Soften TDH4 BeCu to 30-35HRC 1

[MaryPi]

Hello,

I have Full Tempered (TDH4) Beryllium Copper that is on the range of 35-42HRC and I want to soften it to 30-35HRC, I know Age Hardening Temperature is 2-3 hours on 600's°F but this will be my first time softening. I am not sure if more than 3 hours Work Zone time will softer them. If someone can give me an advice it will be greatly appreciate it. Thank you!

 

[EdStainless]

Which alloy do you have?
Was it cold worked before aging?
The catch is that you can always anneal (temp depends on alloy), but if it was cold worked then that is gone and you will only get the standard annealed+aged properties afterward.
go to copper.org and look up the data sheets.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[MaryPi]

Thank you EdStainless! Alloy is 25 and it is cold worked. [ignore]my main goal is 30-35HRC no matter other properties[/ignore]

 

[EdStainless]

Sounds like the wrong temp to start with.
What aging temp was used?
I know that if you go hotter (650F - 750F) and longer (2hr plus) you can overage and get lower strengths.
The problem in that if you overshoot it is too soft.

https://materion.com/about/new-at-materion/in-our-element-heat-treating-copper-beryllium-parts

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[MaryPi]

600+/-25F for 2 hours were use for aging them.

So do you think that at 600F for 30 min with work? or 700F for 15 min? According the picture below to make it more ductile?

Thank you,

 

[EdStainless]

It doesn't look like longer at 600F will ever lower it much.
And I would never rely on a 15min HT, way too much risk of missing the point.
Do you have some material to play with?
I would look at 1hr (or more) at 650-675F and see if it gives what you want.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[MaryPi]

Yes, I do have scrap parts same condition TDH4 and same base material I checked the graph i attached on previous comment and I will go for 700F for 3 hours and 30 min and see what I get.