Copper Alloy QBe0.4
GB QBe0.4
QBe0.4 is a low-beryllium wrought copper–beryllium bronze equivalent to C17410, hardened by precipitation ageing and available in TB, TD, TH and mill-hardened TM tempers.
Reference datasheet — QBe0.4 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the TM04 condition
QBe0.4 tempers and conditions
QBe0.4 is supplied in 13 conditions, soft to hard. TM04 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 13 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution heat treated | Softest, most formable condition for deep drawing or complex stamping before customer-side aging. | 200 | 380 | 35 | 90 HB | 25 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and cold worked, quarter hard | Lightly cold-worked feedstock for forming followed by precipitation aging. | 350 | 450 | 20 | 120 HB | 25 % IACS |
Mill hardened | Softest mill-hardened strip: form complex shapes with no further heat treatment. | 415 | 550 | 20 | 150 HB | 55 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and cold worked, half hard | Medium cold work before aging; balance of formability and post-age strength. | 430 | 500 | 12 | 140 HB | 25 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and cold worked, full hard | Maximum cold work before aging; gives the highest attainable aged strength. | 510 | 570 | 6 | 165 HB | 25 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and precipitation hardened | Aged from the fully soft condition — best choice when the part is deep-formed first and then hardened. | 550 | 690 | 15 | 185 HB | 50 % IACS |
Mill hardened, half hard | Mid-range mill-hardened strip for connectors needing both bendability and spring force. | 550 | 655 | 15 | 180 HB | 52 % IACS |
TM04Default Mill hardened, full hard | Most widely stocked QBe0.4 strip: ~50% IACS with 700+ MPa strength, no customer heat treatment. | 655 | 760 | 12 | 95 HRB | 50 % IACS |
TD01 and precipitation hardened | Aged after light cold work — moderate strength with retained ductility. | 655 | 740 | 11 | 200 HB | 50 % IACS |
Mill hardened, extra hard | High-strength mill-hardened strip for small-radius, high-force contact springs. | 690 | 795 | 10 | 22 HRC | 48 % IACS |
TD02 and precipitation hardened | Common spring-contact condition where higher yield is needed than TF00. | 720 | 790 | 8 | 22 HRC | 50 % IACS |
TD04 and precipitation hardened | Highest strength available in QBe0.4 — flat springs and heavily loaded contacts. | 760 | 830 | 6 | 25 HRC | 48 % IACS |
Mill hardened, spring hard | Strongest mill-hardened QBe0.4 strip; use only for gentle bends and flat spring blanks. | 760 | 850 | 8 | 25 HRC | 46 % IACS |
What is QBe0.4?
QBe0.4 is a low-beryllium wrought copper–beryllium bronze equivalent to C17410, hardened by precipitation ageing and available in TB, TD, TH and mill-hardened TM tempers. It is chosen when conductivity matters more than peak strength: 50 % IACS and 208 W/m·K with 655 MPa yield, 760 MPa tensile, 12 % elongation and 95 HRB in the default condition, typically as strip for stamped springs and contacts. Service temperature is limited to about 200 °C and beryllium dust control is required in the shop; QBe1.9 (C17200) is the choice when higher strength is needed. QBe0.4 has a density of 8.83 g/cm³ (0.319 lb/in³), heavier than 65% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,030°C (1,886 °F). QBe0.4 has a yield strength of 655 MPa (95 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 96% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 138 GPa (20 Msi).
What is QBe0.4 used for?
- Electrical connectors
- Relay contacts
- Switch springs
Advantages
- High strength — 655 MPa (95 ksi), better than 96% of copper alloy grades
- Stiff — 138 GPa (20 Msi), better than 95% of copper alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 208 W/m·K (120.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of copper alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 50 % IACS, better than 79% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 6.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades
QBe0.4 properties
Typical room-temperature values for QBe0.4-TM04; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
QBe0.4 has a density of 8.83 g/cm³ (0.319 lb/in³), heavier than 65% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,030°C (1,886 °F).
