|
   
- Beryllium (Be) Metal Synonyms:
Be, beryllium powder, beryllium sheet, beryllium foil, beryllium rod, CAS# 7440-41-7, beryllium oxide, BeO,
- Beryllium (Be) Metal Designations:
Chemical Name: Beryllium
Chemical Formula: Be
a) Beryllium, steel-gray in color, is the lightest structural metal and has one of the highest melting points of light metals. At ordinary temperatures, beryllium resists oxidation in air. It occurs as a chemical component of certain rocks (bertrandite and beryl)‚ coal and oil‚ soil‚ and volcanic dust. The element is resistant to concentrated nitric acid, is nonmagnetic, and offers excellent thermal conductivity.
b) Beryllium’s light weight‚ high tensile strength and ability to slow neutrons have made it useful for many purposes in many industries. The beryllium fabrication process is usually by powder metallurgy, due to the metal's poor ductility.
c) Common workplace forms of beryllium are beryllium oxide powder‚ beryllium ceramics and beryllium copper alloy
98.0% up to 99.9999% pure along with Be alloys
Sheet, rod, pieces (up to 99.9999%), targets, granules and powder
|
Atomic Number
|
4
|
|
Molecular Weight (g/mol.)
|
9.0122
|
|
Apparent Density (g/cm3)
|
1.85
|
|
Specific Heat @0°C (cal/g-°C)
|
.46
|
|
Melting Point (°C)
|
1283
|
|
Boiling Point (°C)
|
2470
|
|
Thermal Conductivity @0°C (cal/s-cm°C)
|
.440
|
|
Modulus of elasticity (10-6 psi)
|
42.0
|
|
RTECS Number
|
DS1750000
|
|
Heat of Fusion (kcal/g atom)
|
2.8
|
|
Heat of Sublimation (kcal/mol)
|
76.56
|
|
Heat of Evaporation (kcal/mol)
|
53.55
|
|
Crystallography
|
hexagonal structure
|
a) Pure beryllium metal is used for lightweight metal structures, aerospace applications, nuclear reactors, audio components, high speed computer parts, x-ray windows, optical platforms, & space telescopes.
b) It is also used in the manufacture of aircraft disc brakes‚ nuclear weapons and reactors‚ missile parts‚ heat shields‚ x–ray machine parts‚ mirror substrates, and spacecraft. Beryllium oxide is used in ceramics for electronics and high–technology applications. Among the uses for beryllium alloys are electrical connectors‚ springs‚ precision instruments‚ aircraft engine parts‚ wheels and pinions.
c) Beryllium metal and metal alloys may be found in consumer products such as televisions‚ calculators‚ computers‚ special nonsparking tools and sports equipment. It also can be part of dental alloys and dental bridges.
d) The Nuclear Future ?
i) There are ongoing developments that promise to significantly change the entire dynamic of this metal. Research has demonstrated that the addition of 5% beryllium oxide (BeO) to a conventional nuclear fuel pellet will extend the life of a fuel rod by as much as 25%. This mixed uranium-beryllium oxide fuel more efficiently transfers energy out of the reactor and prevents degradation of the fuel because of excessive heat retention. The research is now in the process design stage which will be followed by field testing.
ii) Assuming the success of this research, the market for BeO could be expected to dramatically increase. There are over 400 commercial nuclear reactors in the world consuming approximately 150 million lbs of uranium oxide a year. The cost savings of up to 25% promised by the mixed uranium-beryllium fuel is not restricted to the basic uranium oxide fuel costs but to the complete fuel cycle cost, which is a large increment of reactor operating costs. Data generated to date shows that the use of mixed oxide fuel does not require any modification of either the reactor or the fuel rods, thus the changeover could be seamless. If the advanced mixed fuel was adapted by reactors worldwide, beryllium consumption could jump by 7.5 million lbs BeO annually. The successful integration of mixed beryllium oxide-uranium oxide fuels into the nuclear power industry could result in a seven fold increase in the beryllium market. 19 APR 2011 Source
Steel drums
a) Listed. For further information please call the E.P.A. at +1.202.554.1404
b) Beryllium is a very hazardous material. It is toxic and flammable.
c) Please Visit: NIOSH / CDC Safety & Health Information Sheet:
d) Before purchasing any beryllium please visit: Beryllium Safety Support Group MSDS and useful information on beryllium exposure hazards
e) Before purchasing any beryllium please visit: Beryllium Chemical Backgrounder‚ National Safety Council
CAS# 7440-41-7
1567
- This page was last updated on:
190 April 2011
|
