SBIR-STTR Award

The Be-B binary alloy system has a eutectic at 10 at. % boron, where the singular melting point is at 1120 oC. This value is some 169 degrees below the normal melting point of beryllium. The intent of the present STTR proposal is to use this circumstance to develop a "glaze melting" technique for smoothing of Be mirror surfaces, starting with as-machined or crudely polished surfaces. A surface alloy of 10 at % boron will be established with uniform concentration to a depth of several times the RMS surface texture by use of boron ion implantation. Then, by suitable heating techniques, the surface can be melted for smoothing without melting of the substrate The program springs in part from previous activity in surface processing of Be by the institutional partner, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The opportunity is timely because of three factors: recent development of the boron cathodic source by HY-Tech Research Corporation, parent firm of the applicant, Brontek Delta Corporation (BronteK) · incorporation of BronteK, specifically for applications of the boron arc in optics and electronics · the present solicitation. Anticipated Benefits/Commercial Applications: Manufacturing methods that will provide economical ways of producing mirrors from beryllium are being sought. The proposed project aims to develop a method with exceptional economy of scale, which also minimizes occupational exposure issues (by nearly eliminating the production of Be dust).

Keywords:
Military mirrors, beryllium, mirror polishing, ion implantation