Abstract
The kinetics of the oxidation of electrolytic flake beryllium both in water vapour (1.2 cm pressure) and in moist oxygen (10 cm total pressure; partial pressure of water, 1.2 cm) have been investigated at temperatures in the range 500°–750° C; there was no significant difference between oxidation in these two gases. At temperatures up to and including 600° C the oxidation follows the same course as in dry oxygen, the rate continuously decreasing with time to reach a very small value after about 100 h. At 650° C and above, the oxidation is no longer protective and breakaway takes place, both the weight gain and the time at which breakaway occurs becoming less with increasing temperature. Metallographic examination of partially oxidised samples shows that the reaction after breakaway takes the form of attack down the particle boundaries giving rise to an interpenetrating network of oxide and metal. The effect of an oxide layer pre-formed in dry oxygen is shown to retard but not prevent breakaway on subsequent exposure to water vapour.
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