The high temperature behavior of beryllide intermetallic compounds

The mechanical properties of four metal beryllide intermetallics were studied up to 1,400C. Ta2Be17, Nb2Be17, TiBe12, and ZrBe13 were shown to be potential candidates for high temperature structural service. Microindentation and high temperature compression testing were employed to study the static and time dependent deformation of these low density compounds. The yield strength in compression and the microhardness values over a large temperature range indicate that these compounds are competitive with, or superior to, state-of-the-art nickel-based superalloys and other potential intermetallics that have been more widely studied. TiBe12 was shown to possess some creep resistance, while the creep properties of the other compounds are comparable with nickel and titanium aluminides. Furthermore, ZrBe13 exhibited a yield drop in the stress-strain response. Further investigation of these systems is warranted, and directions for continued study are discussed