TECHNOLOGY

With trigalight mb-microtec ag offers a maintenance-free, very compact system with a minimal installation size, which stands for safety and efficiency.

STEP 1

PRODUCTION OF GLASS CAPILLARIES

Large glass tubes are heated and drawn into thin glass capillaries of the desired dimension. The smallest possible outer diameter is 0.30 mm and is equivalent to approximately five times the thickness of a human hair.

STEP 2

COATING PROCESS

The inside of the glass capillary is coated with a luminescent powder (zinc sulphide). Any colour is possible. The colour green is most often used, as it is the colour perceived brightest by the human eye.

STEP 3

TRITIUM FILLING

The glass capillaries are filled with tritium gas in a process developed by mb-microtec.

STEP 4

LASER CUTTING PROCESS

The glass capillaries filled with tritium gas are cut to the desired length and at the same time hermetically sealed by a highly automated laser melting machine.

STEP 5

QUALITY CONTROL

Each individual light source is subjected to a strict quality and leak test.

STEP 6

APPLICATIONS

Depending on the application, the light sources are installed in aluminium or polymer sleeves with sapphire glass or fitted directly onto dials. Our trigalight products are mainly used in the tactical, watch, security, automotive, aerospace and aeronautical industries.

DID YOU KNOW THAT …

Tritium is a natural trace isotope of hydrogen. Its nucleus, also called a triton, consists of a proton and two neutrons. Tritium is a radioactive beta emitter and decays by sending out an electron with a half-life of 12.32 years. In its natural form, tritium is most commonly found in the stratosphere, but it is also created as a by-product in nuclear fission or in the cooling water of reactors. Tritium is a soft beta emitter, i.e. the energy of the electrons is very low. In water, it is stopped after a few micrometers, and it is also incapable of penetrating the outer skin layers. As a result, trigalight does not emit any harmful radiation because the electrons cannot pass through the hermetically sealed glass capillaries.

AVERAGE DOSE IN MILLISIEVERT (mSv)

Breakage of all trigalight (GTLS) in one watch

0.0004

Banana (one per day for one year)

0.04

Flight of 6,000 km

0.06

Living at sea level (per year)

0.30

Living at 3,000 m above sea level (per year)

1.00

Average dose in Switzerland (radiation exposure per year)

5.80

Cigarettes (20 per day for one year)

8.80

CT examination of the abdomen (one per year)

10 - 25

STANDARD COLOURS

Colour selection is not limited to standard applications. Our GTLS are supplied in any standard colour across the full range of applications — watches, tactical, safety, instruments and custom products — and we regularly develop application-specific colour configurations for partners who need a precise match to their product's aesthetic or functional requirements. Beyond colour, every trigalight® light source is available in custom shapes, diameters and lengths, developed and produced to your exact specification. If your application calls for a format or colour that is not listed here, our engineering team will develop it with you.

Green (100%) is the colour perceived brightest by the human eye. The brightness of the other colours is perceived as follows relative to green: