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Tubes Asylum Questions about tubes and gear that glows. FAQ |
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Tubes Asylum Questions about tubes and gear that glows. FAQ |
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In Reply to: Can tubes be radioactive? posted by woffeldjur on October 28, 2014 at 04:23:05:
Hi,
Some tubes can have doped cathodes, like certain gas regulators for military or industrial use, the added emissivity of the dopant will allow those types to ignite even in complete darkness.
Almost any tube that has a radioactive element in it will be either an alpha or beta emitter, and neither type of radiation will escape the glass envelope.
Whether something has been exposed to a contaminated area and has particulate contamination (like from Chernobyl) on its surface is another matter entirely. I wouldn't rate that as terribly likely.
The only other thing you have to worry about is circuits that employ vacuum tubes at voltages over say, 10Kv, where you start to get some X-rays produced, but that is only a problem while the circuit is on.
Bottom line is that unless you break open a tube, you have very little to worry about. Most if not all audio tubes will be free of any radio-isotopes, but may very well have heavy metals present inside. If you break a tube, clean up carefully, avoid breathing any dust, and all will be fine. Be extra cautious if you bust open a military gas regulator, you DO NOT wish to inhale any particles of alpha emitter. That could be very bad.
-SF
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Follow Ups
- RE: Can tubes be radioactive? - Sherwood Forest 08:37:39 10/29/14 (0)
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