reply to post by favouriteslave
Uses for beryllium
* Due to its stiffness, light weight, and dimensional stability over a wide temperature range, Beryllium metal is used in the defense and
aerospace industries as light-weight structural materials in high-speed aircraft, missiles, space vehicles, and communication satellites. For example,
many high-quality liquid fueled rockets use nozzles of pure Be, an example being the Saturn V.
* Beryllium is used as an alloying agent in the production of beryllium copper, which contains up to 2.5% beryllium. Beryllium-copper alloys are
used in a wide variety of applications because of their combination of high electrical and thermal conductivity, high strength and hardness,
nonmagnetic properties, along with good corrosion and fatigue resistance. These applications include the making of spot-welding electrodes, springs,
non-sparking tools and electrical contacts.
* In the telecommunications industry, tools made of beryllium are used to tune the highly magnetic klystrons used for high power microwave
applications.
* Beryllium copper is used in electrical spring contacts.
* Beryllium is used in the making of gyroscopes, computer equipment, watch springs and instruments where light-weight, rigidity and dimensional
stability are needed.
* The James Webb Space Telescope[6] will have 18 hexagonal beryllium sections for its mirrors. Because JWST will face a temperature of −240
degrees Celsius (33 kelvins), the mirror is made of beryllium, a material capable of handling extreme cold better than glass. Beryllium contracts and
deforms less than glass — and thus remains more uniform — in such temperatures. For the same reason, the optics of the Spitzer Space Telescope are
entirely built of beryllium metal.
* Beryllium has been used in tweeter and mid-range audio loudspeaker construction as an alternative to titanium and aluminium, largely due to its
lower density and greater rigidity.
Respectfully
GEO