Discover our trigalight^® illumination technology

Innovative Swiss Precision Technology

The ability to manufacture the self-illuminating light technology called trigalight^® is the result of decades of research and development work in the field of radio luminescence. The company mb-microtec ag is the originator and worldwide only manufacturer of watch lights based on this technology. trigalight^® are independent of a battery or charging by sunlight, maintenance-free and have a guaranteed lifespan of at least 10 years.

Functional principle

trigalight^® are small, airtight sealed glass tubes coated on the inside with a luminous substance. The coating is “fired” with electrons emitted by the tritium gas which causes the layer to light up (when such an electron hits the powder layer a fraction of its kinetic energy is transformed into light). With a trigalight^®, the necessary electrons are created through the radioactive disintegration of tritium (an isotope of hydrogen).

Tritium

trigalight^® are filled with tritium gas. Tritium is unstable and disintegrates whilst sending out beta radiation (electrons) with a half-life time of 12.3 years to helium. The electron is unable to penetrate the human skin and can be stopped without any problems by a sheet of paper. A traser^® H3 watch contains 15 to 20 trigalight^® for a total of no more than 1 GBq (Giga Bequerel) of tritium.

Size of a trigalight^®

Today, mb-microtec ag is in a position to manufacture light sources with a diameter of just 0.5 mm and a length of 1.3 mm. trigalight^® is available in different colours, but green is the preferred because the human eye perceives it to be the brightest.