C17200 Beryllium Copper Rings

C17200 is a precipitation-hardening copper-beryllium alloy used when conventional copper alloys cannot provide the required combination of strength, hardness, fatigue resistance and dimensional stability.

Cymber Metal supplies C17200 rings in forged, rough-machined, semi-finished and finish-machined conditions. Depending on the final dimensions and quantity, rings may be machined from solid stock or produced from near-net-shape forged blanks to reduce material waste and machining time.

Why Choose C17200 for Beryllium Copper Rings?

After suitable solution treatment and precipitation aging, C17200 can develop substantially higher strength and hardness than conventional copper alloys while retaining useful electrical and thermal conductivity.

Key process features

• High strength and hardness after controlled age hardening
• Excellent resistance to fatigue and repeated loading
• Good wear, deformation and galling resistance
• Useful electrical and thermal conductivity for a high-strength copper alloy
• Non-magnetic characteristics
• Low-sparking characteristics for suitable applications
• Good dimensional stability with an appropriate heat-treatment and machining sequence
• Suitable for precision CNC turning, boring, grinding and polishing
• Custom sizes, cross-sections and drawing-specific features available
• Forged ring blanks available for large sizes and heavy sections

Available Supply Forms

Forged Ring Blanks

Forged blanks are suitable for large rings and heavy cross-sections. They can be supplied with machining allowance for customers who perform their own heat treatment and final machining.

Rough-Machined Rings

The inner diameter, outer diameter and end faces can be rough-machined to reduce the customer’s material-removal time while retaining allowance for heat treatment and final finishing.

Semi-Finished Rings

Semi-finished rings can be supplied close to the required dimensions, with final tolerance, surface treatment or application-specific features completed by the customer.

Finish-Machined Rings

CNC turning, boring, grinding and polishing can be performed according to the approved drawing. Grooves, shoulders, threads, bolt holes and chamfers can be added where required.

For tight dimensional tolerances, the heat-treatment and machining sequence must be reviewed carefully. Final precision machining after aging is generally preferred where heat-treatment distortion could affect the finished dimensions.

Typical Size Range

Outer Diameter:
30 mm to 500 mm

Inner Diameter:
20 mm to 450 mm

Thickness / Axial Height:
10 mm to 100 mm

The ID, OD and height ranges do not mean every possible dimensional combination can be produced. Wall thickness, forging ratio, heat-treatment response, machining allowance and required properties must be considered together.

Larger or non-standard ring sections may be available after reviewing the grade, dimensions, quantity, condition, tolerance and inspection requirements.

C17200 Chemical Composition

Beryllium (Be):
1.80–2.00%

Cobalt + Nickel (Co + Ni):
0.20% minimum

Cobalt + Nickel + Iron (Co + Ni + Fe):
0.60% maximum

Copper (Cu):
Balance

The applicable standard edition, purchase specification and material test certificate shall govern the final chemical requirements.

Mechanical and Electrical Performance

In selected age-hardened conditions, C17200 can achieve tensile strength of 1200 MPa or above and yield strength of 1000 MPa or above.

These values are condition-dependent references and should not be presented as unconditional guarantees for every ring size.

Actual properties depend on:

• Raw-material form
• Ring dimensions and wall thickness
• Cold-work level
• Solution-treatment and aging condition
• Sampling location and test direction
• Applicable material standard
• Agreed inspection and acceptance plan

Required minimum tensile strength, yield strength, hardness and electrical conductivity should be stated in the inquiry and confirmed in the quotation and material test certificate.

C17200 generally provides lower electrical conductivity than C17500 and C17510. The 45–60% IACS range commonly associated with high-conductivity copper-beryllium grades must not be presented as a C17200 property.

C17200 or C17500/C17510?

C17200 is normally selected when high strength, hardness, fatigue resistance and wear resistance are the primary requirements.

C17500 and C17510 may be considered when higher electrical or thermal conductivity is more important. They are different alloys with different compositions, material standards, heat-treatment conditions and property ranges.

