Alloys in Computer/TeleCom
Reliability is key when choosing an alloy for Computer and Telecommunication applications. Electronic communication and data transfer requirements continue to drive the need for faster and more reliable connectors and contacts. Performance considerations such as miniaturization, harsh operating environments, mechanical shock, fatigue resistance, and high operating frequencies continue to challenge connector designers and material limitations.
Copper beryllium is specified and used in applications where a combination of high strength, high conductivity, excellent stress relaxation resistance and formability are required to optimize a contact design and maximize the reliability of the interface.
End Uses in Computer/TeleCom
Why Brush Wellman Alloys?
Designers of electronic connectors and components are being challenged with increasingly shortened product development cycles and the need for lower cost component solutions while addressing the technology-driven requirements of miniaturization, higher pin counts, faster operating speeds, higher operating temperatures and greater durability. Copper beryllium strip and rod alloys provide a cost-effective, reliable solution for this challenge because of their unique combination of properties. Copper beryllium allows a designer to minimize the amount of material used in a given design, thereby reducing overall component cost without sacrificing performance.
Computer, Data Communications and Enterprise Equipment reliability over the life of the product/system is critical to the Service Provider or OEM for survival in the market place. Electronic communication and data transfer requirements continue to drive the need for faster and more reliable connectors and contacts. Performance considerations such as miniaturization, harsh operating environments, mechanical shock, fatigue resistance, and high operating frequencies continue to challenge connector designers and material limitations.
Copper beryllium alloys demonstrate superior reliability compared to phosphor bronze and nickel alloys because they exhibit an outstanding combination of material properties:
- high yield strength that provides excellent spring characteristics and the ability to withstand high stress loading without failure
- excellent machining and forming characteristics that enable ease of fabrication
- high electrical and thermal conductivity that allow for enhanced thermal management
- elevated temperature durability that allows for reliable and stable performance
If equipment malfunctions and service interruptions cannot be tolerated, then copper beryllium is the solution for your connector and interconnect needs.
Copper beryllium telecommunication applications typically utilize strip product, for stamped, formed connectors and contacts, and rod and bar product, for machined contacts.
Benefits of Using Brush Alloys in Computer and Telecom Applications
Copper beryllium is specified and used in applications where a combination of high strength, high conductivity, excellent stress relaxation resistance and formability are required to optimize a contact design and maximize the reliability of the interface. These properties allow the end user the benefits of greater MTBF (mean time between failures), lower service costs, and greater life cycle reliability. Additionally, the extensive base of knowledge that exists in the design, tooling and fabrication of copper beryllium, allows for a significant improvement in the time to market and time to volume of new products.
Copper beryllium offers the following advantages over other copper alloys:
- Higher elastic modulus, which allows for a wider contact deflection range
- Higher yield strength, which maximizes allowable beam deflections within the elastic range, allows for reduced beam lengths, and subsequently, miniaturization
- Superior stress relaxation resistance at elevated temperatures for the maintenance of stable contact force over time
- Higher conductivity, which minimizes bulk resistance and connector temperature rise
- Greater ductility, which allows for better forming characteristics
Visit our Design Center to access Brush Wellman’s Connector Design Guide, the Guide to Copper Beryllium, and other information on the design, fabrication, and performance of electronic connectors!
Components made from Brush materials are economical to acquire because of the ease with which they may be obtained or fabricated. Brush alloys are readily available worldwide from both company-owned service centers and independent distributor partners.
Technology, products, service, and value are all available worldwide from Brush Wellman Inc. and its distributors. Contact us for more information!