Physics and chemistry of beryllium

Journal Article · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.573431· OSTI ID:5653492

Stonehouse, A J

The combination of properties of beryllium which results in this very low Z element being a candidate for use in fusion reactors is reviewed. The occurrence, availability, and processing of beryllium from both bertrandite (domestic) and beryl (imported) ores are described. The available beryllium grades are characterized. The purity level of these grades, which are all unalloyed in the usual sense, is presented in detail. The crystallographic factors which establish the physical and mechanical characteristics are reviewed. Powder metallurgy techniques are used almost exclusively to provide beryllium with modest ductility at room temperature (e.g., 3% tensile elongation) and excellent strain capacity at elevated temperature (>40% tensile elongation at 400/sup 0/C). The metallurgical behavior of the powder metallurgy product is summarized. The physical properties of this low density metal (1.85 g/cm/sup 3/) are reviewed with emphasis on the favorable thermal properties. Mechanical properties at room and elevated temperature are presented. The solubility and reactivity of hydrogen with beryllium are both nil while it is an extremely good ''getter'' for small amounts of oxygen. The combination of beryllium characteristics which has led to the proposed use of beryllium in tokamak reactors as limiter surfaces and in fusion breeders as a neutron multiplying shield are reviewed.

• Research Organization: Brush Wellman, Inc., Elmore, Ohio 43416
• OSTI ID: 5653492
• Journal Information: J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States), Journal Name: J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States) Vol. 4:3; ISSN JVTAD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360101 -- Metals & Alloys-- Preparation & Fabrication
360103 -- Metals & Alloys-- Mechanical Properties
360104 -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700209* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Component Development & Materials Testing
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
BERYLLIUM
BREEDER REACTORS
CHEMISTRY
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
DOCUMENT TYPES
DUCTILITY
ELEMENTS
FABRICATION
LIMITERS
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALLURGY
METALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
REACTIVITY
REACTORS
REVIEWS
SOLUBILITY
SOLVENT PROPERTIES
STRAINS
TENSILE PROPERTIES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES