What is Luminous paint?
[[File:Art exhibition under black light.jpg|thumb|Fluorescent paint used in contemporary art]] [[File:Radium_Dial.jpg|thumb|Clock dials that used [[radium]] were commonly used in the 1950s]] '''Luminous paint''' or '''luminescent paint''' is a kind of [[paint]] that gives off visible light and that glows in the dark. There are several ways this can be done: *It is possible to convert invisible [[UV]] light into visible light. Typically, blue light, and the near-blue part of UV light is changed to a bigger [[wavelength]], such as blue-green, yellow or red. This effect is known as [[fluorescence]]. At the same intensity, tones of red or yellow appear brighter to the human eye. This kind of paint is used for [[high-visibility clothing]], for example. *It is possible to store the [[energy]] of the light, and to emit this energy in the form of visible light later on. The effect is known as [[phosphorescence]]. [[Emergency exit|Emergency exits]] are marked with this kind of paint. *A [[radioactive decay|radioactive substance]] can be used; the energy of this radioactive decay can be converted into visible light. Today, the radiation of these substances is shielded easily, since the substances used only emit [[Alpha particle|alpha radiation,]] or low-energy [[Beta particle|beta radiation]]. At the beginning of the 20th century, [[radium]] [[isotope|isotopes]] were used, which led to a number of cases of radiation poisoning; one of the most prominent cases is that of the [[Radium girls]]. == Related pages == *[[Luminosity]] *[[Luminescence]] *[[Bioluminescence]] {{tech-stub}} [[Category:Paints]]