Refractory Metal O-30H
O-30H is an optical-grade powder-metallurgy beryllium consolidated by HIP and optimised for isotropic properties and polishability.
Reference datasheet — O-30H 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
O-30H tempers and conditions
O-30H is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. HIP is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HIP + stress relieved / thermally cycled | Pick for precision mirrors and metrology structures where micro-yield and long-term dimensional drift dominate; 730–790 °C vacuum anneal plus cryogenic cycling. | 190 | 300 | 3.5 | 130 HB | 42 % IACS |
HIPDefault Hot isostatic pressed | Standard supplied condition: fully dense, isotropic HIP billet or near-net blank for mirror substrates. | 207 | 324 | 3 | 140 HB | 42 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways O-30H is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
ENP | Electroless-nickel plated optical surface | Surface finish |
ETCH | Acid-etched surface condition | Surface finish |
What is O-30H?
O-30H is an optical-grade powder-metallurgy beryllium consolidated by HIP and optimised for isotropic properties and polishability. It is used for mirror and reflector substrates that must hold figure, offering 207 MPa yield, 324 MPa tensile, 3% elongation, 303 GPa modulus, 216 W/m·K and service to 500 °C, in HIP, stress-relieved, etched and electroless-nickel-plated conditions. Elongation is low, cold forming is not possible, fusion welding is avoided, and machining requires enclosed wet or HEPA-controlled cells. I-220H suits structural parts instead. O-30H has a density of 1.85 g/cm³ (0.0668 lb/in³), lighter than 96% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 1,287°C (2,349 °F). O-30H has a yield strength of 207 MPa (30 ksi) and a tensile strength of 324 MPa (47 ksi) — weaker than 82% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 303 GPa (43.9 Msi).
What is O-30H used for?
- telescope mirrors
- laser mirror substrates
- reflective optics
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 216 W/m·K (124.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of refractory metal grades
- High electrical conductivity — 42 % IACS, better than 99% of refractory metal grades
- Lightweight — 1.85 g/cm³ (0.0668 lb/in³), better than 96% of refractory metal grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 78/100, better than 94% of refractory metal grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 42/100, worse than 95% of refractory metal grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 93% of refractory metal grades
- Low fracture toughness — 11 MPa·√m (10 ksi·√in), worse than 92% of refractory metal grades
- Limited ductility — 3%, worse than 88% of refractory metal grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 86% of refractory metal grades
O-30H properties
Typical room-temperature values for O-30H-HIP; bars are the position among refractory metal grades.
Physical3
O-30H has a density of 1.85 g/cm³ (0.0668 lb/in³), lighter than 96% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 1,287°C (2,349 °F).
Mechanical16
O-30H has a yield strength of 207 MPa (30 ksi) and a tensile strength of 324 MPa (47 ksi) — weaker than 82% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 303 GPa (43.9 Msi).
Thermal6
O-30H is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 216 W/m·K (124.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of refractory metal grades. Thermal expansion is 11.3 µm/m·K (6.28 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
O-30H conducts electricity at 42 % IACS, better than 99% of refractory metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (42/100), worse than 95% of refractory metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of O-30H takes about 1,500 MJ of energy and emits 95 kg of CO₂ — more than 77% of refractory metal grades. Typical recycled content is 10%.
Manufacturability7
O-30H's machinability is fair (35/100, better than 81% of refractory metal grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
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. O-30H is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with O-30H
Is O-30H easy to machine?
Machine only in enclosed wet/HEPA-controlled cells with sharp carbide or diamond tooling, light depth of cut and no dwell; finish machining must be followed by acid etch to remove the twinned, microcracked surface layer.
Can O-30H be welded?
Essentially not fusion welded for optics — electron-beam welding is possible but hot-crack prone; joints are normally Al–Si brazed, diffusion bonded or mechanically fastened with insulated interfaces.
Can O-30H be formed, bent or molded?
No cold forming; parts are produced near-net by HIP into shaped cans or by machining billet, with warm working (>400 °C) only for special mill products.
O-30H 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 |
|---|---|---|
| BeOlow oxide content for optical isotropy and low microyield | ≤ 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.1 | 0.06 |
| Al | ≤ 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Mg | ≤ 0.07 | 0.03 |
| Si | ≤ 0.07 | 0.03 |
| C | ≤ 0.07 | 0.05 |
| other metallic, each | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Beberyllium assay, wt % (BeO excluded) | ≥ 99 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on O-30H?
Acid etch, then electroless nickel or CVD/PVD SiO₂-Al coating for polishing to optical figure; never anodize, and protect bare Be from chloride humidity to avoid pitting.
How much does O-30H cost?
O-30H 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.
O-30H — frequently asked
What is O-30H used for?
O-30H is typically used for telescope mirrors, laser mirror substrates and reflective optics. In short: optical-grade beryllium; isotropic HIP microstructure; best polishability in family.
What is the yield strength of O-30H?
O-30H has a typical yield strength of 207 MPa (30 ksi) and a tensile strength of 324 MPa (47 ksi) — weaker than 82% of refractory metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is O-30H easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, better than 81% of refractory metal grades). Machine only in enclosed wet/HEPA-controlled cells with sharp carbide or diamond tooling, light depth of cut and no dwell; finish machining must be followed by acid etch to remove the twinned, microcracked surface layer.
Can O-30H be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Essentially not fusion welded for optics — electron-beam welding is possible but hot-crack prone; joints are normally Al–Si brazed, diffusion bonded or mechanically fastened with insulated interfaces.
What surface finishes work on O-30H?
Acid etch, then electroless nickel or CVD/PVD SiO₂-Al coating for polishing to optical figure; never anodize, and protect bare Be from chloride humidity to avoid pitting.
Can O-30H be formed, bent or molded?
No cold forming; parts are produced near-net by HIP into shaped cans or by machining billet, with warm working (>400 °C) only for special mill products.
What is the maximum service temperature of O-30H?
O-30H is rated for continuous use to about 500°C (932 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between O-30H-HIP and O-30H HIP-SR?
HIP is the default condition — standard supplied condition: fully dense, isotropic HIP billet or near-net blank for mirror substrates. HIP-SR: pick for precision mirrors and metrology structures where micro-yield and long-term dimensional drift dominate; 730–790 °C vacuum anneal plus cryogenic cycling. Yield strength is 207 MPa in HIP versus 190 MPa in HIP-SR.
How much does O-30H cost?
O-30H 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
- Optical-grade beryllium (O-30 / O-30H) product data — Materion Beryllium & Composites (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys, Beryllium section — ASM International (1990)
- ASTM B(hot-pressed/HIP beryllium block specifications, e.g. B776/B783 family) — ASTM International (2019)
- Beryllium Optical Materials and Mirror Fabrication reviews (SPIE proceedings) — SPIE (2010)
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.