Aerospace bushing and bearing alloys

Citation

(2001), "Aerospace bushing and bearing alloys", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 73 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2001.12773fad.012

Aerospace bushing and bearing alloys

Aerospace bushing and bearing alloys

Keywords: Brush Wellman, Alloys

Brush Wellman, manufacturer of high strength copper beryllium alloys used for highly loaded aircraft bushings and bearings, reports that it is now able to supply a finer grain, higher strength and ductility copper beryllium alloy than was previously available (see Plate 8).

The company now offers aluminum nickel bronze alloys per AMS specification 4640 and 4880 in continuous cast tube form. The company claims that its patented Equa-Cast manufacturing process allows the supply of a more homogeneous, finer grain, "as cast" product than presently available in wrought form from other manufacturers. They also consider that this combination of product form and properties allows for significant savings to the aerospace bushing and bearing manufacturers.

Plate 8 New and improved aerospace bushing and bearing alloys from Brush Wellman

The Equa-Cast process has also provided the ability to produce a new generation alloy known as ToughMet, which is reported to be the highest strength, non beryllium, copper alloy available today. ToughMet 3, a spinodal hardened alloy of copper, 15 percent nickel, 8 percent tin, is described as a very strong, corrosion resistant, anti-galling alloy with very good bearing properties while easy to machine.

Brush Wellman has product available from stock, for all alloys mentioned, in a variety of sizes, both rod and tube. The company's Web site, www.beminc.com provides more details.

Further details are available from Brush Wellman Limited. Tel: +44 (0)118 930 3733; Fax: +44 (0)118 930 3635. Or contact: Brush Wellman, Inc., Tel: +1 530 622 3853; Fax: +1 530 622 0167.