3 ms·
Yes [1]. Beryllium is, I believe, the material of choice (although comes with its own problems, e.g. stupidly toxic dust) [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/
by dasmoth 9y ago
Yes [1]. Beryllium is, I believe, the material of choice (although comes with its own problems, e.g. stupidly toxic dust)
[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_reflector https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_reflector
- userbinator 9y agoIf you're already working with plutonium, whose dust is also very, very toxic (in addition to being radioactive), the additional danger of beryllium doesn't seem so great in comparison.
- cjsuk 9y agoI routinely handled beryllium for a couple of years as it is present in certain electronic RF power amplifiers. It’s perfectly safe in solid form. If you drill it or smash it, a different matter! Plutonium, not so much.
- eloff 9y agoI knew a software engineer who made a lot of money in a startup and bought himself an ultralight bike of titanium and beryllium. They ceased the beryllium parts at the Canadian border and I don't think he ever managed to get them released to him.
- badmin_ 9y agoBeryllium's also used as a neutron multiplier.
- madengr 9y agoI think only about 2% of the population is sensitive to beryllium. I was in a beryllium monitoring program (yearly blood tests) at work. A few coworkers are sensitive, one getting really sick.