CRT decay

From: John Foust <jfoust_at_threedee.com>
Date: Mon Nov 2 09:27:20 1998

At 05:59 PM 11/1/98 -0600, Doug Yowza wrote:
>
>No, I'm not sure. When I first saw it, I thought mold was growing along
>the edges, but closer examination showed that that "growth" was inside the
>glass, and the patterns were somewhat crystaline. I'll let you know if
>it spontaneously implodes.

Is it possible that you're seeing some element that's been vaporized
and is now being re-deposited as crystalline material? There is so
much going on inside a tube with high voltage, heaters, glowing wires,
etc. that something could be vaporizing and cooling.

Which reminds me of something I'd do as a kid: pop open vacuum tubes
and add water to the grey material tucked inside the rings, which would
then fizz. Maybe it was calcium carbide. I imagine it was there to
suck up water or gas after the tube had been sealed.

- John
Received on Mon Nov 02 1998 - 09:27:20 GMT