Nickel beryllium alloy compositions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9334551-B2
Application number	US-201414201322-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

Disclosed herein are nickel beryllium alloys having improved corrosion and hardness characteristics relative to known nickel beryllium alloys. The alloys have a chemical composition with about 1.5% to 5% beryllium (Be) by weight, about 0.5% to 7% niobium (Nb) by weight; and nickel (Ni). Up to about 5 wt % chromium (Cr) may also be included. The alloys display improved hardness and corrosion resistance properties.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A nickel beryllium alloy composition comprising:
from about 1.5% to about 5.0% by weight of beryllium (Be);
from about 0.4% to about 6.0% by weight of niobium (Nb);
less than 0.3 wt % aluminum (Al);
up to about 5% by weight chromium; and
at least 88 wt % nickel (Ni).

2. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 1 , wherein the alloy composition comprises from greater than 0.5 wt % up to about 5% by weight chromium.

3. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 1 , further comprising titanium (Ti) in an amount of up to about 0.7% by weight.

4. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 1 , having from about 2.0% to about 3.0% by weight of beryllium (Be).

5. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 1 , having from about 0.4% to about 5.0% by weight of niobium (Nb).

6. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 1 , having:
from about 2.0% to about 3.0% by weight of beryllium (Be);
from about 0.4% to about 5.0% by weight of niobium (Nb);
less than 0.3% by weight aluminum (Al);
chromium (Cr) in an amount of up to about 5% by weight;
titanium (Ti) in an amount of up to about 0.7% by weight; and
at least 88 wt % nickel (Ni).

7. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 1 , having at least 93% by weight of nickel (Ni).

8. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 1 , wherein the alloy contains titanium (Ti) as an unavoidable impurity.

9. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 1 , having a Rockwell C hardness of at least 50.

10. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 1 , having a Rockwell C hardness of at least 52.

11. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of Be:Nb is from 4:1 to 70:1.

12. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 1 , consisting essentially of:
from about 2.2% to about 2.9% by weight of beryllium (Be);
from about 0.4% to about 1.8% by weight of niobium (Nb);
less than 0.3% by weight aluminum (Al)
chromium (Cr) in an amount of up to about 5% by weight;
titanium (Ti) in an amount of up to about 0.7% by weight; and
at least 93% by weight of nickel (Ni).

13. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 1 , comprising:
at least 89.95 wt % nickel.

14. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 1 , comprising:
at least 92.30 wt % nickel.

15. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 1 , comprising:
at least 91.75 wt % nickel.

16. A nickel beryllium alloy composition comprising:
from about 1.5% to about 5.0% by weight beryllium (Be);
from about 0.4% to about 6.0% by weight niobium (Nb);
from 0% to about 5% by weight chromium (Cr);
from 0% to about 0.7% by weight titanium (Ti);
less than 0.3% by weight carbon (C);
less than 0.3% by weight copper (Cu);
less than 0.3% by weight aluminum (Al);
less than 0.3% by weight iron (Fe); and
at least 88 wt % nickel (Ni).

17. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 16 , comprising:
from about 2.0% to about 3.0% by weight beryllium (Be); and
from about 0.4% to about 5.0% by weight niobium (Nb).

18. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 16 , comprising:
at least 89.95 wt % nickel.

19. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 16 , comprising:
at least 92.30 wt % nickel.

20. The nickel beryllium alloy composition of claim 16 , comprising:
at least 91.75 wt % nickel.

Assignees

• Trybus Carole L
• Kuli John C
• Grensing Fritz C
• Materion Corp

Inventors

• Trybus Carole L
• Kuli John C
• Grensing Fritz C

Classifications

• C22F1/10 Primary

  of nickel or cobalt or alloys based thereon · CPC title

• Y10T29/49988

  Metal casting · CPC title

• C22C19/007 Primary

  with a light metal (alkali metal Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs; earth alkali metal Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al Ga, Ge, Ti) or B, Si, Zr, Hf, Sc, Y, lanthanides, actinides, as the next major constituent · CPC title

• C22C19/05

  with chromium · CPC title

• C22C19/058

  without Mo and W · CPC title