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Polonium Spark Plugs: A Brief, Radioactive Automotive Innovation

Polonium spark plugs promised improved combustion efficiency. Despite their unique concept, they couldn't overcome practical hurdles and faded from the market by the mid-20th century.

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In the picture there is a car and below the car some quotations are mentioned and it is an edited...
In the picture there is a car and below the car some quotations are mentioned and it is an edited image.

Polonium Spark Plugs: A Brief, Radioactive Automotive Innovation

Polonium spark plugs, once a novel idea, faced numerous challenges that hindered their market success. Despite their brief appearance, they left a mark on automotive history and can still be found today as collectors' items.

Firestone Tire and Rubber Company patented the use of polonium-210 in spark plugs in 1941. The theory behind these plugs was that polonium's alpha particles would ionize the air-fuel mixture, creating a stronger spark and improving combustion efficiency. However, the practical implementation faced several hurdles. The radioactive material was incorporated into the spark plug electrodes by adding it to the nickel alloy used to produce them. This process, along with the dispersal, storage, and disposal of radioactive material, contributed to their lack of success.

Polonium spark plugs, despite their innovative concept and brief market appearance, faced insurmountable challenges that led to their demise. Their legacy lives on in online collectibles, serving as a reminder of the intersection of science and automotive history.

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