spore: profile
id: nickel-beryllium
spore_version: 0.2
family: nickel-alloys
name: Nickel-beryllium alloy 360 (UNS N03360)
abbreviation: NiBe2
role: high-temperature spring alloy, age-hardened strip
category: metals
type: nickel-superalloys
summary: |
  Alloy 360 (UNS N03360, also called NiBe2) is a nickel alloy with 1.85 to 2.05 wt% beryllium and 0.4 to 0.6 wt% titanium, sold as strip in soft and hard tempers and age-hardened to high strength. Materion gives a minimum tensile strength of 1860 MPa and a minimum 0.2% yield strength of 1590 MPa for the HT temper, a modulus of 195 to 210 GPa and a density of 8.27 g/cm3. Materion's stress-relaxation test shows a loss of spring force of only 2% after more than 10,000 hours at 400 F (200 C). Like beryllium copper, the beryllium content makes dust and fume a serious health hazard during processing.
best_for: Thin spring parts that must keep their force at 200 C or higher, such as sprinkler-head Belleville washers, thermostats, bellows and test sockets, once beryllium exposure is controlled
weakest_at: 'Health: beryllium dust, mist and fume during machining and heat treatment. Strength also depends on temper, and Matthey lists the strip as ferromagnetic'
identity:
  formula: Ni with 1.85 to 2.05 wt% Be and 0.4 to 0.6 wt% Ti; nickel plus additions above 99.5 wt%; impurity maxima 0.25 wt% Cu, 0.20 wt% Fe and 0.20 wt% Si
  source: materion-360-datasheet
  where: Chemical Composition table, row N03360 (Beryllium 1.85 - 2.05, Titanium 0.4 - 0.6, Nickel Balance). The Cu, Fe and Si maxima are from the Matthey data sheet, Chemical composition table (source matthey-360).
  designations:
    - system: UNS
      code: N03360
      source: materion-360-datasheet
      where: Chemical Composition table, UNS Number column
    - system: Trade name
      code: Alloy 360
      source: materion-360-datasheet
      where: 'Title line: Alloy 360 Nickel-Beryllium Strip'
    - system: Trade name
      code: NiBe2
      source: matthey-360
      where: Designation row, Alloy 360 column
tags:
  environments: []
  applications:
    - mechanisms
    - electronics-and-chips
properties:
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, after age hardening (Materion)
    value: 8.27
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: after age hardening
      unit_in_source: 0.299 lb/in3
    method: Value printed in the Materion data sheet under Typical Physical Properties (After Age Hardening)
    status: ground
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Typical Physical Properties table, Density column
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, after hardening (Matthey)
    value: 8.36
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: value after hardening; the same sheet gives 8.25 g/cm3 before hardening
      unit_in_source: 8.25, 8.36 g/cm3
    method: Value printed in the Matthey data sheet, which footnotes its two density values as before and after hardening
    status: ground
    source: matthey-360
    where: Physical properties table, Density row, second value (footnote 1)
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: Melting range
    value: 1195
    value_high: 1325
    bound: range
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      property_type: melting range
      unit_in_source: 2185 - 2420 °F
    method: Range printed in the Materion data sheet
    status: ground
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Typical Physical Properties table, Melting Range column
  - benchmark: elastic_modulus
    label: Elastic modulus, after age hardening
    value: 195
    value_high: 210
    bound: range
    unit: GPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: after age hardening
      unit_in_source: 28 - 30 x 106 psi
    method: Range printed in the Materion data sheet
    status: ground
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Typical Physical Properties table, Elastic Modulus, metric line
  - benchmark: thermal_conductivity
    label: Thermal conductivity at 25 °C
    value: 48
    unit: W/(m·K)
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 25 °C
      unit_in_source: 48 W/m·oC (28 btu/hr·ft·°F)
    method: Value printed in the Materion data sheet
    status: ground
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Typical Physical Properties table, Thermal Conductivity (25 °C) column, metric line
  - benchmark: cte
    label: Coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 200 °C
    value: 14.5
    unit: ppm/K
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature_range: 20 to 200 °C
      unit_in_source: 14.5 x 10-6 mm/mm·°C
    method: Value printed in the Materion data sheet, metric line
    status: ground
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Typical Physical Properties table, Thermal Expansion Coefficient (20 - 200 °C) column, metric line
  - benchmark: poissons_ratio
