US4889660A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Radioluminescent light sources, tritium containing polymers, and methods for producing the same
Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute Inc
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Filing: 1987-12-24
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Granted: 1989-12-26
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Expires: 2007-12-24
Abstract
Abstract A radioluminescent light source comprises a solid mixture of a phosphorescent substance and a tritiated polymer. The solid mixture forms a solid mass having length, width, and thickness dimensions, and is capable of self-support. In one aspect of the invention, the phosphorescent substance comprises solid phosphor particles supported or surrounded within a solid matix by a tritium containing polymer. The tritium containing polymer comprises a polymer backbone which is essentially void of tritium.
Inventors
- 👤 George A. Jensen
- 👤 David A. Nelson
- 👤 Peter M. Molton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:30
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K11/00; C09K11/02; C09K11/04; C09K11/06; C09K11/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A radioluminescent light source comprising: a phosphorescent substance present in an amount from 30 to 80 weight percent of the light source: and a tritiated solid polymer comprising: a plurality of interconnected monomers, a significant number of the monomers including a radical bonded with at least one cyclic compound, the cyclic compound having a plurality of hydrogen atoms extending from its cyclic ring, the radicals of adjacent monomers being bonded to one another to interconnect the monomers and form a polymer backbone; and at least one of said hydrogen atoms extending from a significant number of the cyclic rings consisting of tritium, such significant number of cyclic rings being sufficient to produce a radioactive decay of the tritiated solid polymer of at least about 265 Ci/gm of polymer and the light source having a visible luminosity output of at least 2.6 micro-Lamberts per millicurie, the polymer backbone being substantially void of tritium to produce a polymer which is stable and self supporting upon tritium decay.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A radioluminescent light source comprising: a phosphorescent substance present in an amount from 30 to 80 weight percent of the light source: and a tritiated solid polymer comprising: a plurality of interconnected monomers, a significant number of the monomers including a radical bonded with at least one cyclic compound, the cyclic compound having a plurality of hydrogen atoms extending from its cyclic ring, the radicals of adjacent monomers being bonded to one another to interconnect the monomers and form a polymer backbone; and at least one of said hydrogen atoms extending from a significant number of the cyclic rings consisting of tritium, such significant number of cyclic rings being sufficient to produce a radioactive decay of the tritiated solid polymer of at least about 265 Ci/gm of polymer and the light source having a visible luminosity output of at least 2.6 micro-Lamberts per millicurie, the polymer backbone being substantially void of tritium to produce a polymer which is stable and self supporting upon tritium decay.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The light source of claim 1 wherein the phosphorescent substance is inorganic and comprises solid phosphor particles having a size from 0.1 micrometers to 10 micrometers in diameter, the light source comprising a solid matrix of phosphor particles surrounded by the tritiated solid polymer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The light source of claim 1 wherein the tritiated solid polymer comprises polystyrene having at least three tritium atoms bonded to the aromatic rings of the monomer units.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The radioluminescent light source of claim 1 wherein the phosphorescent substance is organic and comprises an organic solid solution which is at least partially dissolved within the tritiated solid polymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The light source of claim 1 wherein the cyclic compound is aliphatic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The light source of claim 1 wherein the cyclic compound is heterocyclic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The light source of claim 1 wherein the cyclic compound is aromatic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The light source of claim 7 wherein tritium is present at either the ortho or para positions around the aromatic ring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The light source of claim 7 wherein tritium is present at the meta positions around the aromatic ring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The light source of claim 7 wherein tritium is present at both the ortho and para positions around the aromatic ring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The light source of claim 7 wherein the cyclic compound comprises styrene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
159 words
A radioluminescent light source comprising a phosphorescent substance and a tritiated solid polymer, the tritiated solid polymer comprising a plurality of interconnected monomers, a significant number of the monomers including a radical containing two or more carbon atoms, with the radical being bonded with at least one pendant group, the pendant group including a plurality of hydrogen atoms, the radicals of adjacent monomers being bonded to one another to interconnect the monomers and form a polymer backbone; at least one of said hydrogen atoms extending from a significant number of the pendant groups consisting of tritium, such significant number of pendant groups being sufficient to produce a radioactive decay of the tritiated solid polymer of at least about 265 Ci/gm of polymer; and the polymer backbone being substantially void of tritium to produce a polymer which is stable and self supporting upon tritium decay; the light source having a visible luminosity output of at least 2.6 micro-Lamberts per millicurie.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
159 words
A radioluminescent light source comprising a phosphorescent substance and a tritiated solid polymer, the tritiated solid polymer comprising a plurality of interconnected monomers, a significant number of the monomers including a radical containing two or more carbon atoms, with the radical being bonded with at least one pendant group, the pendant group including a plurality of hydrogen atoms, the radicals of adjacent monomers being bonded to one another to interconnect the monomers and form a polymer backbone; at least one of said hydrogen atoms extending from a significant number of the pendant groups consisting of tritium, such significant number of pendant groups being sufficient to produce a radioactive decay of the tritiated solid polymer of at least about 265 Ci/gm of polymer; and the polymer backbone being substantially void of tritium to produce a polymer which is stable and self supporting upon tritium decay; the light source having a visible luminosity output of at least 2.6 micro-Lamberts per millicurie.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-25 | 1993-06-26 | 1993-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-25 | 1997-06-26 | 1997-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-25 | 2001-06-26 | 2001-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |