Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!portal!cup.portal.com!A-N-Onymouse
From: A-N-Onymouse@cup.portal.com (John - DeBert)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Flashbulbs (was something stupid and illegal...)
Message-ID: <13560@cup.portal.com>
Date: 15 Jan 89 00:25:02 GMT
References: <3835@midas.TEK.COM> <190700025@trsvax> <13355@cup.portal.com> <4622@sfsup.UUCP>
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 34

In article (4622@sfsup.UUCP), David C. Miller writes:

>In article <13355@cup.portal.com> mmm@cup.portal.com (Mark Robert Thorson)
  writes:
>>
>>At the risk of enormous flames, both here and hereafter, the fine wire inside
>>a flashbulb is magnesium wire.
>
>If I remember correctly, the wire is simply aluminum and the bulb is
>filled with pure oxygen.  That way if the bulb is broken (either by
>accident or intent) it is rendered harmless.
>
[ signature deleted ]

I recall reading somewhere that the wire was zirconium. Magnesium is too
dangerous and, as I recall, aluminum wire of that size would also be too
dangerous especially in pure oxygen. With both, there is too great a danger
of the wire igniting spontaneously. 

At my job site, we are required to keep aluminium sputter targets and wafers,
etc, away from acid sinks that have hydrogen peroxide in them. Seems that
there was once a fire caused by someone getting the pure aluminum too close
to an oxygen source. 

    A-N-Onymouse@cup.portal.com
    Telex:6502636614 | CIS:75530,347 | GEnie:A.N.Onymouse
 (*=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=*)
 (*       me.        |  These here opinions are my    |  Never teach a cow  *)
 (*    Box 51754     |  own. Ask anyone.              |       to sing.      *)
 (*  Pacific Grove,  |________________________________| It wastes your time *)
 (*  CA, 93950-6754  |            This                |       and annoys    *)
 (*   USA, Terra     |             Space              |         the         *)
 (*    Somewhere.    |              Reserved          |         cow.        *)
 (*=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=*)