Phosphorescent Technologies

ALKALINE EARTH METAL ALUMINATE

• May be improperly referred to as Strontium Aluminate, Silicate Aluminate, or Alkaline Earth Aluminate
• Technology originating in 1992, provides an extreme variety of brightness' and economic levels in glow pigment.  At the high end, offers the brightest and longest lasting phosphorescent pigments
• Depending on the individual product, 'earth metals' can include Strontium, Magnesium, Calcium, and Barium Silicon and Titanium may also be present.  It is typically doped with Europium
• Glow Colors range in the spectrum from green-yellow to purple-blue
• Raw pigment is whitish in color, and translucent in medium
• Acid decomposes this pigment
• Water will slowly dissolve it.  Therefore, water-based mediums must be mixed, applied, and encouraged to dry quickly.

Glow Inc. product lines: Ultra and High

ALKALINE EARTH ALUMINATE W/ FLUORESCENT PIGMENT

• Products are created by taking Alkaline Earth Metal Aluminate pigments and adding an opaque fluorescent pigment to provide visibility in a lit room 
• As a side effect, the fluorescent pigments also tint the glow which can produce glow colors such as orange.

Glow Inc. product line:  Daytime

COATED ALKALINE EARTH ALUMINATE

• This technology is new for 2004; products are created by coating Alkaline Earth Metal Aluminate pigments with a sealer to protect them from water
• Because they are no longer water soluble, they can be used in water-based mediums

Glow Inc. product line:  Coated

ALKALINE EARTH SILICATE

• Another fairly new pigment technology that produces a very pure sky blue glow color not available from alkaline earth aluminates
• Pigments are not water soluble and are stable in most acids; thus the medium choices are almost endless

Glow Inc. product line:  Pure

ZINC SULFIDE (GREEN FORMULA)

• Originated in the 1970's, this was the first phosphorescent pigment
• It is also the pigment in 99% of all glow in the dark items currently available
• It is not very bright and it only glows for a short period of time
• The reason it is used so much in manufacturing is that it is relatively cheap; also FDA approved for limited use cosmetics
• Raw pigment has a strong sulfuric odor, but it is usually masked when mixed into the medium
• Zinc pigments are slightly soluble in water; solubility level is so small that they can be stored as a water-based paint for years

Glow Inc product line: (currently discontinued)

ZINC SULFIDE (RED & ORANGE FORMULA)

• In 2000, they manipulated Zinc Sulfide to produce glow colors in the color spectrum from red to orange
• Colors are deep and pure; brightness has been improved
• Raw pigment has a strong sulfuric odor, but it is usually masked when mixed into the medium
• Zinc pigments are slightly soluble in water; the solubility level is so small that they can be stored as a water-based paint for years

Glow Inc product line: Zinc