    label: Poisson ratio
    value: 0.3
    unit: '-'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: single value printed in the Matthey sheet; no temper stated
    method: Value printed in the Matthey data sheet, physical properties table
    status: ground
    source: matthey-360
    where: Physical properties table, Poisson ratio row
  - benchmark: electrical_resistivity
    label: Electrical resistivity, age hardened (maximum)
    value: 28.7
    bound: upper
    unit: µΩ·cm
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: age hardened (AT, 1/4 HT, 1/2 HT, HT)
      unit_in_source: 28.7 micro-ohm cm
    method: Maximum printed in the Materion data sheet
    status: ground
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Typical Electrical Properties table, Maximum Resistivity, age hardened row
  - benchmark: electrical_conductivity
    label: Electrical conductivity, age hardened (minimum)
    value: 6
    bound: lower
    unit: '%IACS'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: age hardened (AT, 1/4 HT, 1/2 HT, HT)
      unit_in_source: 6 % IACS
    method: Minimum printed in the Materion data sheet
    status: ground
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Typical Electrical Properties table, Minimum Electrical Conductivity, age hardened row
  - benchmark: electrical_conductivity
    label: Electrical conductivity, cold rolled (minimum)
    value: 4
    bound: lower
    unit: '%IACS'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: cold rolled (A, 1/4 H, 1/2 H, H)
      unit_in_source: 4 % IACS
    method: Minimum printed in the Materion data sheet
    status: ground
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Typical Electrical Properties table, Minimum Electrical Conductivity, cold rolled row
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    label: Yield strength 0.2% offset, annealed temper A
    value: 280
    value_high: 480
    bound: range
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: A, soft annealed
      thickness: varies by thickness, as the data sheet notes
      unit_in_source: 40 - 70 ksi
    method: Range printed in the Materion data sheet, typical mechanical properties table
    status: ground
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Typical Mechanical Properties table, row A, Yield Strength MPa column
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    label: Yield strength 0.2% offset, age-hardened temper AT (minimum)
    value: 1030
    bound: lower
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: AT, age hardened from annealed A
      unit_in_source: 150 min ksi
    method: Minimum printed in the Materion data sheet, typical mechanical properties table
    status: ground
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Typical Mechanical Properties table, row AT, Yield Strength MPa column
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    label: Yield strength 0.2% offset, age-hardened temper HT (minimum)
    value: 1590
    bound: lower
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: HT, age hardened from hard H
      unit_in_source: 230 min ksi
    method: Minimum printed in the Materion data sheet, typical mechanical properties table
    status: ground
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Typical Mechanical Properties table, row HT, Yield Strength MPa column
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile strength, annealed temper A
    value: 660
    value_high: 900
    bound: range
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: A, soft annealed
      thickness: varies by thickness, as the data sheet notes
      unit_in_source: 95 - 130 ksi
    method: Range printed in the Materion data sheet, typical mechanical properties table
    status: ground
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Typical Mechanical Properties table, row A, Tensile Strength MPa column
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile strength, age-hardened temper AT (minimum)
    value: 1480
    bound: lower
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: AT, age hardened from annealed A
      unit_in_source: 215 min ksi
    method: Minimum printed in the Materion data sheet, typical mechanical properties table
    status: ground
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Typical Mechanical Properties table, row AT, Tensile Strength MPa column
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile strength, age-hardened temper HT (minimum)
    value: 1860
    bound: lower
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: HT, age hardened from hard H
      unit_in_source: 270 min ksi
    method: Minimum printed in the Materion data sheet, typical mechanical properties table
    status: ground
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Typical Mechanical Properties table, row HT, Tensile Strength MPa column
