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293:. RC Tritec AG recommends up to 0.30 mm (0.012 in) application thickness in one or multiple layer(s). Over that, the ultraviolet light starts getting problems to effectively reach and activate the bottom of the deposited pigment, diminishing the returns for additional application thickness. The pigments and binders are produced separately, as there is no optimal binder for differing applications. This forces RC Tritec AG to offer many solvent and non-solvent based binder systems to maximally concentrate the granulated pigments in the mixture for application on various surfaces.
127:—to a higher energetic state and after the excitation source is removed, fall back to their normal energetic state by releasing the energy loss as visible light over a period of time. Although fading over time, appropriately thick applicated larger markings remain visible for dark adapted human eyes for the whole night. This Ultraviolet light exposure induced activation and subsequent light emission process can be repeated again and again.
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Intensely colored types lose their intensity more quickly than neutral ones. High temperatures of up to several hundred degrees
Celsius are not a problem. The only thing that needs to be avoided is prolonged contact with water or high humidity, as this creates a hydroxide layer that negatively affects the light emission intensity.
357:
will cause the brightness of a tritium container to drop by more during that period. The more tritium that is initially inserted in the container, the brighter it is to begin with, and the longer its useful life. This means the intensity of the tritium-powered light source will slowly fade, generally
241:
Due to the fact that no chemical change occurs after a charge-discharge cycle, the pigments theoretically retain their afterglow properties indefinitely. A reduction in light intensity only occurs very slowly, almost imperceptibly. This reduction increases with the degree of coloring of the pigments.
135:
Nemoto & Co., Ltd. – a global manufacturer of phosphorescent pigments and other specialized phosphors – was founded by Kenzo Nemoto in
December 1941 as a luminous paint processing company and has supplied and developed luminous paint to the watch and clock and aviation instruments industry since.
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In 1998 Nemoto & Co. established a join-venture with RC Tritec AG called LumiNova AG, Switzerland to manufacture 100 percent Swiss made afterglow pigments branded as Super-LumiNova. After that, the production of radioactive luminous compounds by RC Tritec AG was completely stopped. According to
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Super-LumiNova is offered in three grade levels; Standard, A and X1. The initial brightness of these grades does not significantly vary, but the light intensity decay over time of the A and X1 grades is significantly reduced. This means the X1 grade takes the longest to become too dim to be useful
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Any other Super-LumiNova emission color offering than C3 is achieved by adding colorants that adsorb light and hence limit the amount of light the afterglow pigment can absorb and emit. After the green glowing and pale yellow-green in daylight appearing C3 (emission at 515 nm) variant, the
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Alternatively, RC Tritec AG offers
Lumicast pieces, which are highly concentrated luminous Super-LumiNova 3D-castings. According to RC Tritec AG these ceramic parts can be made in any customer desired shape and result in a higher light emission brightness when compared to the common application
119:, operate like a rechargeable light battery. After sufficient activation by sunlight, fluorescent, LED, UV (blacklight), incandescent and other light sources, they glow in the dark for hours. Electrons within the pigment are being "excited" by
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gas before the containers are permanently sealed. They have the advantage of being self-powered and producing a consistent luminosity that does not gradually fade during the night. However, GTLS contain radioactive tritium gas that has a
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wavelength) color variant is the second most effective variant regarding pure afterglow brightness. Different colors can however be chosen to optimize (perceived) light emission, dictated by the human eye
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Super-LumiNova is based on LumiNova branded pigments, invented in 1993 by the Nemoto staff members
Yoshihiko Murayama, Nobuyoshi Takeuchi, Yasumitsu Aoki and Takashi Matsuzawa as a safe replacement for
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for observation in low-light conditions. Besides technical and human eye dictated reasons, esthetic or other reasons can also influence Super-LumiNova color choices.
43:
Phosphorescent pigments performance, in visible light, in dark, after 4 minutes in dark - zinc sulfide (left) and strontium aluminate (right) based materials
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Over time, RC Tritec AG developed other afterglow color variations than the original Nemoto & Co. C3 green and higher grades of afterglow pigments.
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Decisions on the
Adoption of OECD Legal Instruments Radiation Protection Standards for Gaseous Tritium Light Devices, OECD Legal Instruments, 2024
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Luminor dive watch
Radiomir and almost all Swiss watches from 1960 to 1998 when it was banned. Tritium-based substances ceased to be used by
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alternative for afterglow pigments requiring radiation protection is being produced and used for watches and other uses. These are
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A watch with "gaseous tritium light sources" applied on its dial markers and hands and afterglow pigments applied on its bezel ring
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for observation in – or just coming from – well-lit conditions. Maximal light emission around wavelengths of 498 nm (
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474:"Swiss Quality with more than 80 years tradition - your partner for Phosphorescent Pigments and high tech applications"
144:. The invention was patented in 1994 by Nemoto & Co., Ltd. and licensed to other manufacturers and watch brands.
