Abstract: A method to produce metallic beryllium spheres with high sphericity in a large quantity efficiently at a low cost is provided herein. The method of continuously producing metal beryllium spheres comprises the steps of: collecting granulated beryllium spheres produced by charging beryllium powder into a rotary kiln; classifying the collected beryllium spheres by particle size with an automatic sieve; and crushing particles of beryllium spheres of non-target diameters and mixing them with the raw material beryllium powder for reuse. The rotary kiln has a core tube the inner surface of which is coated with beryllium oxide by sintering the slurry coating of beryllium hydroxide applied after alkaline silica treatment.

Abstract: The beryllium content of beryllium aluminum alloys suitable for investment casting which contain a small but suitable amount of silver can be significantly reduced without adversely affecting their thermal or investment casting properties by including significantly more silicon in the alloy than done in the past.

Abstract: The Be content of Be Al alloys suitable for investment casting, which contain a small but suitable amount of Ag, can be significantly reduced without adversely affecting their thermal or investment casting properties by including significantly more Si in the alloy than done in the past.

Abstract: The beryllium content of beryllium aluminum alloys suitable for investment casting which contain a small but suitable amount of silver can be significantly reduced without adversely affecting their thermal or investment casting properties by including significantly more silicon in the alloy than done in the past.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnesium-based hydrogen storage material according to the present invention comprises a) forming a mixture of a magnesium hydride powder and a transition metal halide powder, b) adding the mixture and balls into a vessel, c) filling the vessel with an inert gas or hydrogen, and d) subjecting the mixture to high energy ball milling.

Abstract: Provided is a compound having at least one neutral, positive or negative increased binding energy species formed from a one-electron atom having an atomic mass of at least four and at least one other element. The increased binding energy species has a binding energy greater than the binding energy of the corresponding ordinary species, or greater than the binding energy of any species for which the corresponding ordinary species is unstable or is not observed because the ordinary increased binding energy species' binding energy is less than a thermal energy at ambient conditions, or is negative.

Abstract: A material for a nuclear fusion reactor of the present invention contains intermetallic compounds of beryllium with Ti, V, Zr, Nb, Ta, Mo, W or Y. The beryllium intermetallic compounds are mixed with another metal or intermetallic compound. The material is preferably applied to blankets and facing members which are exposed to neutrons and heat generated by plasma of the nuclear fusion reactor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a very light-weight, Mg and Be-based material which has the ability to reversibly store hydrogen with very good kinetics. This material is of the formula (M.sub.1-x A.sub.x) D.sub.y wherein M is Mg, Be or a combination of them; A is an element selected from the group consisting of Li, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, In, Sn, O, Si, B, C and F; D is a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir and Pt (preferably Pd); x is a number ranging from 0 to 0.3; and y is a number ranging from 0 to 0.15. This material is in the form of a powder of particles of the formula M.sub.1-x A.sub.x as defined hereinabove, having an average size ranging from 0.1 to 100 .mu.m, each particle consisting of nanocrystalline grains having an average size of 3 to 100 nm or having a nano-layered structure with a layer spacing of 3 to 100 nm. Some of these particles have clusters of metal D attached thereto, with an average size ranging from 2 to 200 nm.

Abstract: An arrangement for interconnecting groups of users into collision domains in a Local Area Network such as an Ethernet comprises a plurality of repeater groups, with each repeater group being connected to a group of user stations. The arrangement also comprises an electronically reconfigurable switch matrix. The switch matrix comprises a plurality of segment lines (or other transmission media) each of which is used to form one collision domain or Ethernet segment. Switch elements under the control of a microcontroller selectively connect particular repeater groups (and the associated user groups) to particular segment lines to form Ethernet segments, each Ethernet segment being a single collision domain. Internetworking devices such as bridges and routers may also be connected to the switch matrix to interconnect particular collision domains.

Abstract: Disclosed is a practical aluminum-based alloy containing 1 to 99 weight percent beryllium and improved methods for the investment casting of net shape aluminum-beryllium alloy parts.

Abstract: A light weight, high strength ternary or higher-order cast beryllium-aluminum alloy, including approximately 60 to 70 weight % beryllium, one or both of from approximately 0.5 to 4 weight % silicon and from 0.2 to 4.25 weight % silver, with the balance aluminum. Beryllium strengthening elements selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, or cobalt may be present at from 0.1 to 2.0 weight % of the alloy to increase the alloy strength.

Abstract: Articles of manufacture are made of aluminum-beryllium alloys having substantially randomly distributed aluminum-rich and beryllium rich phases to provide substantially isotropic mechanical properties, such as high stiffness and low coefficients of thermal expansion, whereby the articles of manufacture provide more rapid and accurate responses.

