made up principally of beryllium and aluminum. The ratio of the two metals can be varied to alter the physical, thermal and mechanical properties.
Features
• High Thermal Conductivity
• Light Weight
• High Specific Stiffness
• Thermal Stability
• Mechanical Properties with a high degree of isotropy
• Manufactured by conventional powder metallurgy while being
able to be fabricated with conventional aluminum technology
Beryllium, when alloyed with aluminum to form a metal matrix composite, produces a unique combination of high specific modulus of elasticity, low density and high heat capacity in comparison to all common structural materials. Historically, beryllium-based materials have been applied in air and spaceborne structures, which require their low density and high elastic modulus.
Today, beryllium thermal management capabilities for airborne electronics have become as important as structural efficiency. In addition,aluminum-beryllium metal matrix composites have made significant inroads into components for high-performance engines and brakes.
Applications
Avionics Systems
Avionics systems require weight reduction, while needing to increase the first mode frequency of the system. Aluminum-beryllium metal matrix composites 162 with a density of 2.1 g/cm3 (0.076 Lb/in3), combined with an elastic modulus of 193 GPa (28 Msi), provides a uniquecombination of physical properties and specific stiffness (E/ρ) that is four times higher than structural alloys of aluminum,magnesium, titanium and stainless steels.
Optical Structures
Designers seeking improved performance are looking beyond the capabilities of aluminum and other more common materials. In many cases, they are finding unmanageable costs or unattractive tradeoffs. Only aluminum-beryllium gives them the combination of properties that consistently meets their expectations. Provides a level of performance to reduce jitter and increase line of sight distance.
Satellite Structures.
Aluminum-beryllium metal matrix composites provides properties that are roughly halfway between aluminum and beryllium and at the same time significantly reducing the cost of finished components. Reducing raw material and part fabrication costs attains this savings.Aluminum beryllium`s performance to cost relationship has allowed Materion’s customers to successfully use Aluminum-beryllium metal matrix composites as a replacement for traditional aluminum. A position rarely justified when comparing beryllium to aluminum.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
This material is produced by a gas atomization process, which yields a spherical powder with a fine beryllium structure. Three consolidation processes densify the powder each resulting in different mechanical properties, while maintaining It`s unique physical properties. The mechanical properties of AM162 have been extensively haracterized 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. 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.