Method for producing malleable and ductile beryllium bodies

Claim 1

IN A METHOD OF PRODUCING MALLEABLE BODIES OF METALLIC BERYLLIUM, THE STEPS OF CHARGING A MASS OF THE METAL IN A FINELY DIVIDED STATE SUITABLE FOR POWER METALLURGY PURPOSES INTO A CONTAINER WITH AN INTERIOR HAVING THE FORM OF THE BODY TO BE PRODUCED; SUBJECTING THE INTERIOR OF THE CONTAINER AND THE CHARGE THEREIN TO THE COMBINED ACTION OF EVACUATION AND THE CHARGE THEREIN TO THE COMBINED ABOUT 900*C. UNTIL A LARGE PART OF ANY GAS AND VAPOR SORBED IN THE CHARGE HAS BEEN REMOVED THEREFROM AS EVIDENCED BY THE PRESSURE IN THE CONTAINER; THEREAFTER, WHILE MAINTAINING THE EVACUATION OF THE CONTAINER, SUBJECTING IT AND THE CHARGE TO SINTERING HEAT WITHIN THE TEMPERATURE RANGE FROM ABOUT 1000*C. UPWARD TO A TEMPERATURE BELOW THAT AT WHICH PRONOUNCED GRAIN GROWTH OF THE BERYLLIUM TREATED WOULD OCCUR AND PROLONGING THE HEATING AT SUCH SINTERING TEMPERATURE UNTIL THE CHARGE IS SINTERED THROUGHOUT; DURING THE PROLONGED COMBINED EVACUATING AND HEATING TREATMENT IN THE STATED SINTERING TEMPERATURE RANGE SUBJECTING THE CHARGE TO MECHANICAL PRESSURE GREAT ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN THE SINTERING CHARGE IN CONTACT WITH THE CONTAINER WALLS BUT BOTH INSUFFICIENT TO CAUSE DISTORTION OF THE HEATED CONTAINER AND MUCH LOWER THAN WOULD BE REQUIRED, IN THE ABSENCE OF SAID EVACUATION, TO PRODUCE THE SAME DENSITY OF THE CHARGE; AND SEPARATING THE CONTAINER FROM THE SINTERED BODY SO FORMED.