Radioactive B-58s

[MartG]

I've just read a short article about the B-58 Hustler using an alloy called HK-31 in its construction. HK-31, also known as Mag-Thor, was an alloy of magnesium, thorium, and zirconium which is no longer in use since the three percent thorium it contains makes the alloy radioactive ( though only harmful if ingested ).

Apparently the B-58 had a greater radiation signature than the nuclear weapons it carried !

The same alloy was also used in several missiles such as the Bomarc and D-21, as well as the adapter section of the Gemini spacecraft.

Crazy stuff they did back then !

[Eric Mc]

Not to mention the radioactive dials in the cockpit.

[hidetheelephants]

An explanation of some Thorium alloys; it's a pretty unexplored area of metallurgy and needs more investigation.

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

Not to mention the radioactive dials in the cockpit.

Do you mean the same stuff they put in luminous watches? Americium I think.

[ecsrobin]

Simpo Two said:

Eric Mc said:

Not to mention the radioactive dials in the cockpit.

Do you mean the same stuff they put in luminous watches? Americium I think.

Tritium is the stuff for watches I believe.

[markmullen]

Eric Mc said:

Not to mention the radioactive dials in the cockpit.

Hence the issue at Dalgety Bay

http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/mod-will-cle...

[williamp]

markmullen said:

Eric Mc said:

Not to mention the radioactive dials in the cockpit.

Hence the issue at Dalgety Bay

http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/mod-will-cle...

Oooohhhhh, buried spitfires. The brass build plate wont have rusted, so we could build a lake full of brand new, zero hour, 100% original ww2 warbirds. Anyone got a spare 50 mil for salvage rights??

[eccles]

ecsrobin said:

Simpo Two said:

Eric Mc said:

Not to mention the radioactive dials in the cockpit.

Do you mean the same stuff they put in luminous watches? Americium I think.

Tritium is the stuff for watches I believe.

Tritium is the modern safe stuff. Radium was the old dangerous stuff.

[Simpo Two]

eccles said:

Tritium is the modern safe stuff. Radium was the old dangerous stuff.

What made my watches luminous in the 70's/80's? I've had the same watch since 1979; it was luminous to start with but faded to nothing many years ago.

[llewop]

Simpo Two said:

eccles said:

Tritium is the modern safe stuff. Radium was the old dangerous stuff.

What made my watches luminous in the 70's/80's? I've had the same watch since 1979; it was luminous to start with but faded to nothing many years ago.

For a time they also used promethium, but it was quite literally a dim idea as the half life is only 2.6 years, so faded almost before your eyes! If your watch has a T or P in a circle on the face of it, you can probably work out which was used. The radiation would have damaged the phosphor as well as making it glow, so no surprise no luminous news after a while, regardless of which isotope was used.

On the thread topic - quite a few thorium-magnesium engines over the years, some still around it seems. Mostly not an issue if you don't hug the thing!