Smoke Detector Breakdown!!!

Don't even look at them twice!!!

Unless you are in need of radioactive americium-241.

What. I've scrapped several commercial types that had high grade boards in them. Never saw any radioactive material in them. Easy to scrap too, just bust the plastic case off.

I don't know anything about radioactivity except what I learned from the Toxic Avenger movies... And this was just a home smoke detector! One little brown board.

I like to bust em up with a broom handle : D (just be careful which way you're aiming when you pop that battery ; )

From Wiki americium 241

Most americium is produced by bombarding uranium or plutonium with neutrons in nuclear reactors – one tonne of spent nuclear fuel contains about 100 grams of americium. It is widely used in commercial ionization chamber smoke detectors, as well as in neutron sources and industrial gauges. Several unusual applications, such as a nuclear battery or fuel for space ships with nuclear propulsion, have been proposed for the isotope 242mAm, but they are as yet hindered by the scarcity and high price of this nuclear isomer.

I would also read up wiki smoke detector. It seems there are two primary detection methods.

Obviously safety would have to be addressed. Most everyone knows of gold and such, but those pesky rare earths have value too.?

Pics

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