How To Identify Counterfeit Grades of Beryllium Copper In the Market

As a beginner in the world of metallurgy, you might find it overwhelming to differentiate the best quality BeCu, or Beryllium Copper, from that of the counterfeit varieties. Plus, owing to the fact that material science is a complex affair, identifying the counterfeit grades can be deceptive. However, there are some basic pointers that might help you tell whether a given sample is authentic or potentially counterfeit. Let us get into the details.

Check Certificates and relevant Documents

Verifying the important documents is important for:

• Certification of materials: Only the genuine varieties of BeCu would have certificates of mill test. Such certificates detail the most important aspects, such as the mechanical properties and the chemical composition. So it is essential that you check the documents to make certain of the authenticity and material specifications of the material.
• Checking standard compliance: The best quality BeCu alloys would comply with a particular standard of quality, such as ASTM B194, CI 7200, and AMS4532. The present documents allow you to verify compliance with the necessary standards.
• Visual checking: While inspecting the materials, look for:

1. Finish and colour: Authentic alloys of BeCu have a particular golden or reddish hue. This depends on the mode of treatment and composition. The trick is to ask for samples from your nearby suppliers. Compare and contrast the samples before making a purchase decision.
2. Surface Quality: While checking the samples, you might also want to check for traces of resurface or reworking, if any. As a general rule, genuine materials would have a smooth and uniform finish.

Analysis of chemical composition

Typically, major suppliers of Beryllium Copper, like Kushal Metals, evaluate the chemical properties of the alloy through various methods. These include:

• Spectroscopy: This involves the use of techniques like XRF X-Ray Fluorescence, as well as OES or Optical Emission Spectroscopy. These procedures help in verifying the actual chemical composition of samples of BeCu. If you receive a counterfeit sample, then it is not likely to match the optimal composition.
• Beryllium Content:  The finest quality of BeCu meets a very stringent policy of regulatory and toxicity controls. This verifies the actual beryllium content. You can consider running any sophisticated chemical analysis test to verify the needful.

Physical and Mechanical Testing

This is possible by testing the:

• Hardness: Metallurgists often use the Brindell or Rockwell hardness test to double-check the mechanical properties of the sample. There is a possibility that counterfeit samples would not meet the required level of hardness.
• Tensile Strength: You can also consider conducting tensile tests. This ensures that the material you choose will meet the strength specified for an application, as well as have the necessary elongation properties.

Testing the Magnetic Properties

Typically, BeCy alloys are non-magnetic in nature. So if you come across a sample that has a strong magnetic property, then this might indicate the presence of a different type of alloy in the metal.

Conclusion

You can say that determining counterfeit BeCu might require some level of diligence. But once you know the right way to make it, then the process just gets easier with time. The presence of any impurity in BeCu can lead to catastrophic tool failure.