Images Dated 3rd September 1999

Coloured SEM of beryllium oxide crystals

Beryllium oxide crystals. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the fractured surface of beryllium oxide (BeO) ceramic. Beryllium oxide (or beryllia") is obtained by heating beryllium compounds in excess oxygen. It is mainly used as a ceramic as it has excellent corrosion resistance and good mechanical strength. This ceramic finds applications within nuclear reactors, as electronic substrates, discharge tubes for gas lasers, and metallurgical applications for melting rare earth metals. Magnification: x3, 365 at 5x7cm size. x8, 625 at 5x7 inch size."

© POWER AND SYRED/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY