New chemlight tech

[GunnyGene]

I hadn't heard of this before reading about it today. Called "Marking Appliance Reusable Chemiluminescent" (MARC), will probably be available soon for civilian use. This is a pretty slick innovation.

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2019/02/21/air-force-labs-develop-and-field-chemlight-replacement/

AFRL at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base developed a reusable solution that resembles a piece of chalk, but functions much the same as regular chemlights and can be used in the infrared light spectrum.

Researchers encased the liquid and oils found in chemlights into a waxy medium that can be used for writing and marking objects in the field. The pressure of writing breaks the tiny capsules in the wax, which causes the chemical reaction that creates the glowing effect.

Larry Brott, an engineer with AFRL’s materials and manufacturing directorate, came up with the idea after years of working in the automotive adhesives industry, where he used similar designs.

“This is such an intuitive use for this technology,” Brott said in an Air Force news release in March. “By packaging these materials in this form, we’re saving three things for the warfighter: volume, weight, and cost.”

 

[caryc]

I checked out the website you listed.

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/...labs-develop-and-field-chemlight-replacement/

At the end of the video, you see it in action. One thing though, I wonder how long the stuff stays lit up like that?

 

[GunnyGene]

I checked out the website you listed.

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/...labs-develop-and-field-chemlight-replacement/

At the end of the video, you see it in action. One thing though, I wonder how long the stuff stays lit up like that?

I tried to find some info about that, but no joy. Normal sticks are designed to last for different times, depending on the chems used, size, etc. See this: https://getcyalume.com/safety-lighting-products/chemlights/

Since this MARC is designed for the military, I suspect it will have to meet some similar standard, but we probably won't know till they start marketing it.

 

[coach]

I could see its usefullness in some limited situations but not for general use. It ain’t duck tape or epoxy.