Super-LumiNova was first synthesized in the
1960s. This is a non-radioactive luminous material.
If the strontium aluminate is enriched with
two rare earth metals, europium and dysprosium, and exposed to sunlight
for a few minutes, the compound remains noctilucent for many hours.
Sunlight activated Super-LumiNova initially
glows much more brightly than tritium. After about 2 hours, its
luminosity declines to the same intensity as tritium. For the next
6 hours, its brightness continues to wane until the value of 7nCd/mm2.
If the material is activated by artificial
light, the brightness is only 1/10 as bright as sunlight activated
one. The brightness will reach the threshold of visibility for the
unaided eye.
If the markers or hands have been coated
with enough Super-LumiNova, they will remain legible up to 12 hours.
LumiNova can be greenish, bluish or greenish-blue.
The color is determined when the strontium aluminate is enriched.
When the LumiNova is viewed in daylight, the colors is almost limitless,
it can be white, black, ... The colors are achieved by dying the
crystals of the luminous material with a variety of coloring agents
which are organic, fluorescent or non-fading colorants.
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