The Production of High-Purity Beryllium Carbide

Abstract

A commercial method for the preparation of very pure beryllium carbide in quantities up to 140 pounds per run is described herein. This process, utilizing the reaction between-200 mesh beryllium powder and-325 mesh ink-grade graphite powder is carried out preferably in graphite dies under small mechanical pressures at a temperature in the neighborhood of lOOO'C. The effect of variables such as stoichiometry, temperature of reaction, beryllium powder particle size and materials of construction are discussed. A. PURPOSE The production of high-purity beryllium carbide was undertaken because of the potential use of this material as a high-capacity moderator. During the past several years, the NEPA project, then operated by the Fairchild Engine and Aircraft Corporation, was interested in obtaining very pure beryllium carbide in order to test its applicability to airborne nuclear reactors. The principal impurity present in the available grades of beryllium carbide which was considered extremely detrimental was nitrogen. The purpose of this project was not only to prepare very pure beryllium carbide for test purposes, but also to develop a process for the production of beryllium carbide on a commercial scale while retaining the degree of purity attained in the laboratory. It was also of considerable importance to determine the most economic method of preparing a technically accepuble product.