Safety Critical Automotive Copper Alloys

Safety critical automotive copper alloys go into airbag, braking and control system connectors that must never fail. With more than 50 years in high performance copper alloys, NGK Berylco supplies UK, Irish and Nordic customers through its Salford office, backed by the wider NGK Group.

What sets these alloys apart is strength and conductivity together. Beryllium copper is the only copper alloy that can be hardened both by cold working and by age hardening. Optional additions of nickel, cobalt or lead improve formability, bendability or machinability. The alloys are fully non-magnetic, resist corrosion in many fluids and work at extremely low temperatures. Strip complies with EN 1654, and surface finishing includes cleaning, corrosion inhibition and optional gold or silver plating.

When comparing copper alloys, look at the full set of numbers: tensile strength (Rm), yield strength (Rp), elongation (A50), hardness (HV, HB or HRC), formability as a bend ratio (R/t) and electrical conductivity in % IACS.

No single grade wins on all of them. The right choice depends on how the part is made, what it has to carry and the conditions it works in. NGK Berylco's technical team can talk through the trade-offs.

Modern vehicles are packed with connectors, sensors and safety critical electrical parts, many of them under the bonnet where heat and vibration never let up. Automotive engineers specify NGK Berylco alloys for contact force that holds over the life of the vehicle.

NGK Berylco's range covers beryllium copper and beryllium-free copper-nickel-tin. The Berylco alloys contain up to 2% beryllium in a copper matrix: C17200 (Berylco 25) is the most versatile, C17300 (Berylco 33/25) is the go-to for screw machining and C17510 (Berylco 14) delivers very high conductivity. C17530 (Berylco 7) and C17000 (Berylco 165) extend the family. The GMX copper-nickel-tin grades are C72700 (GMX 96), C72950 (GMX 215) and C72900 (GMX 158).

Every coil, rod and component is backed by certified systems: ISO 9001, the aerospace standard EN 9100, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. In-house testing and inspection keep properties consistent from batch to batch.

For Safety Critical Automotive Copper Alloys from a supplier with real metallurgical know-how, get in touch with NGK Berylco UK, Houston Park, Montford Street, Salford, M50 2RP. Call +44 (0)161 745 7162 or email enquiries@ngkberylco.co.uk.