Structure and Deformation of Intermetallic Beryllides

Intermetallic beryllides are potential light-weight, high-temperature structural materials. In this paper. the processing techniques, microstructure. deformation, and oxidation properties of intermetallic beryllides are described. In addition to nickel beryllides (NiBe). which is treated as a model system.other high beryllium-containing refractory beryllides, such as Nb2 Be17. VBe12. are also studied.The room temperature deformation and high-temperature creep properties of these beryllides are repor4ed. At room temperature. NiBe exhibits certain tensile ductility (~ 1 .3%). but all other beryllides are essentially brittle. Nonetheless, these beryllides become ductile at temperatures above approximately 1000℃. Their creep properties are presented. The creep properties are compared with those of intermetallic aluminides. Also. a comparison is made between the ductile-to-brittle transition behaviour of intermetallic beryllides and that of aluminides. Although beryllides are generally oxidation resistant at high temperatures, some beryllides, e.g., ZrBe13, suffer the pest reaction during oxidation at intermediate tem peratures. The pest mechanisms are proposed