Mechanical12
QBe0.4 has a yield strength of 655 MPa (95 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 96% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 138 GPa (20 Msi).
Thermal5
QBe0.4 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 208 W/m·K (120.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17.5 µm/m·K (9.72 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
QBe0.4 conducts electricity at 50 % IACS, better than 79% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), better than 76% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of QBe0.4 takes about 95 MJ of energy and emits 6.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 95% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
QBe0.4's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 64% of copper alloy grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability fair (50/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the copper alloy family
Yield strength against density for every copper alloy grade FabDigit runs. QBe0.4 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with QBe0.4
Is QBe0.4 easy to machine?
Machines like a hard bronze — carbide tooling, positive rake, flood coolant; beryllium-containing chips and dust require local exhaust and wet collection, never dry grinding.
Can QBe0.4 be welded?
Resistance and laser welding are routine; TIG/EBW possible with matching or Cu-Ni filler, but aged strength drops in the HAZ and re-aging (315 °C/2 h) is advised.
Can QBe0.4 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in TB00/TD or the softer mill-hardened tempers; bend transverse to rolling direction where possible, and age 315–345 °C for 2–3 h to develop full strength with only slight dimensional change.
QBe0.4 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Below-beryllium precipitation hardener | 0.15 – 0.5 | 0.35 |
| Cograin refiner / co-precipitate | 0.35 – 0.6 | 0.5 |
| Nimay substitute part of Co in some mill practice | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Siimpurity limit | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Alimpurity limit | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Pbimpurity limit | ≤ 0.02 | |
| CuCu + named elements ≥ 99.5 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on QBe0.4?
Takes bright polish and accepts Ni/Au/Sn/Ag plating for connectors; do not anodize — degrease and lightly acid-activate before plating to remove the beryllium-oxide film.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on copper alloy parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Copper Alloy QBe0.4 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Similar grades
- C17410
How much does QBe0.4 cost?
QBe0.4 is a high-cost copper alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
QBe0.4 — frequently asked
What is QBe0.4 used for?
QBe0.4 is typically used for electrical connectors, relay contacts and switch springs. In short: high-conductivity beryllium copper; 50 % IACS spring alloy; milder alternative to C17200.
What is the yield strength of QBe0.4?
QBe0.4 has a typical yield strength of 655 MPa (95 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 96% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 13 listed tempers.
Is QBe0.4 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 64% of copper alloy grades). Machines like a hard bronze — carbide tooling, positive rake, flood coolant; beryllium-containing chips and dust require local exhaust and wet collection, never dry grinding.
Can QBe0.4 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Resistance and laser welding are routine; TIG/EBW possible with matching or Cu-Ni filler, but aged strength drops in the HAZ and re-aging (315 °C/2 h) is advised.
What surface finishes work on QBe0.4?
Takes bright polish and accepts Ni/Au/Sn/Ag plating for connectors; do not anodize — degrease and lightly acid-activate before plating to remove the beryllium-oxide film.
Can QBe0.4 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in TB00/TD or the softer mill-hardened tempers; bend transverse to rolling direction where possible, and age 315–345 °C for 2–3 h to develop full strength with only slight dimensional change.
What is the maximum service temperature of QBe0.4?
QBe0.4 is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between QBe0.4-TM04 and QBe0.4-TB00?
TM04 is the default condition — most widely stocked QBe0.4 strip: ~50% IACS with 700+ MPa strength, no customer heat treatment. TB00: softest, most formable condition for deep drawing or complex stamping before customer-side aging. Yield strength is 655 MPa in TM04 versus 200 MPa in TB00.
How much does QBe0.4 cost?
QBe0.4 is a high-cost copper alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM B768 — Copper-Beryllium Alloy Strip (UNS C17410 etc.) — ASTM International (2021)
- Alloy 174 (C17410) High Conductivity Copper Beryllium Strip — Materion Brush Performance Alloys (2020)
- CDA Alloy Database — UNS C17410 — Copper Development Association (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties of Copper and Copper Alloys — ASM International (1990)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.