Physics:Ultraviolet-sensitive bead
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (June 2023) |
Ultraviolet-sensitive beads (UV beads) are beads that change color in the presence of ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet rays are present in sunlight and light from various artificial sources and can cause sunburn or skin cancer.[1] The beads act as a cheap, wearable sensor; the color change in the beads alerts the wearer to the presence of UV radiation.[2]
When the beads are not exposed to ultraviolet rays, they are colorless and either translucent or opaque. However, when sunlight falls onto the beads, they instantly become red, orange, yellow, blue, purple, or pink.
UV-sensitive beads are generally made of a photochromic pigment embedded in polyethylene or polypropylene, which is then shaped to form the bead. It is also possible to make UV-sensitive beads from alginates.[2]
See also
- Photosensitive glass
- Pony beads
References
- ↑ "UVA & UVB - SkinCancer.org". http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/uva-and-uvb.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dávila-Díaz, Kariluz; Díaz-Vázquez, Liz M. (2024-08-13). "Alginate-Based UV Sensor: A Simple and Inexpensive Tool for Educational Purposes". Journal of Chemical Education 101 (8): 3596–3602. doi:10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00291. ISSN 0021-9584. PMID 39157435. PMC 11328127. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11328127/.
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