mb-microtec trigalight®

What are trigalight^®?
mb-microtec ag trigalight^® (technical name: GTLS, gaseous tritium light source), are sealed glass vessels that give off light in various colours.
Usually, green light is preferred because the human eye is most sensitive to it’s wave length.

FAQ on watch lights

How does a trigalight^® work?
A glass vessel is covered with luminous matter on the inner wall; subsequently, it is filled with tritium (radioactive) gas and sealed airtight. The electrons emitted by the tritium during it’s disintegration come into contact with the coating which absorbs the energy of the electrons and converts it into visible, so called cold light.

How much electricity do the light sources require?
The light sources do not require any electricity.

Are trigalight^® freely available for purchase?
No, due to the radioactive nature of the light sources, licensing is usually required in order to purchase trigalight. Nevertheless, we shall gladly provide you with the necessary assistance associated with the application for such permits.

What is the price of a trigalight^®?
The price of a trigalight depends on its shape and its volume. As tritium gas is very expensive, the volume is an extremely important factor. Hand sealed are also somewhat more expensive than laser lights.

Is there a reduction in the brightness of the lights over a period of years?
The mb-microtec ag trigalight have a lifespan of more than 20 years. The initial brightness of the lights is determined by various factors in the production; but in any case, a certain reduction in brightness is unavoidable over the course of time. The reduction of brightness is continuous but for example, even after 10 years a mb-microtec ag trigalight illuminated watch would still be considerably brighter than any new, conventionally lit watch. (After just a few minutes in darkness).

Do mb-microtec ag trigalight^® require “charging up” in sunlight or through some other light source?
No, mb-microtec ag trigalight produce light independently and do not require any external source of energy.

Luminous colours have been in existence for a long time, what is so special about trigalight^®?
With conventional luminous colours, a luminous mass is applied to a carrier material which is then covered with a protective varnish. After just a very short time, radioactive disintegration particles diffuse through the varnish and enrich surrounding materials. With trigalight, the radioactive gas (tritium) is firmly sealed and isolated in a glass capillary. No diffusion results. As no moisture can penetrate either, the light source remains isolated, free of contaminants and “shines” reliably over a period of years.

I would like to organize a party on the weekend and urgently need some trigalight^®
Due to their radioactivity, the use of trigalight for decoration or adornment, in toys or for other entertainment purposes is considered “frivolous use” by most regulatory agencies and is therefore not permitted. For other uses, a permit is usually required. We shall gladly assist you, should you wish to apply for such a permit. read more...

So where can I actually use trigalight^®?
For a very long time trigalight have been used in the military to illuminate tactical devices like sights or compasses. But also in the civilian market trigalight are found more and more. In the personal protection industry for example, to provide emergency illumination in corridors of hotels or on airplanes to give directional, evacuation assistance in case of an emergency with power failure. More recently, trigalight have increasingly been used to illuminate military and civilian timepieces. ( Watches )

What should I do with my trigalight^® if it ceases to shine after a period of years?
In Switzerland, trigalight can be but don’t have to be returned to mb-microtec for disposal. Watches can be disposed of with the normal domestic refuse.

What happens if a light source breaks?
Nothing! The tritium escapes and mixes with the ambient air. Thanks to its low density, the gas rises and thins down in the atmosphere. If possible, do not inhale the gas.

What happens if I inhale the gas?
A small part of the tritium will enter the body where it spreads evenly and will be eliminated with a biological half-life time of 10 days. The quantities of gas used in individual light sources do not represent any danger to the body.

The graphic below shows the average natural does for the Swiss population in millisievert per year (mSv/a), compared to the incorporation of the total activity of one watch equipped whit trigalights (25 mCi / 1 GBq).