Re: Thoraited Tungsten Rods

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: William Beaty <billb@xxxxxxxxxx>

On Sun, 15 Apr 2007, Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: Jim Lux <jimlux@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >Original poster: William Beaty <billb@xxxxxxxxxx>
> >But is this a common myth?
>
> No, it's not a myth.. the thorium emits particles which ionize (a
> very few) air molecules near the electrode.

Yes, but you're offering reasoning, not research papers or experiment.
I'm suspicious that perhaps the reasoning is flawed, and the radioactivity
actually has insignificant effect.  I'd want to see an experiment which
says who's right.

> >    Do non-radioactive materials work almost as
> >well when put in tungsten?
>
> yes from the incandescence standpoint, no from the ionizing radiation
> to stabilize the arc standpoint

Says who?  And why do they say so?  The role of radioactivity sounds
reasonable, but that doesn't make it true.  Theory does not determine
experimental results, instead you have to perform the actual experiment to
see if the theoretical arguments are supported. In other words, if we
could remove the radioactivity, would a welder actually see a noticable
difference?  (Don't say yes unless you've tried it.)  Or if we could
remove the thorium element but provide the same radioactivity, would a
welder see a noticable difference... and if there is a difference in both
cases, is one of them much larger?


(((((((((((((((((( ( (  (   (    (O)    )   )  ) ) )))))))))))))))))))
William J. Beaty                http://staff.washington.edu/wbeaty/
beaty@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx       Research Engineer
billb@xxxxxxxxxx                UW Chem Dept,  Bagley Hall RM74
206-543-6195                    Box 351700, Seattle, WA 98195-1700