Define/Demonstrate Non-hazardous or Less Hazardous Beryllium (Be) Material for Defense Applications

Advanced Ceramics Research (ACR) will identify, evaluate and select the most promising technologies for a high stiffness, stable and healthy ceramic or ceramic composite material for the replacement of beryllia and beryllium in structural application such as mirror substrates, electrical and electronic substrate materials. As a part of the identification and selection of the most promising technology, designs using the Fibrous Monolith and gel casted methods developed at ACR will be used. The move toward non-toxic materials for the missile applications and those uses by other agencies such as the Department of Energy will provide continuing support for the beryllium (Be) replacement as we move into the first part of the twenty first century. Innovative materials such as alumina, aluminum nitride, phosphor bronze, steel, titanium, titanium diboride, and graphite along with new fabrication technologies such as co-extruded ceramic designs and gel casted ceramics promise to revolutionize the material health and safety for the traditional Be applications. The goal for the applications using this emerging technology is the cost effective replacement of the existing technology, such as beryllium metal substrates for mirrors, optical benches and shade structures.