Beryllium in Action

The unique properties of this lightweight metal make it a critical enabler of modern technologies extensively used throughout aerospace, defense, telecommunications and computer, energy exploration, medical diagnostic and other advanced applications.

You’ll find beryllium and beryllium-containing materials in a wide range of applications for many different reasons. In virtually every end use, there is no other material that can deliver the performance and reliability demanded of beryllium.

It is essential for sustaining continuous high performance, such as in pacemakers, medical lasers and computers.

Its properties must remain intact for years or decades, such as in automotive air bag sensors, the fatigue-free springs that operate automatic fire suppression sprinkler systems or the corrosion-free electronics housings that must protect undersea fiber optic cable equipment decade after decade.

In the presence of flammable gases or liquids, from operating rooms to oil and gas drilling rigs, beryllium’s non-sparking properties protect people, equipment and resources from the danger of fire or explosion.

By enabling high-frequency telecommunications, from cell phones to global positioning systems, to radar instruments, to tracking and monitoring systems, beryllium helps keep the homeland secure and military personnel out of harm’s way.

Beryllium is the premier material used to control the intensely hot temperature of plasma used in experimental fusion energy reactors. It is also valued for controlling conventional nuclear fission reactions.

It is especially useful in security devices and high-resolution medical imaging technology, such as mammography for early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

And, at home, it improves the efficiency of home appliances, helps make our portable phones and electronics smaller and multi-functional, and increases the efficiency and reliability of personal computers, gaming systems and flat screen televisions.