Beryllium Copper In the Electronics and Telecommunications Industry

Did you know consumer electronics and telecommunications account for nearly half of all beryllium copper (BeCu) alloy consumption? Without it, we wouldn’t be able to communicate and live the way we do. This material is crucial. This cluster of metals goes by many different terms: CuBe and Spring Copper. Beryllium, cobalt, nickel, iron, and lead all make the useful copper alloy — giving it a unique group of properties, such as being highly conductive.

Beryllium Copper is Highly Conductive

From high-definition televisions to thermostats, BeCu is used for a variety of different applications because of its high conductivity. Electrical conductivity in metals derives from the movement of electrically charged particles. The valence electrons (from the outer shell of an atom) move about freely within the atom — allowing metals to conduct an electrical current. And the ability to harness this power makes the metal suitable for electronics components.

Electronic Components Seek to Become Smaller

Today’s electronics and their components are looking to become smaller and slimmer, for a number of reasons. Style, functionality — these are what makes the future of technology so fascinating — and beryllium copper is used for most of their applications. Some examples include:

• Micromotors
• Connectors
• Switches
• Relays

You can see Beryllium Copper used in many industries because of its electric and thermal conductivity. BeCu is non-sparking and non-magnetic, as well — making it safe for normally hazardous environments where a single spark can endanger lives (think oil rigs). And, in addition to electronic components, the group of metals has even helped with telecommunications advancements.

Advancements in Telecommunications

Beryllium copper has made modern telecommunication devices possible. You can find it in computers and smartphones alike — making it crucial to our everyday communication. The advancements this material has helped us make are unmatched. Beryllium copper has been used even for fiber-optic cables across thousands of miles on the ocean floor — connecting different continents together. That’s not something to overlook.

Mental Floss states that 99 percent of all international data is transmitted by these cables at the bottom of the ocean, helping string the Internet together. Without these cables — and without Beryllium Copper — our online connection with the rest of the world wouldn’t be possible.

Beryllium Copper from Mead Metals

BeCu has high strength and is highly conductive — making it useful for electronic devices and structural applications. And our team at Mead Metals is here to provide you with this material. We offer customized options for your Beryllium Copper needs — such as precision slitting from .250” to 12.000” — and more.

Contact us today to learn about how we can help you get the material you need.