How do Glow Sticks actually work ?

Chemical glow sticks work by using a simple chemical reaction to emit light & consist of 4 basic components.

1. An outer plastic casing 2. A phenyl oxalate fluid and fluorescent dye inside the outer casing. 3. An inner glass vial which floats in the phenyl oxalate fluid contained in the outer casing. 4. A hydrogen peroxide solution inside the floating glass vial.

Once the glow stick is activated by bending it the inner glass vial breaks releasing the hydrogen peroxide and allowing it to mix with the phenyl oxalate. This mixing of the two compounds causes them to immediately react with each other and so causing the atoms to emit light. The fluorescent dye used in each glow stick gives it it's distinctive color.

How long will they glow for ?

The length of time the reaction lasts depends on a number of factors such as the chemical compounds used, the size of the glow stick ( larger sticks contain more chemicals and therefore a longer reaction time ) and the ambient air temperature. The warmer the air the brighter the glow will be but the actual glow time will be reduced. Cooler temperatures will extend the the glow time but the brightness will be reduced. It is possible to extend the reaction time even further by placing the glow stick in the freezer so it can be used again the following day. Using this method will not stop the reaction from taking place but it will extend it considerably.

What is the best way to store glow sticks ?

Ideally all chemical glow sticks should be kept in a cool dry place until they are needed. Warm or humid storage conditions should always be avoided as this will shorten their shelf life.

How long can glow sticks be stored ?

All our glow sticks and glow in the dark products have a shelf life of between 1 - 4 years.This depends on their packaging & the conditions in which they are stored.  As a general guide the foil / plastic wrapped glow sticks have a longer shelf life of 2 - 4 years and the the tube packed glow sticks have a shorter shelf life of between 1and 2 years.