Differentiating Aluminium Bronze and Beryllium Copper
- Thread starter Rorschach
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AES
Established Member
Apart from finding a specialist lab (expensive I guess) I have NO idea mate, sorry.
Just as a matter of interest, why? I GUESS some bearing job/s in sight?
Just as a matter of interest, why? I GUESS some bearing job/s in sight?
I have a non sparking tool I am selling for someone, from what I can see they can be made of either AB or BC, if I can confirm it's BC then it's worth 2-3x more than the AB version. Unfortunately no markings on the tool itself.
AES
Established Member
Ah, OK, understood. As said before, I just dunno, sorry.
Aluminium bronze is softer than beryllium copper.
AB is 27 on the rockwell HRC scale
BC is 38.
Of course this only helps if you have one of each to compare side by side.
Or have access to a hardness tester.
Are you sure there are no numbers anywhere on the tool?
AB is 27 on the rockwell HRC scale
BC is 38.
Of course this only helps if you have one of each to compare side by side.
Or have access to a hardness tester.
Are you sure there are no numbers anywhere on the tool?
I thought that colour might be a telltale but both seems to have a range of colour.
AB have about 6-11% ally, BC has typically 2-3% Be, so there will be some difference in density, but I doubt I could pull off a measurement accurately enough to tell.
Good question for the trade association copperalliance.org.uk
Their technical gurus might fancy the puzzle ...
AB have about 6-11% ally, BC has typically 2-3% Be, so there will be some difference in density, but I doubt I could pull off a measurement accurately enough to tell.
Good question for the trade association copperalliance.org.uk
Their technical gurus might fancy the puzzle ...If the tool has a uniform density, you might try determining the specific gravity of it. Aluminum Bronze and Beryllium Copper have different specific gravities, but you will need an accurate scale and distilled water to test it.
