Abstract
It is well known that the protective film on beryllium bronze consists of beryllium oxide BeO. In the present study this was confirmed by means of TSEE (thermally stimulated exoelectron emission). The surface of beryllium bronze oxidized and irradiated with γ-ray gave glow curves identical with those of beryllium oxide having the characteristic emission peak at 230°C. The pattern of glow curves for specimens treated in the same manner was identical, but the height of the glow peaks varied with specimens. It was also found that the emission for the same specimen decreased as the irradiation and measurement of the emission were repeated. In order to improve the reproducibility of the emission, the specimens were aged in vacuum. They were examined in the same way as described above. The aging effect did not always exert favourable influences upon the reproducibility.
