Jan 26, 2015 | By Alec
That’s right, the title says radioactive. A word that normally conjures up images of nuclear tests in Nevada, mushroom clouds over Hiroshima and a great big wall on the Potzdamerplatz in the heart of Berlin. However, a lot more materials are radioactive aside from plutonium, and it has plenty of non-war related applications too. It can, for instance, also function as an excellent source of energy that is, if properly handled and stores, quite safe.
It’s exactly because of this dual war/energy identity that radioactive materials are so intriguing, and that is probably exactly why the Greek designer behind Innovo has incorporated one of these materials into a series of beautiful, fascinating and slightly intimidating accessories. All of these beautiful 3D printed creations have been designed by an unnamed hobbyist from Athens, Greece. As he explains about himself, he seeks to ‘create functional, innovative and unique objects and artifacts.’ And with a ‘radioactive’ label, these accessories certainly are.
For when being perfectly honest, his futuristic designs themselves look quite good, but the real kicker is in their common denominator. As you can see in the images, these items – rings, flashlight/bottleopeners, pendants – all have one thing in common: an eerie light source, that also glows in the dark. That is a non-removable tritium isotope in a 2,25 cm resin vial. As you might have guessed, that’s a radioactive isotope (hydrogen-3, to be precise). This precious material is a very interesting light source; during the day, it’s a rather plain looking accessory, but when dark it produces a phosphorescent glow in whichever of the eight colors you choose. And as the decorative material itself is also the energy source, it’s basically its own battery and will continue to glow non-stop for the next twenty years or so. Isn’t that cool?
Now the real question that should be on everyone’s minds right now is: is it safe? Its designer certainly assures us that it is, and it definitely looks like he’s right. The isotope itself is stored within a resin vial (presumably, the designer orders them like that), which he then encases in a 3D printed stainless steel body. These are made on industrial-grade 3D printers using a stainless steel alloy with infused bronze (he also sometimes works with Sterling Silver). This ensures that the vial is almost impossible to remove and even more difficult to accidentally break, so you shouldn’t have to worry about a leak at all.
Fortunately, Innovo also offers a variety of beautiful accessories from which to choose from. You can find the full range of available products here on Etsy or here on Shapeways. None of are particularly cheap (ranging from 60 to 190 euros for the accessories), but that is hardly surprising. If the designer is to believed, tritium isotope is one of the most costly materials on the planet (at $30,000 per gram), so these prices aren’t too bad at all. Innovo has even reported on his Facebook that they are selling at a very high rate and that various designs are no longer available, so act fast if you’re interested.
Now I can’t imagine that many fiancées would be happy to receive a nuclear-powered ring, but it certainly would be original.
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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They will emit a small amount of radiation. Just like the antique watch faces with glowing numbers.
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