Strange Strontium Al (Glow) Behaviour

[vcal]

Discovered recently were a coupla interesting oddball characteristics of dried glow painted surfaces in the dark:

1. The glow will be 35-40% brighter for a few minutes (after charging) by holding your finger down on it for several seconds:O
2. The same phenomenon occurs when it's brought from a cold room and held next to a source of warmth....like a wall heater.
3. If you scratch at the glow surface with your fingernail, you will see very bright streaks race through it for a half a second or so....
4. I happen to know that the esteemed Mr. Johnson (of telephony fame), once said that a pocket laser beam (red one)[?] trained on a glow sheet surface would result in temporary blackening of the glow, allowing you to write your name (in black) on the glowing surface where the laser hit it.-I have not been able to replicate that result.
-What about that, Craig??

 

[The_LED_Museum]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mr.glow:
1. The glow will be 35-40% brighter for a few minutes (after charging) by holding your finger down on it for several seconds:O
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Heating the material will intensify its glow. Try charging a glow sheet fully, then heating the blade of a screwdriver or similar instrument briefly with a cigarette lighter until it's around 150-200°F (or just keep the lighter lit until its metal windguard becomes uncomfortably warm), then quickly touch the back of the glow sheet with it. (The front is OK if the protective film is still in place and the heated object isn't extremely hot). The glow should GREATLY intensify in the area the hot screwdriver or lighter windguard is touching. But this comes at a price: when the area cools down, it will be a lot dimmer than the rest of the sheet until you charge it back up again.

Items #2 and #3 you listed - same reason. Scratching your fingernail across the sheet creates friction, and friction generates heat. That's why you got the glowing comet tail thing going on there.


<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mr.glow:
4. I happen to know that the esteemed Mr. Johnson (of telephony fame), once said that a pocket laser beam (red one)[?] trained on a glow sheet surface would result in temporary blackening of the glow, allowing you to write your name (in black) on the glowing surface where the laser hit it.-I have not been able to replicate [<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

First off, you're probably moving the laser way too fast. Secondly, you probably need a higher power laser. With a regular red laser pen, you should be able to get a dark spot to show up by directing the laser beam onto one spot for several seconds. You need substantially more power and slower movements to write your name on glow sheeting with the laser.

One thing that may work: try finding the brightest red LED you can get your hands on, and using that instead of a red laser pointer. A red Photon 2 with new batteries may do the trick. Try -s l o w l y- writing your initials with that, holding the LED directly against the sheet. Close your eyes while writing if necessary so you don't become blinded by the LED. Turn the LED off, then open your eyes and examine the sheeting for signs of darkening where you wrote.