By A.J. Roan
Metal Tech News
Critical minerals forge strong alliance
Beryllium and aluminum forge incredible lightweight alloys Metal Tech News – February 3, 2021
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Last updated 7/10/2022 at 3:04pm
NASA
The primary mirror of the Webb Telescope contains 18 hexagonal segments, each 4.3 feet across, that must maintain their exact shape even at temperatures of minus 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The gold-plated mirrors built for this next generation telescope take advantage of beryllium traits to accomplish this task, which will allow scientists to see further into time and space than ever before.
As two of the 35 minerals and metals considered to be critical to the economic and national security of the United States, beryllium and aluminum are fundamental to many sectors for their natural properties and even more so when they join together to create beryllium-aluminum alloys.
Most, if not everyone, has heard of aluminum. As the second most abundant metallic element in the Earth's crust...
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