At 10:57 PM 12/7/2012, Jeff Berkowitz wrote:
Abd, I assume you're aware of the hazards of working with this stuff?
Very. That, indeed, is the problem. If I were blissfully unaware of
the dangers, I'd cheerfully start sawing it hammering it or filing it
down, eh? Of course, it's pretty hard.
That being said, its melting point is not absurdly high - under
2400F. Could you melt some under, say, an N2 or argon atmosphere, on
perhaps a ceramic surface, so that it spread out into a thin layer,
and then cool it?
Like I can do this in my apartment?
(Yes, it would need to be done in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.
Beryllium Oxide is seriously dangerous. I feel reasonably safe having
a piece of pure metal around. Heated, no.)
From Wikipedia:
Like all beryllium compounds, BeO is
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcinogen>carcinogenic and may cause
chronic <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berylliosis>beryllium disease.
Once fired into solid form, it is safe to handle as long as it is
not subjected to any machining that generates
dust.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryllium_oxide#cite_note-9>[9]
Beryllium oxide ceramic is not a hazardous waste under Federal law in the USA.
Hmmm.... http://www.americanberyllia.com/ claims that the oxide,
fired, is safe, as implied in the quote from Wikipedia. Now, there
might be some kind of part or spacer or insulator made from beryllia
(BeO) that could be just the right size.... That would be nifty. Just
drop a little pellet of BeO into the Am-241 well... ... and a nice,
low-intesity neutron source?
On the other hand, Beryllium also is a neutron moderator, slowing
neutrons. I really don't know what to expect.
But I'll have some fun with my little ingot first. I really want to
see what happens, and it's another excuse to play with LR-115.
