Beryllium metal, alloys, and compounds are widely used at LLNL and other Department of Energy (DOE) facilities because of the materials' nuclear properties as a moderator (i.e., reflector) of neutrons. Favorable mechanical properties have also resulted in beryllium's widespread use in the aerospace industry. Addition of 2% or less beryllium to copper forms an alloy with high strength and hardness--properties that have made the alloy useful in electronics, automotive, defense, and aerospace industries worldwide. Beryllium oxide (also known as beryllia) can be formed into beryllia ceramics, which have an exceptional combination of high thermal conductivity, electrical resistivity, and dielectric properties and which are used widely in electronics, laser, automotive, and defense applications.

Beryllium (atomic number 4) is a naturally occurring element. The commercially important ores are beryl (Be3Al2Si6O18) and bertrandite [Be4Si2O7(OH)2]. The metal is silvery gray, has a low density (1.85 g/cm3) and moderately high melting point (1287°C), and is relatively stable in air. Beryllium is commercially available as a metal [in massive form (i.e., "logs") or as sheets, foils, or powder], alloys (with copper, nickel, or aluminum), beryllia (as a powder or ceramic), or a large variety of other compounds.

Beryllium is naturally occurring in soils at both the LLNL main site and Site 300. The 1994 LLNL Environmental Report (UCRL-50027-94) reported the values shown in Table 1:

Location

Median (µg Be/g)

Range (µg Be/g)

Livermore Valley soils

0.50

0.33--1.2

Livermore Water Reclamation Plant soils

0.64

0.46--0.78

Site 300 soils

1.5

0.68--42