New technology enables cost effective beryllium-aluminium casting

Beryllium may be headed for a makeover as the Canadian-based IBC Advanced alloys looks to introduce a new technology to make beryllium-aluminium casting possible thereby changing the face of the industry that is worth close to half-a-billion dollars.

After years of research and experimentation and the continued efforts of Ray White, the President of IBC Engineered Metals, this breakthrough has been possible, say Anthony Dutton IBC’s chief executive.

There are very distinct benefits of the alloy which is known to all in the industry like its 22 percent lighter weight than aluminium while being three times stiffer than steel. However, these are not the point of focus. The primary goal of the research was to create a technology that will allow the alloy to be cast into molds.

The process of creating beryllium-aluminium is complicated and expensive using HIP. “A powdered raw material is Hot Isostatically Pressed to create blocks of alloy that can then be work done by machines,” says Dutton.

Now, with the possibility of casting, cost savings are likely to be significant maybe even lesser by 50 percent. However, exact figures will not be available as the cost base is kept mostly confidential since it is mostly used in the defense industry.

Till now this alloy fell under super premium category used for high tech esoteric applications where money was no object. The manufacture and sale of the alloy has always been controlled by New-York listed Materion Corporation who only deal with premier advanced materials solutions.

Dutton believes now with the substantial cut back on price, the new technology can change the game for the beryllium-aluminium industry.