GB482467A - Improvements in or relating to processes for the manufacture of beryllium or alloys thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Beryllium is produced by first forming beryllium sulphide by heating beryllium chloride with a carbonaceous material such as low temperature carbonization coke in sulphur vapours and/or a gaseous or vaporized non-metallic sulphur compound, e.g. carbon bisulphide or sulphuretted hydrogen, and then reducing the beryllium sulphide to the metal. Equal weights of beryllium chloride and carbonaceous matter may be heated to about 1200 DEG C. or preferably to about 1250 DEG C., or, according to the Provisional Specification, to about 900-1200 DEG C. Reduction of the sulphide may be effected by heating it in a stream of hydrogen at 1350 DEG C. or more, hydrogen sulphide being evolved, or in admixture with powdered aluminium in a current of hydrogen, aluminium sulphide and beryllium being obtained. The beryllium sulphide may be mixed in both of the above reducing operations with a flux such as beryllium fluoride or barium fluoride or a mixture thereof. The beryllium may be distilled, there being present in the condensing chamber, if desired, molten metal such as copper, nickel, aluminium, magnesium, lithium, or the alkaline earth metals, whereby alloys are obtained.ALSO:Beryllium is produced by first forming beryllium sulphide from beryllium chloride and then reducing the beryllium sulphide to the metal. Reduction of the sulphide may be effected by heating it in a stream of hydrogen at 1350 DEG C. or more, or in admixture with powdered aluminium in a current of hydrogen. The beryllium sulphide may be mixed in both of the above reducing operations with a flux such as beryllium fluoride or barium fluoride or a mixture thereof. The beryllium may be distilled, there being present in the condensing chamber, if desired, molten metal such as copper, nickel, aluminium, magnesium, lithium, or the alkaline earth metals, whereby alloys are obtained.