What wrinkles does a nixie tube develop over the years?
Lifespan of a nixie tube filled with high-quality gas is around 20 years.
However, during this time, it will develop visible signs of wear and tear.
Particles released from the digits when they light up settle on the glass of the nixie tube, creating a gradually darkening coating that transitions into a metallic or even mirror-like effect.
An example of the “darkening glass” can be seen in our first nixie tubes in the illustrative photos. These nixie tubes have been illuminating space 24/7 for 8 years already.
The glow remains essentially unchanged even after such performance, just slightly shifting towards orange.
The difference you see on our latest version of the nixie tube, in the form of white adhesive on the pins, is an aesthetic manufacturing change, not the result of adhesive oxidation over the operating period.
