User manual MINOX ARGON BROCHURE

[. . . ] I N N O VAT I O N S IN BINOCULAR ENGINEERING (III) SUPER GAS P R OT E C T S AG A I N S T MICRO-CORROSION AND AGEING In the stated 400 year old history of the binocular, it has only become known in recent times that cold to hot temperature changes alter the humidity inside the body and lens assembly of the binocular. [. . . ] Unlike Nitrogen, Argon basically does not have any chemical reaction. This positive feature has been used for many years by manufacturers of household and industrial light bulbs and fluorescent tubes, as the addition of Argon to the filler gas allows much higher temperatures and consequently provides higher efficiency. Another major advantage of Argon over Nitrogen is the non-absorption of water molecules. This means that optical and mechanical components inside the binoculars are protected against fogging, corrosion and ageing for much longer periods than previously achieved. A further positive property of Argon is the slower rate of diffusion, based on the larger size of Argon atoms compared with Nitrogen molecules (71 pm compared with 174 pm). This feature and the fact that MINOX uses specially compacted aluminium for the body material, as against porous plastic in common use with some other binocular brands, guarantees that the super gas with its large molecules remains inside the binocular much longer than is the case with Nitrogen. Argon (Ar) is a gas that is free of colour and smell at room temperature. As with all respected super gases, Argon is almost inert in the atmosphere. Argon, because of its properties, is a very rare element on earth. [. . . ] 4 · D - 35578 Wetzlar · Tel. : +49 (0) 6441 / 917-0 · Fax: +49 (0) 6441 / 917-612 · www. minox. com Minox information order number: 99270 [. . . ]