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Copper
Though beryllium has found application in a variety of ways, by far its biggest use is as a metal alloy. Basically, an alloy is created when a small amount of a secondary metal element is combined with the primary element to create a substance that is similar to the original material, yet displays some unique characteristics that make it useful in science or industry.
By far the most important alloy of beryllium is created when it is combined with copper. This product is called beryllium bronze and contains between
1 percent and 2 percent copper. This material is characterized by high electrical conductivity, high strength and hardness, non-magnetic properties and non-corrosive features. This useful alloy can be found in electrical contacts, drilling equipment, aircraft landing gears and heavy machinery parts.
Nickel
The nickel-beryllium alloy contains about 2 percent nickel and less than 1 percent titanium. This combination is not as common as bronze alloy, but does find use in several applications. It is produced as a small metal strip, which can be found in thermostats, sockets, burn-in connectors, bellows and diaphragms. The metal material is known for having good spring properties at very high temperatures.
Binary Aluminum Alloy
Binary aluminum alloys are a recent development, where beryllium is combined with aluminum. In this situation the beryllium content is only about 40 percent. So in essence this is not a true alloy. Actually, the newly developed material is classified as a matrix, because the two elements never actually combine. Instead, the materials combine as different phases. The new aluminum-beryllium product has found favor with defense and aerospace contractors, who employ its unusual properties in high speed aircraft, helicopters, missiles, spacecraft and satellites.
Beryllium Oxide
This substance is not an alloy, but rather a beryllium compound that is used in certain high-tech applications. Actually an extremely thin film is made with beryllium-oxygen compounds. In turn they are used to coat highly reactive metals such as zircon and titanium, as an effective form of protection against super high temperatures. This high tech application has found usage with nuclear reactors and the aerospace industry.
Beryllium In Iron Alloys
On occasion, beryllium may be used as the trace element in iron alloys, like stainless steel. In these situations, anywhere from 1 to 2 percent of the iron metal may contain beryllium. Addition of the alkaline metal gives the ferrous metal added strength without affecting the non-corrosive properties of the iron metal.