2 Nov
1998
2 Nov
'98
2:56 a.m.
At 11:41 AM 11/2/98 -0500, Marty wrote:
Sounds like you may be talking about a 'getter' which is used in the
production of vacuum tubes (valves for you gents across the pond) to
eliminate vapor and residual air the vacuum pump can't draw out or may
be in the metal components of the tube (plate, grid, filiment and
arbor). The getter is a compound (barium, magnesium, etc.) placed in
the tube which is ignited after the envelope is sealed. After the
getter ignites it sometimes leaves a silver coating inside the tube.
Yes, "getter" is the word. The substance I remember would generate
an ozone-smelling gas when wetted. It physically resembled calcium
carbide in color in appearance.
Offhand, I'm not sure how this coincides with your description of an
ignited compound: you'd think there wouldn't be much oxygen there
at that point in manufacturing, and what combustive process would
*release* free metal?
- John