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation, annealed temper A (minimum)
    value: 30
    bound: lower
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: A, soft annealed
      note: valid for strip 0.10 mm and thicker, as the data sheet footnote says
    method: Minimum printed in the Materion data sheet, typical mechanical properties table
    status: ground
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Typical Mechanical Properties table, row A, Elongation column; footnote on strip thickness
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation, age-hardened temper HT (minimum)
    value: 8
    bound: lower
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: HT, age hardened from hard H
      note: valid for strip 0.10 mm and thicker
    method: Minimum printed in the Materion data sheet, typical mechanical properties table
    status: ground
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Typical Mechanical Properties table, row HT, Elongation column; footnote on strip thickness
  - benchmark: fatigue_strength
    label: Fatigue strength, reverse bending at 10 million cycles
    value: 586
    value_high: 655
    bound: range
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      form: strip
      loading: reverse bending, 10 million cycles
      unit_in_source: 85,000-90,000 psi
    method: Range printed in the Materion data sheet, overview paragraph
    status: ground
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Overview paragraph, first page, fatigue strength sentence
corrosion:
  - environment: General service and elevated temperature
    headline: Materion says the strip has corrosion resistance surpassing stainless steel. The data sheet prints no corrosion test.
    effect: No corrosion rate, test medium or exposure time is printed in the data sheet. Materion says the alloy's surface chemistry is similar to other commercial nickel-base alloys, so their plating and joining methods can be used.
    rating: low
    conditions:
      basis: qualitative manufacturer statement; no test data read
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Overview paragraph, first page; Plating section
risks:
  hazards:
    - text: Processing beryllium-containing alloys poses a health risk if safe practices are not followed. Inhalation of airborne beryllium can cause serious lung diseases in some individuals (Materion).
      ghs: []
      source: materion-360-datasheet
      where: Health and Safety section
    - text: 'US limits for airborne beryllium: 0.2 micrograms per cubic metre as an 8-hour time-weighted average, 2.0 micrograms per cubic metre as a 15-minute short-term limit, and an action level of 0.1 micrograms per cubic metre.'
      ghs: []
      source: cornell-1910-1024
      where: 29 CFR 1910.1024 paragraph (c)(1), paragraph (c)(2) and paragraph (b), action level
    - text: The alloy's own safety data sheet was not read in this run, so no GHS hazard statements are entered for this alloy. Materion refers readers to the SDS.
      ghs: []
      source: materion-360-datasheet
      where: Health and Safety section
  failure_risks:
    - mode: Loss of spring force in service at elevated temperature
      trigger: Constant stress at or near 400 F (200 C) over long periods
      consequence: Materion's test shows a loss of spring force of only 2% at 50% of yield stress and 5% at 100% of yield stress after more than 10,000 hours at 400 F (200 C). The data sheet gives no result for longer times or higher temperatures.
      severity: moderate
      source: materion-360-datasheet
      where: Stress Relaxation section
    - mode: Soft stock used where aged strength is needed
      trigger: Using annealed A temper strip where an aged part is needed
      consequence: Annealed strip yields at 280 to 480 MPa, against a minimum of 1030 MPa for AT and 1590 MPa for HT.
      severity: moderate
      source: materion-360-datasheet
      where: Typical Mechanical Properties table, rows A, AT and HT
    - mode: Dimensional change during age hardening
      trigger: Age hardening a finished part
      consequence: Age hardening raises density by about 0.5%, with a corresponding decrease in length (shrinkage). Parts must be sized for the shrinkage or machined after hardening.
      severity: low
      source: materion-360-datasheet
      where: Age Hardening section
  side_effects:
    - text: Copper-plated strip must be pickled to remove the copper before age hardening. Materion says removing the plating minimizes oxide formation during age hardening.
      affects: Surface finish and oxide layer after age hardening
      source: materion-360-datasheet
      where: Pickling, Removing Copper Plating section
  handling:
    - text: Read and follow the safety data sheet and Materion's beryllium safety guidance before machining, grinding or heat treating the alloy.