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Besides being used in timepieces by industry and hobbyists, Super-LumiNova is also marketed for application on:
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Blue-green (emission at 485 nm) glowing BGW9 Super-LumiNova applied on a similar diver's watch face.
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blue-green glowing and in daylight white appearing BGW9 (emission at 485 nm, close to the
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light exposure—the excitation wavelengths for strontium aluminate range from 200 to 450 nm
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was phased out and replaced with safer alternatives. Tritium was used on and the original
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for the human eye. Not all Super-LumiNova color variations are available in three grades.
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becoming too dim to be useful for dark adapted human eyes after 20 to 30 years.
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Swiss Super-LumiNova®luminous pigments for the watch industry – 100% Swiss made
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RC Tritec AG the Swiss watch brands all use their Super-LumiNova pigments.
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methods. Lumicast pieces can be glued or form fitted on various surfaces.
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104:. This technology offers up to ten times higher brightness than previous
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Green (emission at 515 nm) glowing C3 Super-LumiNova applied on a
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370:— different named strontium aluminate–based phosphorescent pigments
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Tritec Super-Luminova C3 (X1 grade) kit for DIY Watch Club
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United States Patent 5,424,006 'Phosphorescent phosphor'
393:"NEMOTO & CO., LTD. | Products & Services"
336:-based devices called "gaseous tritium light source" (
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Instruments: scales, dials, markings, indicators, etc.
285:pigments are applied either by manual application,
510:"Glow in the Dark (Phosphorescent) Technologies"
553:"Nine Basic Rules of a Buying a Vintage Rolex"
266:Safety- and emergency panels, signs, markings
8:
164:to make it readable in low-light conditions.
353:of slightly over 12.3 years. Additionally,
588:Gomelsky, Victoria (September 2, 2014).
201:variance. Maximal light emission around
535:"What Makes Luminous Watch Dials Glow?"
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257:Scales: engravings, silkscreen-printing
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77:, etc. in the dark are marketed. When
221:) is important for obtaining optimal
209:) is important for obtaining optimal
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590:"A Comeback for the Military Watch"
301:Alternative for afterglow pigments
25:strontium silicate-aluminate oxide
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635:Production of strontium aluminate
260:Aviation instruments and markings
621:Technical Features Superluminova
492:"Nemoto & Co., Ltd LumiNova"
1:
69:for illuminating markings on
50:is a brand name under which
199:luminous efficiency function
460:report on www.info-uhren.de
152:Color variations and grades
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571:"Seven great dive watches"
328:In the 21st century, one
125:electromagnetic radiation
100:with long persistence of
640:All About Super-LumiNova
35:, and in total darkness.
16:Photoluminescent pigment
115:pigments, often called
472:RC Tritec AG, Teufen.
344:layer and filled with
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630:Luminosity in watches
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355:phosphor degradation
313:By the late 1960s,
277:Application methods
272:Various other parts
52:strontium aluminate
594:The New York Times
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108:–based materials.
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559:. 7 January 2020.
462:(PDF; 37 kB)
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395:. Archived from
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330:radioluminescent
281:Super-LumiNova
205:of 555 nm (
95:photoluminescent
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81:with a suitable
63:photoluminescent
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287:screen printing
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223:scotopic vision
211:photopic vision
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142:luminous paints
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111:These types of
102:phosphorescence
23:Europium doped
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615:External links
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541:. 9 July 2018.
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113:phosphorescent
48:Super-LumiNova
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399:on 2008-12-05
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65:or afterglow
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29:visible light
27:powder under
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655:Luminescence
625:the original
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496:the original
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478:RC Tritec AG
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401:. Retrieved
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291:pad printing
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269:Aiming posts
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106:zinc sulfide
73:, hands and
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31:, long-wave
575:The Week UK
374:Radium dial
203:wavelengths
184:in the dark
121:ultraviolet
71:watch dials
56:radioactive
54:–based non-
33:ultraviolet
649:Categories
421:|url=
403:2008-11-26
380:References
283:granulated
215:cone cells
91:Dysprosium
368:Lumibrite
351:half-life
325:in 1997.
237:Stability
227:rod cells
194:turquoise
180:LumiNova
79:activated
660:Horology
412:cite web
362:See also
342:phosphor
323:Omega SA
182:pigments
98:phosphor
87:Europium
67:pigments
60:nontoxic
423:value (
346:tritium
334:tritium
319:Panerai
263:Jewelry
140:-based
131:History
419:Check
315:radium
138:radium
83:dopant
75:bezels
207:green
425:help
338:GTLS
246:Uses
219:cyan
117:lume
89:and
58:and
289:or
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410:{{
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85:(
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