Abstract: Disclosed is a practical aluminum based alloy containing 1 to 99 weight percent beryllium, and improved methods of semi-solid processing of aluminum alloys containing beryllium. The present methods avoid molten beryllium, agitation of molten aluminum-beryllium alloys and the need for introducing shear forces by utilizing atomized or ground particles of beryllium mixed with solid, particulate or liquidus aluminum.

Abstract: A light weight, high strength ternary or higher-order cast beryllium-aluminum alloy, including approximately 60 to 70 weight % beryllium, one or both of from approximately 0.5 to 4 weight % silicon and from 0.2 to 4.25 weight % silver, with the balance aluminum. Beryllium strengthening elements selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, or cobalt may be present at from 0.1 to 0.75 weight % of the alloy to increase the alloy strength.

Abstract: A light weight, high strength quaternary or higher-order cast beryllium-aluminum alloy, including approximately 60 to 70 weight % beryllium, and from approximately 0.2 to 5 weight % germanium and from 0.2 to 4.25 weight % silver, with the balance aluminum. Beryllium strengthening elements selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, or cobalt may be present at from 0.1 to 5.0 weight % of the alloy to increase the alloy strength.

Abstract: An antifouling structure in contact with seawater or at least its surface layer is made up of a beryllium copper alloy having a beryllium content lying in the range of 0.2% by weight to 2.8% by weight. While this antifouling structure is immersed in seawater, a beryllium or copper oxide film is formed on the surface layer of the beryllium copper alloy mother material and beryllium or copper ions are liberated from the exposed surface layer of the beryllium copper alloy mother material into seawater. As years go by, the beryllium or copper oxide film peels away from the beryllium copper alloy mother material. Due to indeterminate repetition of such peeling, the liberation of beryllium or copper ions from the exposed surface layer of the beryllium copper alloy mother material into seawater is sustained.

Abstract: Disclosed is a practical magnesium based alloy containing 1 to 99 weight % beryllium and an improved method of semi-solid processing of magnesium alloys containing beryllium. The present method avoids agitation of molten alloys and the need for introducing shear forces by utilizing atomized or ground particles of beryllium mixed with solid, particulate or liquidus magnesium.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for producing a diaphragm for highly brittle metals used in loudspeakers, comprising a step of making a laminated plate by stacking a plate of superplastic material on a plate of highly brittle metal. The laminated plate is arranged on a mould, and the laminated plate is heated to a predetermined range of temperatures, determined according to the highly brittle metal. Subsequently, the laminated plate is deformed by pressuring the laminated plate in the mould, at the range of temperatures. Thus, a diaphragm can be formed from a plate of highly brittle metals, without causing brittle fracture or generating internal or surface defects.

Abstract: An elongated flexible tube that constitutes an insert part of an endoscope. The flexible tube comprises: a spiral tube made of a precipitation hardening metal and having a groove which is recessed inwardly from the outer surface of the tube, the groove extending in a straight line along the axis of the tube, the spiral tube being subjected to age hardening process after a solid solution treatment; a braided-wire tube formed by weaving fine metal wires into a braid, the braided-wire tube being closely fitted over the outer surface of the spiral tube; and a flexible skin closely and watertightly fitted over the outer surface of the braided-wire tube.

Abstract: An elongated flexible tube that constitutes an insert part of an endoscope. The flexible tube comprises: a spiral tube made of a precipitation hardening metal and having a groove which is recessed inwardly from the outer surface of the tube, the groove extending in a straight line along the axis of the tube, the spiral tube being subjected to age hardening process after a solid solution treatment; a braided-wire tube formed by weaving fine metal wires into a braid, the braided-wire tube being closely fitted over the outer surface of the spiral tube; and a flexible skin closely and watertightly fitted over the outer surface of the braided-wire tube.

Abstract: A powdered material and a process for producing the material are disclosed. The powdered material consists essentially of light metal based spherical particles which are essentially free of elliptical shaped material and elongated particles having rounded ends. The process for making the spherical particles involves mechanically reducing the size of a starting material to produce a finer powder which is then entrained in a carrier gas and passed through a high temperature zone above the melting point of the finer powder to melt at least about 50% by weight of the powder and form spherical particles of the melted portion. The powder is directly solidified.

Abstract: An acoustic diaphragm formed of beryllium or an alloy composed mainly of beryllium. Said diaphragm has a crystal structure having its plane (1120) preferentially orientated in parallel with the surface of the diaphragm.

Abstract: Alloys of beryllium with Group IV or V metals of C22 Aluminum Boride, C15 Laves or C14 Laves phase structures and an atom ratio of 2:1 form hydrides reversibly. Either beryllium or the Group IV or V metal or both are in some instances substituted for in part by selected metals up to the solubility limit in the phase structures. Exemplary systems are based on Be.sub.2 Ti with substitutions made to increase the stability of the hydride, or are based on Be.sub.2 Zr with substitutions made to decrease the stability of the hydride.