      source: materion-360-datasheet
      where: Health and Safety section
    - text: Before heat treatment, pickle copper-plated strip for 2 to 5 minutes in 20 volume percent sulfuric acid plus 2 volume percent hydrogen peroxide at 125 F (50 C), then rinse. After age hardening, a one-hour soak in 50 volume percent sulfuric acid at 160 F (70 C) restores the surface and removes less than 0.0001 inch per side.
      source: materion-360-datasheet
      where: Pickling and Pickling After Heat Treatment sections
    - text: Age hardening is generally 1.5 to 2.5 hours at 900 F to 950 F (480 C to 510 C), per Materion. Materion says to consult its sales engineer or use test specimens to establish other schedules.
      source: materion-360-datasheet
      where: Age Hardening section, first paragraph
  mitigations:
    - text: Materion says that to establish exact age-hardening parameters for other property targets, the user should consult its sales engineer or use test specimens, because the printed properties apply to the stated ageing condition.
      source: materion-360-datasheet
      where: Age Hardening section, text after the ageing graph
uses:
  - application: mechanisms
    device: Belleville washers for fire protection sprinkler heads, thermostats, bellows and diaphragms
    example: Materion lists Belleville washers for fire protection sprinkler heads, thermostats, bellows, diaphragms, connectors and burn-in and test sockets as applications for this strip. It says the alloy is used at up to 700 F (370 C) for short times.
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Overview paragraph, last sentence
  - application: mechanisms
    device: Thermostats, bellows, casings and membranes
    example: Matthey lists thermostats, bellows, casings, diaphragms and membranes as typical uses, and says the alloy keeps good spring properties at elevated temperatures.
    source: matthey-360
    where: Typical uses paragraph
  - application: electronics-and-chips
    device: High-temperature connectors
    example: Matthey says connectors using this alloy can reach 300 C and sometimes 350 C, where copper alloys cannot be used above 200 C.
    source: matthey-360
    where: Main technical properties paragraph
  - application: electronics-and-chips
    device: Burn-in and test sockets and high-temperature connectors
    example: Materion lists connectors and burn-in and test sockets among typical applications for Alloy 360 strip, which it describes for high-reliability electrical and electronic systems.
    source: materion-360-datasheet
    where: Overview paragraph, first sentence and last sentence
supply:
  - subject: Nickel (mine production)
    producers:
      - country: Indonesia
        share_percent: 66.7
        year: 2025
      - country: Philippines
        share_percent: 6.9
        year: 2025
      - country: Russia
        share_percent: 5.1
        year: 2025
      - country: New Caledonia
        share_percent: 3.6
        year: 2025
    critical_lists:
      - list: USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals
        listed: true
    recycling: 'USGS: nickel recovered from scrap accounted for approximately 60% of apparent US consumption in 2025.'
    substitutes:
      - 'USGS: titanium alloys can substitute for nickel or nickel-base alloys in corrosive environments.'
    source: usgs-mcs2026-nickel
    where: 'World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025e, world total 3,900,000 t (rounded); shares calculated by Space Mushroom from the country values 2,600,000, 270,000, 200,000 and 140,000 t. Recycling and Substitutes sections. Critical list: usgs-crit2025.'
  - subject: Beryllium (mine production)
    producers:
      - country: United States
        share_percent: 53.5
        year: 2025
      - country: Brazil
        share_percent: 18.6
        year: 2025
      - country: China
        share_percent: 17.9
        year: 2025
      - country: Nigeria
        share_percent: 9.3
        year: 2025
    critical_lists:
      - list: USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals
        listed: true
    recycling: 'USGS: recovered beryllium from new and old scrap may account for as much as 20% to 25% of total beryllium consumption.'
    substitutes:
      - 'USGS: bronze alloys (copper-tin-phosphorus) may be substituted for beryllium-copper alloys, with substantially reduced performance. The USGS chapter names no substitute for nickel-beryllium strip.'
