Tritium
Tritium is a low-grade radioactive material that illuminates in darkness. The level of radiation emitted by the tritium is negligible; however, if you do suspect leakage, place the sights in a sealed bag and contact the manufacturer for instructions.The light from tritium is self sustaining and does not require an additional light source, unlike some other glow-in-the-dark materials that must first be exposed to light to function.
Tritium Colors
Tritium rear sights are available in several colors, including green, yellow and orange. Tritium front sights are only available in green. Trijicon, one of the leaders in tritium sight production, warranties their green and yellow colored sights for 12 years and their orange sights for five. The warranty from Trijicon is only recognized provided that the tritium sights are installed by an authorized gunsmith.
Tritium Sight Construction
Tritium sights are built to exacting standards both to ensure the function of the sights and for the protection of the consumer. The tritium substance is placed and sealed within a small glass tube, which is then coated with a thin layer of aluminum and surrounded by a rubber cushion. The tubes are then placed into the body of the sight and sealed with a polished sapphire window. The window is designed to evenly disburse the light from the tritium and protect the tube from trauma.
Tritium Sight Use
The sights are used in exactly the same manner as conventional open sights. Align the glowing dot of the front sight with your intended target and center the front dot between the two dots of the rear sight. Tritium sights have white outlines painted around the sapphire windows to be used as a reference during daylight shooting.