Beryllium Information

Beryllium as a free element it is a strong, lightweight and but brittle metal that is gray in color but like Aluminum rarely occurs this way.

Beryllium is most often used as an additive to other metals to improve the properties of the aluminum or copper that it is added to. The most notworthy application of Beryllium is in the making of spark resistant tools which are made of Copper with Beryllium added. The amount of Beryllium in this application would range from 1 to 3 percent.

Beryllium elsewhere is used in such things as missiles, spacecraft, and satellites and x-ray windows are usually made of this!
Warning! The use of beryllium requires the use of appropriate dust control equipment because of the toxicity of inhaled beryllium which can kill you.

Pure Beryllium has a very hight melting point of 2345F (1285C).