    source: usgs-mcs2026-beryllium
    where: 'World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025e, world total 430 t of beryllium content (rounded); shares calculated by Space Mushroom from the country values 230, 80, 77 and 40 t. Recycling and Substitutes sections. Critical list: usgs-crit2025.'
documents:
  - title: Materion Alloy 360 Nickel-Beryllium Strip data sheet (PDF)
    type: datasheet
    url: https://hkvxni.files.cmp.optimizely.com/download/f1c2913af37d11ee8f5c62183442181f
  - title: Lamineries Matthey, NiBe Alloy 360 data sheet (v25E)
    type: datasheet
    url: https://www.matthey.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/downloads/fichetechnique/EN/NiBe-Alloy360_v25E.pdf
    year: 2022
  - title: 'Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Nickel'
    type: report
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-nickel.pdf
    year: 2026
  - title: 'Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Beryllium'
    type: report
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-beryllium.pdf
    year: 2026
  - title: 29 CFR 1910.1024 Beryllium, Cornell Legal Information Institute
    type: standard
    url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/29/1910.1024
gaps:
  - Berylco Nickel Alloy 440 is not listed as a designation and no values from it are entered. The ASM Alloy Digest (1975, paywalled) names it an age-hardenable nickel-beryllium-titanium alloy, but no source read in this run prints its composition or says it is the same grade as UNS N03360. A search snippet giving about 1.95 Be and 0.5 Ti for Berylco 440 was not verified and is not used.
  - 'The density values disagree: Materion gives 8.27 g/cm3 after age hardening, and Matthey gives 8.25 before and 8.36 after hardening. Both are entered with their sources and not reconciled.'
  - Fatigue data differ by source and condition. Materion gives 586 to 655 MPa at 10 million cycles in reverse bending for strip. Matthey's text says more than 700 N/mm2 at 10 to the power 6 cycles with R = -1, which is not entered because its conditions differ.
  - Materion's typical mechanical values are not minimum specification values, except where the table itself prints a min. figure.
  - Hardness (HV) values are printed in the Materion table but not entered, because the property canon has no hardness name.
  - electrical_conductivity is a snake_case name that is not in the canonical property list, so the canonical unit conversion may not apply. Electrical resistivity uses the canonical name.
  - The EU critical raw materials list was not checked for nickel or beryllium in this run, so critical_lists shows only the USGS 2025 list.
  - No nickel crustal abundance was read, so the supply entry has no abundance figure.
  - No nickel-specific or alloy-specific hazard source was read, and the PubChem and Wikipedia GHS records were not used. Hazard entries rest on Materion's health statement and the OSHA beryllium regulation.
  - 'Corrosion has no test data: the only statement is Materion''s qualitative claim that corrosion resistance surpasses stainless steel.'
  - Materion's product web page was opened but its text could not be read in this run, so no figure from it is used. The data sheet's stress-relaxation test is the source used.
  - Space-environment data (outgassing, radiation, thermal-vacuum, atomic oxygen) were not found for this alloy.
  - 'Magnetic behaviour: Matthey lists the strip as ferromagnetic. Materion does not state it, so no magnetic property row is entered.'
