MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The decision not to restrict the use of beryllium and beryllium oxide
under the newly revised European Union RoHS (Restriction of the Use of
Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment)
list of restricted substances will help ensure affordable, high-quality
performance of the next generation electronic products, according to W.
Glenn Maxwell, President, Materion Brush Performance Alloys. The
exclusion followed a thorough review and consideration of a range of
materials by authorities in Europe.
"Beryllium metal, beryllium-containing alloys and beryllium oxide
ceramic are used in critical applications that are vital to electronic
technology," said Maxwell. "They offer property combinations not
available in other materials, and allow designers to achieve world-class
levels of innovation, performance, energy efficiency and reliability."
"The decision not to include beryllium on the list underscores the
conclusion of the leading European research and consultancy institute
working for a sustainable future that beryllium and beryllium oxide
ceramic, and therefore copper beryllium and nickel beryllium alloys, do
not constitute significant health and environmental risks when used in
electrical and electronic equipment," he said. While authorities
reviewed beryllium and other materials in electronic products under the
RoHS process, beryllium-containing materials are widely used without
health and environmental risks in many other end-use applications in
Europe and elsewhere around the world.
Beryllium is a naturally occurring element that is present in the
earth's crust. Beryllium metal is used to provide unique physical and
mechanical properties which offer unrivaled end-use performance benefits
throughout the electronics, aerospace, energy, defense and homeland
security, medical and other industries.
Copper beryllium (CuBe) alloys are the most widely used
beryllium-containing materials in mobile phones and other electronic
equipment. CuBe alloys, which contain less than 2 percent beryllium, are
used in mobile phones and high-performance electronic devices to
increase electrical and thermal conductivity, enhance product
performance, increase reliability, and facilitate miniaturization of
components and products. Consequently, products manufactured with CuBe
alloys are more efficient, conserve energy and natural resources, and
increase product life.
Materion Brush Performance Alloys is a business of Materion Corporation
(NYSE:MTRN), which, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, supplies
highly engineered advanced enabling materials to global markets.
Products include precious and non-precious specialty metals, inorganic
chemicals and powders, specialty coatings, specialty engineered
beryllium alloys, beryllium and beryllium composites, and engineered
clad and plated metal systems.
For more information, visit www.Materion.com.
Materion Corporation
Media:
Michelle
Heffner, 216-383-4083
or
Investors:
Michael
C. Hasychak, 216-383-6823
or
http://www.materion.com
Mayfield
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Source: Materion Corporation
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