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Didymium Glass Lenses Used in Labs

Didymium is a filter that absorbs bright yellow light. Lenses made from didymium protect the eyes from some visible and UV light. Glass blowers who produce lab equipment, custom glass products and signs commonly use safety glasses, with lenses made from didymium. Workers in labs often wear this type of safety glass due to bright light and the strain that close-up work can cause.

  1. About Didymium

    • Didymium is a mixture of praseodymium and neodymium. Used in safety glasses, it protects wearers from a condition known as arc eye or welder’s flash. During WWI, didymium glass was used to send Morse Code to troops in the battlefield. Didymium did not produce enough light for the enemy to see unless they used binoculars, keeping soldiers a bit safer than with other forms of communication.

    Rose Didymium

    • Glass blowers wearing Didymium lenses can see the glass in the bright, sodium flame of a torch, without harming their eyes. The efficiency of didymium safety glasses enhances vision, allowing workers to complete tasks more easily and safely. Although rose-colored didymium glasses resemble standard laboratory goggles, they aren’t readily available in the 21st Century due the unpopularity of the outdated frame styles.

    Enhanced Didymium

    • Enhanced didymium glass lenses block bright yellow flare, but not the whole spectrum of ultraviolet or infrared light. Lab workers wear these safety glasses when exposed to flame, torches and sodium flares. Workers have the option of using clip-on didymium lenses. Clip-on lenses come in shades 2, 3 or 5 to block out infrared and ultraviolet light ,but not yellow flare. Clip-on lenses come in handy when workers contact a wider range of light only on occasion.

    Boroscope

    • Boroscopes or Green ACE IR lenses provide workers with the protection that spans the three types of light spectrums: yellow flare, ultraviolet and infrared. Boroscopes are the newest type of didymium glasses on the market as of 2011. This type of safety glass lenses come in stylish, modern frame styles. The lenses come in shade number ranging from clear to 5 to benefit workers in many industries, including welding.

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