Tritium is not illegal in the US, but as with other radioisotopes it is regulated. It has many legal uses:
Tritium watches are not universally illegal, but their sale and distribution can be restricted in certain countries due to safety concerns. Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen used to illuminate watch dials, and while it emits low levels of radiation, regulations may limit its use to ensure public health and safety. Additionally, some jurisdictions may impose strict guidelines on the handling and disposal of radioactive materials, impacting the legality of tritium watches.
Tritium lighting is made using glass tubes with a phosphor layer in them and tritium (a hydrogen isotope) gas inside the tube. Such a tube is known as a "gaseous tritium light source" (GTLS). Because tritium in particular is an integral part of thermonuclear devices (though in quantities several thousand times larger than that in a keychain), devices containing tritium are considered dual-use technology in the U.S.A., and are therefore illegal for export. However, they are widely available in the U.K., most of Europe (some countries like Belgium have outlawed them however), Asia and Australia. Tritium devices can be purchased in the UK and Australia, but are illegal for import to the United States, however they are available in the US as gunsights and for military applications. UK Source http://www.crazyaboutgadgets.com/detail.asp?ID=371 AU Source http://www.kitbag.com.au/prod849.htm USA Source (Military Personnel only) http://www.ameriglo.net/tactical_dev.htm You can also find tritium lighting in the US without having to be military personnel at http://www.unitednuclear.com. They have a limited stock, though.
Tritium. What did you think it was?
Tritium is an isotope of hydrogen, so it is colorless.
The mass number of Tritium is 3, however actual mass is 3.017005 AMU.
Tritium lighting is made using glass tubes with a phosphor layer in them and tritium (a hydrogen isotope) gas inside the tube. Such a tube is known as a "gaseous tritium light source" (GTLS). Because tritium in particular is an integral part of thermonuclear devices (though in quantities several thousand times larger than that in a keychain), devices containing tritium are considered dual-use technology in the U.S.A., and are therefore illegal for export. However, they are widely available in the U.K., most of Europe (some countries like Belgium have outlawed them however), Asia and Australia. Tritium devices can be purchased in the UK and Australia, but are illegal for import to the United States, however they are available in the US as gunsights and for military applications. UK Source http://www.crazyaboutgadgets.com/detail.asp?ID=371 AU Source http://www.kitbag.com.au/prod849.htm USA Source (Military Personnel only) http://www.ameriglo.net/tactical_dev.htm You can also find tritium lighting in the US without having to be military personnel at http://www.unitednuclear.com. They have a limited stock, though.
Tritium. What did you think it was?
Tritium is an isotope of hydrogen, so it is colorless.
The oxide of tritium is called tritium oxide or sometimes referred to as tritiated water. It is a radioactive form of water where one or more of the hydrogen atoms in water has been replaced by tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen.
Tritium Dont Eat Anything? They Are Type Of Watches.... :)
Tritium is not the most stable isotope known.
no it is not illegal
Tritium decay to helium-3.
The US is not an illegal trading country..
The mass number of Tritium is 3, however actual mass is 3.017005 AMU.
How old are they? If they are about 25 years old or more they will probably be very dim and should be replaced. The halflife of Tritium is only 12.26 years, so after 25 years their brightness would be about 1/4 of what it was new. If they are less than 6 years old and not working right they are defective or broken, the tritium has probably escaped. Either way there is nothing to clean that would help. Getting a replacement Tritium ampule that fits may be difficult and/or expensive as the US has no dedicated Tritium production reactors since the shutdown of the Savanna River site in the 1990s.
Tritium is an isotope of Hydrogen. Hence its other name, hydrogen-3.