Beryllium

Particle size distribution (Granulometry)

Description of key information

Information on particle size distribution is provided for elelmental beryllium. However, in the EU Beryllium is only imported, transported, stored, handled and marketed as solid material (e.g. blocks, bars). 

Additional information

Beryllium is only imported, transported, stored, handled and marketed as solid material (e.g. blocks, bars) and treated only by well-trained professional users but not in granular or powder form.

Beryllium metal within the EEA is usually provided in article form that needs little processing for end use applications. Beryllium metal in article form may undergo some machining that is done under very controlled conditions. The vast majority of applications involve the use of copper beryllium components which are inert, stable and do not give off emissions during use. Beryllium-containing alloys are only used in key places in products where they provide a design solution based on miniaturization, improved energy management, reliability and/or extending the service life. Within the European Economic Area, copper beryllium and nickel beryllium alloys are mostly stamped into a variety of shapes, sizes and designs for use in electrical and electronic equipment and present very little risk of exposure to airborne particulate. Copper beryllium is eminently recyclable. Copper beryllium materials, that are not able to be separated due very minute quantities being embedded in devices, are normally processed in a copper waste recovery process.

As with all metals, particulate can be generated during processing of metal articles. Particle distributions are dependent on the type of operation and can range from fume size particulate in hot work applications to large chunks in cutting and shearing type operations. Casting or master alloys, that are melted in the European foundry industry to produce alloys with different concentrations, generate particulates of varying composition and particle sizes.