sources:
  materion-360-datasheet:
    title: Alloy 360 Nickel-Beryllium Strip, Materion data sheet (High Strength at Elevated Temperature)
    id: Materion Alloy 360 (UNS N03360) strip data sheet
    url: https://hkvxni.files.cmp.optimizely.com/download/f1c2913af37d11ee8f5c62183442181f
    kind: datasheet
    license: Manufacturer datasheet (cited, not reproduced)
  matthey-360:
    title: NiBe Alloy 360 data sheet, Lamineries Matthey (branch of Notz Metall AG)
    id: Alloy 360, NiBe2, v25E, 2022
    url: https://www.matthey.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/downloads/fichetechnique/EN/NiBe-Alloy360_v25E.pdf
    year: 2022
    kind: datasheet
    license: Supplier data sheet (cited, not reproduced)
  usgs-mcs2026-nickel:
    title: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Nickel
    id: USGS MCS 2026, February 2026
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-nickel.pdf
    year: 2026
    kind: report
    license: public domain (USGS)
  usgs-mcs2026-beryllium:
    title: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Beryllium
    id: USGS MCS 2026, February 2026
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-beryllium.pdf
    year: 2026
    kind: report
    license: public domain (USGS)
  usgs-crit2025:
    title: About the 2025 List of Critical Minerals (USGS, final list of 60 minerals)
    id: Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals, November 2025
    url: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/mineral-resources-program/science/about-2025-list-critical-minerals
    year: 2025
    kind: web
    license: public domain (USGS)
  cornell-1910-1024:
    title: 29 CFR 1910.1024 Beryllium, Cornell Legal Information Institute
    url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/29/1910.1024
    kind: standard
    license: US federal regulation (public domain)
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-26'
review:
  status: draft
  method: assistant
  checked_values: 19
  unreachable: 2
  caveats: 4
  note: 'Read by an AI assistant on 2026-10-26 from the Materion Alloy 360 data sheet and the Matthey Alloy 360 data sheet, with the USGS 2026 nickel and beryllium summaries and the OSHA beryllium standard. Unreachable: the Suppliers Online Alloy 360 page (HTTP 503) and the MakeItFrom page (HTTP 403). The ASM Alloy Digest for Berylco 440 is paywalled and is not used for values. Caveats: the Berylco 440 to N03360 link is not confirmed; the two density sources disagree; the Materion mechanical values are typical rather than minimum specification values, except the printed minima; no corrosion or space-environment test data were found.'
story:
  risk_groups:
    - title: For people
      lead: The alloy is a solid nickel alloy, but machining, grinding or heat treating it can release beryllium dust or fume, and that is the serious hazard.
      level: 2
      verdict: Serious inhalation hazard from beryllium
      points:
        - label: Lungs
          line: Materion says inhalation of airborne beryllium can cause serious lung diseases in some individuals, and that processing beryllium-containing alloys poses a health risk without safe practice.
        - label: Limits
          line: US law sets an 8-hour average limit of 0.2 micrograms per cubic metre and a 15-minute limit of 2.0 micrograms per cubic metre, with an action level of 0.1 micrograms per cubic metre.
    - title: If it fails
      lead: These failure routes come from the data sheet. No corrosion test is printed.
      points:
        - label: Relaxation
          line: Materion's test shows 2% spring-force loss at 50% of yield stress and 5% at 100%, after 10,000 hours at 400 F (200 C). Longer or hotter service is outside the printed data.
        - label: Soft stock
          line: Annealed strip yields at 280 to 480 MPa. The aged AT and HT tempers have minimum yields of 1030 and 1590 MPa.
    - title: Handling and storage
      points:
        - label: Follow the sheet
          line: Read the safety data sheet and Materion's beryllium safety guidance before working with the material.
        - label: Plating
          line: Pickle copper-plated strip before age hardening, which minimizes oxide formation during hardening.
  why: Nickel-beryllium Alloy 360 is used where a nickel-base spring must keep its force at temperatures that would limit copper alloys. Materion says the strip is used at up to 700 F (370 C) for short times and resists stress relaxation better than most spring materials. Matthey says copper alloys cannot be used above 200 C in the connector industry, where this alloy reaches 300 C and sometimes 350 C. Its strength comes from age hardening with about 2 wt% beryllium and 0.5 wt% titanium, so the strip can be formed soft and then hardened. The beryllium is the price, because its dust and fume are a serious health hazard during processing. Berylco Nickel Alloy 440 is an older trade name for a related nickel-beryllium-titanium alloy. No source read in this run says it is the same grade as UNS N03360, so its data are not used here. For the copper-based alternative, see the beryllium-copper profile.
  uses:
    - where: Sprinkler heads, thermostats and bellows
      line: Materion lists Belleville washers for fire protection sprinkler heads, thermostats, bellows and diaphragms among typical applications. Matthey lists thermostats, bellows, casings and membranes as typical uses.
