Abstract: Processes are disclosed for forming beryllium-copper metal rings having a fine and uniform grain structure. A raw BeCu casting is pre-forged and turned to form a BeCu billet. The BeCu billet is subjected to various heat treatment and cooling cycles to obtain/maintain combinations of advantageous material properties. Generally, the BeCu billet is preheated, hot worked via forging, heated again, hot worked again via ring rolling followed by air cooling, solution annealed followed by quenching, and heated a final time followed by air cooling.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for forming beryllium-copper metal rings having a fine and uniform grain structure. A raw BeCu casting is pre-forged and turned to form a BeCu billet. The BeCu billet is subjected to various heat treatment and cooling cycles to obtain/maintain combinations of advantageous material properties. Generally, the BeCu billet is preheated, hot worked via forging, heated again, hot worked again via ring rolling followed by air cooling, solution annealed followed by quenching, and heated a final time followed by air cooling.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention is the metamorphic processing of a beryllium-copper alloy. The alloy is (i) thermodynamically treated for greater than about 10 hours at a temperature generally within a range of 900° to 1500° F., (ii) warm worked at greater than about 30% strain at a strain rate {acute over (&egr;)} greater than or equal to about (2.210×107)/exp[(2.873×104)/(T+459.4°)], where T is in ° F., at the temperature, (iii) annealed at a temperature between 1375° and 1500° F. for about 15 minutes to about 3 hours, (iv) water quenched, and (v) thermal hardened at a temperature generally within a range of about 480° and 660° F. Grain size is reduced with concomitant improvements in ultimate strength, toughness, total elongation, % reduction in area and ultrasonic inspectability.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention is the metamorphic processing of a beryllium-copper alloy. The alloy is (i) thermodynamically treated for greater than about 10 hours at a temperature generally within a range of 900.degree. to 1500.degree. F., (ii) warm worked at greater than about 30% strain at a strain rate greater than or equal to about (2.210.times.10.sup.7)/exp[(2.873.times.10.sup.4)/(T+459.4.degree.)], where T is in .degree. F., at the temperature, (iii) annealed at a temperature between 1375.degree. and 1500.degree. F. for about 15 minutes to about 3 hours, (iv) water quenched, and (v) thermal hardened at a temperature generally within a range of about 480.degree. and 660.degree. F. Grain size is reduced with concomitant improvements in ultimate strength, toughness, total elongation, % reduction in area and ultrasonic inspectability.