C17500 and C17510 rings should therefore be quoted separately rather than described as direct C17200 equivalents.

Production Route

The qualified production route is selected according to ring size, required condition, quantity, properties and inspection requirements.

1. Material Preparation

Certified C17200 billet, rod, bar or forging stock is selected according to the required ring dimensions and manufacturing route.

2. Forging or Blank Preparation

Large or heavy-section rings may be forged into near-net-shape blanks. Smaller rings may be machined from suitable solid or hollow stock where this provides better dimensional and commercial efficiency.

3. Solution Treatment

Where required, the material is heated under controlled conditions and quenched to establish the solution-treated structure needed for subsequent strengthening.

4. Precipitation Aging

Controlled aging develops the required balance of strength, hardness and conductivity. Heavy sections require an appropriate time-and-temperature cycle to obtain consistent properties.

5. Rough Machining

The inner diameter, outer diameter and end faces are rough-machined with allowance for heat treatment and final finishing.

6. Finish Machining

CNC turning, boring and grinding are used to achieve the required dimensions, roundness, concentricity and surface finish. Polishing, grooves, shoulders, threads, holes and other features can be added according to the drawing.

7. Final Inspection and Protection

Finished rings are inspected according to the agreed quality plan, cleaned and protected against oxidation, contamination and handling damage during storage and international transportation.

Quality and Inspection Options

The inspection scope should be defined according to the component’s application and purchase specification.

Available controls include:

• Heat and lot traceability
• Material test certificates
• Heat-treatment records
• Chemical composition verification
• Tensile, yield, hardness and conductivity testing according to the agreed sampling plan
• ID, OD, axial height and wall-thickness inspection
• Roundness, concentricity, flatness and runout inspection
• Surface-roughness inspection
• Ultrasonic examination for suitable heavy-section geometries
• Dimensional reports using micrometers, bore gauges or CMM equipment
• SGS, BV, TÜV or other third-party inspection by arrangement

Chemical and destructive mechanical tests are normally performed by heat, lot or representative test sample rather than on every finished ring.

Full dimensional reporting, 100% inspection, ultrasonic examination and third-party inspection must be specified during the quotation stage. They should not be described as automatically included with every order unless this is your actual standard procedure.

Typical Applications

• Aerospace retaining, spacer and structural rings where C17200 is specified
• Oil and gas drilling and downhole equipment
• High-load wear rings and guide rings
• Precision molds, tooling and die components
• Electrical contact rings and current-carrying components
• Heavy-duty spacer and thrust components
• Automotive and industrial sensor assemblies
• Precision instruments and production equipment
• Sealing-support and backup rings
• Defense-related components manufactured to approved specifications
• Components for low-sparking equipment, subject to application-specific risk assessment

Application Engineering Note

C17200 is not automatically suitable for every bearing, sealing or explosive-environment application.

Performance depends on load, speed, mating material, lubrication, temperature, surface finish, alignment and surrounding equipment. Final material selection and component design remain subject to the customer’s engineering review.

Beryllium Copper Machining Safety

Solid C17200 rings are supplied as industrial metal products. Machining, grinding, welding or thermal processing can generate beryllium-containing dust, mist or fumes.

These operations require suitable engineering controls, local exhaust ventilation, occupational exposure management, appropriate personal protective equipment and compliant waste-handling procedures.

Customers should review the applicable safety data sheet and follow local occupational health and environmental regulations before processing the material.

Request a Quotation

For an accurate quotation, please provide:

• Alloy grade
• Required outer diameter
• Required inner diameter
• Thickness or axial height
• Quantity
• Heat-treatment condition
• Dimensional tolerances
• Surface-finish requirement
• Drawing for grooves, threads, holes or other special features
• Required hardness, strength or electrical conductivity
• Material certification requirements
• Ultrasonic or third-party inspection requirements
• Delivery destination

Contact Cymber Metal for C17200 beryllium copper rings, forged ring blanks, rough-machined rings and finish-machined custom components.