Beryllization

the saturation of the surface of objects made from steel and sometimes other alloys with beryllium to prevent oxidation at temperatures up to 1100° C. In the outer zone of the beryllized layer the beryllides of various metals (iron, chromium, and others) and beryllium carbide (Be₂C)—which increase the hardness and resistance to gaseous corrosion—are formed. Beryllization is carried out in powderlike mixtures or in gaseous mediums. For example, after four hours at 1050° C, a beryllized layer 0.15–0.20 mm thick and with a hardness HV = 14–15 giganewtons per sq m GN/m²; 1,400–1,500 kg force/mm²) is formed on Steel 10. Beryllization is used rarely, and only for critical heat-resistant alloys.