Powder metallurgy of beryllium: The developments of the national scientific center “Khar’kov physicotechnical institute”

For the first time in the production of construction beryllium an integrated technology for the production of a new generation of high-purity isotropic materials has been developed and mastered. The technology combines processes of vacuum distillation of the metal, gas flow atomization of a melt, specialized processing of the powder prior to densification and hot isostatic pressing. A technology for the production of spherical powders of beryllium and beryllium-based alloys by atomization of a melt is also developed and employed for the first time. A technology is developed and optimal conditions of isostatic pressing of spherical powders are determined. Isotropic beryllium with high physico-mechanical characteristics is obtained. The properties of the materials thus obtained are studied. The strength of the new materials is 20%, and their plasticity two to three times greater, than commercial beryllium. It is shown that the high purity of the initial powder, the cellular structure, uniform distribution, and dispersity of the particles of beryllium oxide and segregations of secondary phases are the principal factors that govern the level of the properties of compact beiyllium materials.