Polonium: Encyclopedia II - Polonium - Applications

Polonium - Applications

When it is mixed or alloyed with beryllium, polonium can be a neutron source. Other uses;

• This element has also been used in devices that eliminate static charges in textile mills and other places. However, beta sources are more commonly used and are less dangerous.
• Polonium is used on brushes that remove accumulated dust from photographic films. The polonium in these brushes is sealed and controlled thus minimizing radiation hazards.

Polonium - Polonium-210

This isotope of polonium is an alpha emitter that has a half-life of 138.39 days. A milligram of polonium-210 emits as many alpha particles as 5 grams of radium. A great deal of energy is released by its decay with a half a gram quickly reaching a temperature above 750 K. A few curies (gigabecquerels) of polonium-210 emit a blue glow which is caused by excitation of surrounding air. A single gram of polonium-210 generates 140 watts of heat energy. Since nearly all alpha radiation can be easily stopped by ordinary containers and upon hitting its surface releases its energy, Polonium-210 has been used as a lightweight heat source to power thermoelectric cells in artificial satellites. Because of its short halflife though polonium-210 cannot provide power for long-term space missions and has been phased out of use in this application.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Applications", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki