10 ms·
We used to do this with incandescent bulbs. I was never quite sure if it was safe (is it?!), but the microwave itself always seemed to survive ok. Generally th
by aidos 8y ago
We used to do this with incandescent bulbs. I was never quite sure if it was safe (is it?!), but the microwave itself always seemed to survive ok.
Generally the bulb would explode, we presumed due to the heat causing internal pressure. Though at one point a bulb got really hot and melted a sort of bubble on the side. It seemed to provide enough space for the heated air so it never exploded and we could use it again and again.
- knolan 8y agoYou can make plasma with a partially evacuated sealed bottle, it’s basially how plasma chambers work and it’s a handy way to get plasma if you’re stuck. You can use different gases in the bottle for different plasmas.
- SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago> it’s a handy way to get plasma if you’re stuck. I'm finding it hard to imagine a situation where I desperately need to make plasma but I'll file this one away just in case. ;)
- knolan 8y agoI’ve seen it used to treat cured PDMS elastomer and glass slides for bonding microfluidic devices (aligns OH groups to the surface to achieve a covalent bond between the PDMS and glass). Our plasma chamber was destroyed by a student so I used a corona discharge tool, or a cattle prod as it’s better known. Was tempted to buy a cheap microwave tho...
- FreeFull 8y agoSolid glass is transparent to microwaves, but molten glass absorbs them pretty well. So, if you can get a piece of glass hot enough, the microwaves will be able to keep it hot.
- black6 8y agoAnd melt it! http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1004040/melt_a_frickn_beer_bottle/ http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1004040/melt_a_frickn_beer_bot...
- moron4hire 8y agoIncandescent bulbs are vacuumed inside (that's why they make a popping sound when they shatter), so it was probably the plasma melting the glass.