The major disadvantage of thoria are the environmental issues due to the exposure to the alpha particles emitted by thorium. |
|
The Austrian chemist, C. von Welsbach, perfected the thoria gas mantle that improves the light output of coal-gas flame and to this day has not been improved significantly. |
|
Minor raw materials are zirconia, zircon, thoria, beryllia, titania, and ceria, and other minerals containing rare-earth elements. |
|
The only other thorium compound of any industrial significance is ThO2, known as thoria. |
|
Adding 1 to 2 percent thoria or zirconia increases the electron emission and high-temperature strength of tungsten wire, making it useful for electronic applications and electrodes for tungsten inert-gas arc welding. |
|
Thoria also finds some application as a refractory material in various high-temperature processes. |
|