Making Glow-in-the-dark Powder
Most recent answer: 10/22/2007
Q:
hi.... i would like to make some glow in the dark powder by myself... i knew tat the formula is zinc sulfide + copper... can i know the actual way detailly??? i mean step by step... what to get, material, equipment thank you
- Shermund (age 18)
Malaysia
- Shermund (age 18)
Malaysia
A:
Hi Shermund,
You are on the right track already. Zinc sulfide with a small amount of added copper makes a fine glow-in-the-dark ("phosphorescent") pigment. Zinc sulfide is naturally occuring -- ZnS is a mineral called "sphalerite". You can buy very pure ZnS from chemical supply houses and while it is non-toxic, it can be an eye irritant, and produces toxic gases (sulfur dioxide for example) when burned. I do not recommend processing it yourself to get the copper in because of this. Lots of different glow-in-the-dark pigments are available commercially at very low cost -- it would probably be cheaper and certainly safer to buy some than to set up expensive, hazardous equipment.
A better pigment is Strontium Aluminate, which can also be purchased -- it glows much longer than ZnS. Companies that make these pigments probably don’t publish the exact procedures so as not to encourage competition, and also so as not to be responsible for injuries to people attempting hazardous chemical procedures.
Tom
You are on the right track already. Zinc sulfide with a small amount of added copper makes a fine glow-in-the-dark ("phosphorescent") pigment. Zinc sulfide is naturally occuring -- ZnS is a mineral called "sphalerite". You can buy very pure ZnS from chemical supply houses and while it is non-toxic, it can be an eye irritant, and produces toxic gases (sulfur dioxide for example) when burned. I do not recommend processing it yourself to get the copper in because of this. Lots of different glow-in-the-dark pigments are available commercially at very low cost -- it would probably be cheaper and certainly safer to buy some than to set up expensive, hazardous equipment.
A better pigment is Strontium Aluminate, which can also be purchased -- it glows much longer than ZnS. Companies that make these pigments probably don’t publish the exact procedures so as not to encourage competition, and also so as not to be responsible for injuries to people attempting hazardous chemical procedures.
Tom
(published on 10/22/2007)