RE: Beryllium Oxide

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Breneman, Chris" <brenemanc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

I think that sometimes BeO is used instead of that white ceramic 
insulator.  From the wikipedia article on "Cavity magnetron", "Some 
magnetrons have ceramic insulators with a bit of beryllium oxide 
(beryllia) added-- these ceramics often appear somewhat pink or 
purple-colored (see the photos above)."  One of the two photos above 
is a picture of a microwave oven magnetron, with a pink insulator.  I 
actually finished taking apart a microwave oven today, and its 
insulator is purple-ish.
Chris


-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla@xxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Sat 12/30/2006 10:17 PM
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Beryllium Oxide

Original poster: mercurus2000 <mercurus2000@xxxxxxx>

Wait, common in microwave ovens? I've dissassembled over 50 microwave
ovens and never seen anything remotely resembling a BeO insulator,
are you referring to the white ceramic below the output antenna?
Adam
Tesla list wrote:

>Original poster: Mike <megavolts61@xxxxxxxxx>
>
>There IS a disposal issue, because you don't really want to poison
>the poor guys crushing your garbage in the truck.
>Jim could be right there....although I doubt they'd crush...there is
>still the possibility and that would just depend on how you
>feel.    I have worked in sevaral laboratories and one day, the
>janitor came up to me extremely worried....in the lab next to mine,
>they were sampling something with MTBE in it(gasoline oxygen
>additive for those who wonder).   His eyes were tearing and red  and
>he was near gasping for air.   It seems the person doing the
>analysis was pipetting sample then simply tossing the used pipets
>into the trash....when the janitor pulled the liner out...he
>inadvertantly compressed it, blowing the residual MTBE right into
>his face.    He was ok...and I created a stink the next day and from
>that point on...the used pipets were kept under a fume hood until
>thoroughly dried........
>Things can happen....I've handled a lot of those BeO
>insulators...they are common in microwave ovens and other similar
>uses.    Just have to be sensible about it all.
>Mike
>
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
>http://mail.yahoo.com
>