Abstract
The surface products of copper-beryllium (0.5, 1.5 and 3.0%) alloys treated under various oxygen pressures and temperatures and their secondary electron emission characteristics are discussed in detail. The results are summarized as follows;
(1) Rapid diffusion of beryllium atoms through copper-beryllium alloy begins at 400°C.
(2) In order to activate copper-beryllium alloys, they must contain beryllium atoms more than 1.5%.
(3) At the activation process temperature must be raised to a desired point at pressure lower than 10−4mm mercury in order to prevent copper from oxidizing, and then oxygen must be added into the tubes to the treatment pressure.
(4) The formation mechanisms of beryllium oxide layers treated at 800°C and below 700°C are different with each other. This difference of treatment temperature is responsible for two different secondary emission characteristics respectively.
