Refractory Metal AlBeMet AM162
Powder-metallurgy aluminum-beryllium composite (~62% Be) combining beryllium's stiffness with aluminum's ductility and machinability, used where lighter, tougher alternative to pure beryllium is needed.
Reference datasheet — AlBeMet AM162 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 HIP condition
AlBeMet AM162 tempers and conditions
AlBeMet AM162 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. HIP is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HIPDefault Hot isostatic pressed | Isotropic HIP consolidated billet/near-net shape — the standard stock form for machined instrument structures and housings. | 193 | 262 | 2.5 | 100 HB | 210 W/m·K |
Sheet/plate | Cross-rolled and annealed sheet for panels, brackets and warm-formed parts where in-plane property balance and maximum ductility are wanted. | 255 | 345 | 5 | 105 HB | 38 % IACS |
Sheet | Highest-strength sheet condition; choose for stiffness/strength-critical flat parts that will only be machined, not formed. | 330 | 420 | 3 | 125 HB | 37 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways AlBeMet AM162 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
EXT | Extruded | Supply form |
What is AlBeMet AM162?
Powder-metallurgy aluminum-beryllium composite (~62% Be) combining beryllium's stiffness with aluminum's ductility and machinability, used where lighter, tougher alternative to pure beryllium is needed. AlBeMet AM162 has a density of 2.1 g/cm³ (0.0759 lb/in³), lighter than 91% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 644°C (1,191 °F). AlBeMet AM162 has a yield strength of 193 MPa (28 ksi) and a tensile strength of 262 MPa (38 ksi) — weaker than 90% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 2.5% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi).
What is AlBeMet AM162 used for?
- avionics chassis
- missile guidance structures
- space optical benches
- high-speed rotating components
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 45/100, better than 99% of refractory metal grades
- Conducts heat well — 210 W/m·K (121.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 94% of refractory metal grades
- Lightweight — 2.1 g/cm³ (0.0759 lb/in³), better than 91% of refractory metal grades
- High electrical conductivity — 38 % IACS, better than 90% of refractory metal grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 2.5%, worse than 93% of refractory metal grades
- Hard to polish — 50/100, worse than 93% of refractory metal grades
- Low strength — 193 MPa (28 ksi), worse than 90% of refractory metal grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 45/100, worse than 86% of refractory metal grades
- Low fracture toughness — 13 MPa·√m (11.8 ksi·√in), worse than 82% of refractory metal grades
AlBeMet AM162 properties
Typical room-temperature values for AlBeMet AM162-HIP; bars are the position among refractory metal grades.
Physical3
AlBeMet AM162 has a density of 2.1 g/cm³ (0.0759 lb/in³), lighter than 91% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 644°C (1,191 °F).
Mechanical11
AlBeMet AM162 has a yield strength of 193 MPa (28 ksi) and a tensile strength of 262 MPa (38 ksi) — weaker than 90% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 2.5% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi).
Thermal5
AlBeMet AM162 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 210 W/m·K (121.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 94% of refractory metal grades. Thermal expansion is 13.9 µm/m·K (7.72 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
AlBeMet AM162 conducts electricity at 38 % IACS, better than 90% of refractory metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (45/100), worse than 86% of refractory metal grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of AlBeMet AM162 takes about 1,400 MJ of energy and emits 95 kg of CO₂ — more than 67% of refractory metal grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability8
AlBeMet AM162's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 99% of refractory metal grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability poor (15/100).
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 refractory metal family
Yield strength against density for every refractory metal grade FabDigit runs. AlBeMet AM162 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with AlBeMet AM162
Is AlBeMet AM162 easy to machine?
Machines like an abrasive Al-MMC with PCD or fine-grain carbide, high speed / light feed; all cutting, grinding and deburring must be wet or under HEPA extraction because Be-bearing dust is a chronic health hazard.
Can AlBeMet AM162 be welded?
Fusion welding is generally avoided (hot cracking, Be fume); electron-beam or laser welding with filler and Al-Si/Ag brazing or adhesive bonding are the accepted joining routes.
Can AlBeMet AM162 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as HIP block, extrusion or cross-rolled sheet; room-temperature ductility is only 2–7 %, so any bending or forming is done warm (200–350 °C) with generous radii.
AlBeMet AM162 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Beberyllium powder phase | 60 – 64 | 62 |
| BeOoxide from powder surface | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.1 | 0.05 |
| C | ≤ 0.1 | 0.03 |
| Others (each)total others ≤ 0.15 | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Alaluminum matrix | ≥ 36 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on AlBeMet AM162?
Electroless nickel plate is the standard finish (also enables optical polishing and diamond turning); chromate conversion or paint for corrosion protection — plain anodizing is patchy because only the Al phase reacts.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Refractory Metal AlBeMet AM162 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Also called
- Al-62Be
How much does AlBeMet AM162 cost?
AlBeMet AM162 is a high-cost refractory metal ($$$$), 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.
AlBeMet AM162 — frequently asked
What is AlBeMet AM162 used for?
AlBeMet AM162 is typically used for avionics chassis, missile guidance structures, space optical benches and high-speed rotating components. In short: beryllium stiffness, better toughness; machinable Al-Be composite; high stiffness with 210 W/m·K.
What is the yield strength of AlBeMet AM162?
AlBeMet AM162 has a typical yield strength of 193 MPa (28 ksi) and a tensile strength of 262 MPa (38 ksi) — weaker than 90% of refractory metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is AlBeMet AM162 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 99% of refractory metal grades). Machines like an abrasive Al-MMC with PCD or fine-grain carbide, high speed / light feed; all cutting, grinding and deburring must be wet or under HEPA extraction because Be-bearing dust is a chronic health hazard.
Can AlBeMet AM162 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Fusion welding is generally avoided (hot cracking, Be fume); electron-beam or laser welding with filler and Al-Si/Ag brazing or adhesive bonding are the accepted joining routes.
What surface finishes work on AlBeMet AM162?
Electroless nickel plate is the standard finish (also enables optical polishing and diamond turning); chromate conversion or paint for corrosion protection — plain anodizing is patchy because only the Al phase reacts.
Can AlBeMet AM162 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as HIP block, extrusion or cross-rolled sheet; room-temperature ductility is only 2–7 %, so any bending or forming is done warm (200–350 °C) with generous radii.
What is the maximum service temperature of AlBeMet AM162?
AlBeMet AM162 is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between AlBeMet AM162-HIP and AlBeMet AM162 SHT-CR?
HIP is the default condition — isotropic HIP consolidated billet/near-net shape — the standard stock form for machined instrument structures and housings. SHT-CR: highest-strength sheet condition; choose for stiffness/strength-critical flat parts that will only be machined, not formed. Yield strength is 193 MPa in HIP versus 330 MPa in SHT-CR.
How much does AlBeMet AM162 cost?
AlBeMet AM162 is a high-cost refractory metal ($$$$), 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
- AlBeMet AM162 / AM162H Product Data Sheet — Materion Beryllium & Composites (2022)
- Beryllium Chemistry and Processing — ASM International (2009)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 3 — Alloy Phase Diagrams (Al-Be system) — ASM International (2016)
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.