How to Make a Chemical Glow Light
Bugs and fish do it and so can you. Make a simple, re-usable chemical light for emergency or camping use. Naturally occurring chemical elements such as zinc sulfide and strontium aluminate can be doped with metallic elements such as copper or Europium to make them become phosphorescent pigments.
According to UGA Research News, phosphorescence occurs because the phosphorescent chemical absorbs energy and slowly releases it in the form of light.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Blue glow-in-the-dark powder (alkaline rare earth metal silicate-aluminate oxide Europium doped), 4 oz
- Clear lacquer spray
- Dust mask
- Safety glasses
- 2 Plexiglas picture frame glasses
- Newspaper
- Wooden 8-by-10-inch picture frame
- Clear epoxy glue syringe
- Plastic dredge cup with snap-on sifter lid
- Black light
Instructions
-
-
1
Spread open the newspaper and place the wooden picture frame face down on the paper. The frame will provide a foundation for your light.
-
2
Place a line of epoxy glue all around the inside edge of the wooden frame and place one piece of Plexiglas down into the frame. Allow the glue to set according to the instructions on the package.
-
-
3
Put on the dust mask and safety glasses. This will prevent inhaling any of the glow dust or getting it into your eyes.
-
4
Pour the glow powder into the plastic dredge cup and snap on the lid. Use a plastic cup because the glow powder can react with metals.
-
5
Turn on the black light so that you can gauge how bright your lamp will be. Each layer of powder applied will make the lamp brighter.
-
6
Spray a light film of the lacquer spray onto the glass and sift a light coating of the glow powder onto the lacquer and wait a couple of minutes for the lacquer spray to dry. Ready Set Glow recommends using a paint or lacquer spray that does not contain UV blocking ingredients.
-
7
Spay another coat of clear lacquer onto the glass and sift more glow powder onto the lacquer and let the lacquer set. Repeat this process under the black light until your glow lamp is as bright as you want it to be and then apply an outer coat of spray lacquer.
-
8
Put a line of epoxy glue around the outside edge of the bottom piece of Plexiglas and place the other sheet of Plexiglas down onto it. Allow the glue to set before moving it.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
This chemical light is charged by sunlight and should glow for eight to 12 hours.
Another fun way to make a chemical light is to mix the glow powder with clear varnish and paint it onto ceramic tiles. Put them in your yard or garden for a decorative nighttime display.
The glow in the dark powder is nontoxic, but you should always wear safety equipment when mixing chemicals and never mix chemicals if you do not know how they will react.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit neon glow image by Laura Lupton from Fotolia.com