    - where: Test sockets and connectors
      line: Materion lists connectors and burn-in and test sockets among typical applications, for high-reliability electrical and electronic systems.
  can_do:
    - label: Strength when aged
      value: 1590 MPa yield minimum
      benchmark: yield_strength
      line: In the HT temper the Materion minimum 0.2% offset yield strength is 1590 MPa, with a minimum tensile strength of 1860 MPa.
    - label: Stiffness
      value: 195 to 210 GPa
      benchmark: elastic_modulus
      line: The Materion data sheet gives a modulus of 195 to 210 GPa after age hardening.
    - label: Conductivity
      value: 6 %IACS minimum
      benchmark: electrical_conductivity
      line: Materion gives a minimum of 6 %IACS after age hardening, against 4 %IACS for the cold-rolled tempers.
    - label: Fatigue
      value: 586 to 655 MPa
      benchmark: fatigue_strength
      line: Materion gives 586 to 655 MPa in reverse bending at 10 million cycles for strip.
  compare: Alloy 360 is chosen for spring force at temperature rather than for electrical conduction. Its conductivity is 4 to 6 %IACS according to Materion. Matthey says copper alloys cannot be used above 200 C in connectors, while this alloy is used at 300 C and above. The beryllium-copper profile covers the copper-based alternative. The compare rows below show this alloy's values only.
  compare_rows:
    - label: Density
      benchmark: density
    - label: Yield strength
      benchmark: yield_strength
    - label: Electrical conductivity
      benchmark: electrical_conductivity
  handling:
    - Specify the temper and size, because yield strength runs from 280 to 480 MPa annealed up to 1590 MPa minimum when hardened to HT.
    - Follow the safety data sheet and treat all machining, grinding and fume as a beryllium exposure risk.
    - Pickle copper-plated strip before age hardening, then age harden for about 1.5 to 2.5 hours at 480 to 510 C, as Materion prints.
  good_for:
    - Springs, bellows and diaphragms that must keep their force at 200 C and above
    - Test sockets and connectors that run hot
    - Sprinkler-head Belleville washers, as Materion lists them
  watch_out:
    - 'Beryllium dust, mist and fume: inhalation can cause serious lung disease, and the alloy''s own SDS was not read'
    - Matthey lists the strip as ferromagnetic, so do not assume the non-magnetic behaviour of beryllium copper
    - Annealed strip is soft, and the aged tempers need the printed heat treatment
    - No corrosion test data and no space-environment data were found for this alloy
  verdict: Alloy 360 is a strong, heat-resistant nickel spring strip whose main risk is beryllium exposure during processing. Its aged tempers reach 1590 MPa minimum yield and it keeps its spring force at 200 C, but this profile has no corrosion test or space data.
  recipe:
    line: Alloy 360 is a nickel-base alloy with 1.85 to 2.05 wt% beryllium and 0.4 to 0.6 wt% titanium. It is sold annealed (A), in cold-rolled hard tempers (H) and as mill-hardened tempers that need no further heat treatment. Age hardening is generally 1.5 to 2.5 hours at 900 to 950 F (480 to 510 C), as Materion states.
    parts:
      - name: Nickel
        symbol: Ni
        share: balance; nickel plus additions above 99.5 wt%
        role: The matrix and the main metal. Materion lists nickel as the balance.
      - name: Beryllium
        symbol: Be
        share: 1.85 to 2.05 wt%
        role: The age-hardening element. Materion calls the strip precipitation age-hardened, which gives the high-strength tempers.
      - name: Titanium
        symbol: Ti
        share: 0.4 to 0.6 wt%
        role: A minor addition printed in the composition table.
      - name: Copper
        symbol: Cu
        share: 0.25 wt% maximum
        role: Impurity limit printed by Matthey.
      - name: Iron
        symbol: Fe
        share: 0.20 wt% maximum
        role: Impurity limit printed by Matthey.
      - name: Silicon
        symbol: Si
        share: 0.20 wt% maximum
        role: Impurity limit printed by Matthey.