On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:29:21 -0700, insula@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(C. Nick Kruzer)
wrote:
>Are the filiment sup****t prongs in an ordinary household incandescent
>light bulb made of Nickel metal or some type of Nickel alloy?
>
>They look ****ny like stainless steel.
>
>I've been using them as points in negative ion generator experiments.
>I'm wondering about the release of the small amounts, if any, of
>volatile metals into the surrounding breathable atmosphere.
>
>I've also played with the ****ny prongs using them as small electrodes
>for water electrolysis with a 9v battery.
>
>Now that I've replaced all my household screw-in incandescent lights
>with compact fluorescent units I have been messing around with the
>rejected incandescent bulbs.
>
>Using a jeweler's saw I open the bulbs near the most distal ****tion of
>the electrical contact end. The internal components are then carefully
>removed. If you do this you should wear gloves and safety
>gl*****/goggles. Glass chips will fly.
>(Reminder: Don't break open fluorescent bulbs, they contain mercury.)
>
Incandescent bulbs may be hazardous as well: Animal studies of
tungsten shrapnel show that it is a very powerful carcinogen. I don't
know how tungsten dust (which I assume must be inside the envelope
after the filament burns out) would behave in the lungs, but I suspect
the answer would be "not good".
This may not be an environmental hazard like mercury in landfills, but
on a personal experimenter basis it may be much worse. (My
understanding is that mercury is a problem mostly in organically
active forms like methyl mercury, not as a raw element.)
Best regards,
Bob Masta
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