JP2002164018A - Fluorescent lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fluorescent lamp having high safety by reducing a mercury quantity sealed in a glass bulb, and reducing a using quantity of mercury having a problem in terms of the protection of environment. SOLUTION: A mixed film 3 having a connecting body 6 of a phosphor and metallic oxide, for example, yttrium oxide is formed on an inside surface of the glass bulb 2, and the connecting body 6 of this mixed film 3 is arranged between phosphor particles 7 to firmly connect the particles. A first thin film 4 composed of metallic oxide is formed between the glass bulb 2 and the mixed film 3, and a second thin film 5 composed of metallic oxide is formed on an inside surface close to the tube center of the mixed film 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluorescent lamp which is a lamp using low-pressure mercury vapor discharge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a fluorescent lamp, mercury is sealed in a lamp container to emit light from a phosphor adhered to an inner surface of a lamp container formed of a glass bulb or the like.
Light having an excitation wavelength of 254 nm for mercury is used.

In recent years, from the viewpoint of environmental protection, there has been a growing demand for reducing the amount of mercury used in fluorescent lamps.
There is a need for the development of technology to reduce the amount of mercury consumed in lamp vessels.

The mercury in the conventional fluorescent lamp is such that mercury diffuses into the glass bulb, sodium (Na) diffused from the glass bulb reacts with mercury to form amalgam, and mercury is adsorbed on the phosphor. As a result, it is consumed gradually as the use time elapses.

[0005] In order to prevent mercury from diffusing into the glass bulb or reacting with sodium ions from the glass bulb, a conventional fluorescent lamp has an alumina protective film layer formed on the inner surface of the glass bulb.

The present inventors measured the mercury ion count in a conventional fluorescent lamp using a secondary ion mass spectrometer in order to consider the consumption of mercury in the conventional fluorescent lamp. FIG. 15 shows the analysis results.
6 is a graph showing the secondary ion intensity of mercury in a phosphor layer, an alumina protective film layer, and a glass bulb of a conventional three-wavelength-range fluorescent lamp. As shown in FIG. 15, in the conventional fluorescent lamp, a large amount of mercury is absorbed by the phosphor layer and consumed.

As described above, in the conventional fluorescent lamp, although the reaction between mercury sealed in the lamp vessel and sodium ions in the glass bulb is suppressed, a considerable amount of mercury is adsorbed on the phosphor layer and consumed. It had been. Moreover, the consumption of mercury increases with the elapse of the usage time of the fluorescent lamp.

For this reason, in the lamp vessel of the conventional fluorescent lamp, mercury, which is a substance that is harmful to the global environment and desirably used in as small an amount as possible, greatly exceeds the amount required for light emission. Had been used.

A conventional technique for preventing the adsorption of mercury on the surface of the phosphor layer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-245162. The prior art disclosed in this publication is intended to suppress the so-called blackening phenomenon, in which the lamp vessel is darkened by mercury in a fluorescent lamp, and to prevent a reduction in luminous flux. In order to achieve the above object, the fluorescent lamp disclosed in this publication forms a coating on the inner surface of the phosphor layer, reduces the adsorption of mercury to the phosphor layer by the coating, and suppresses the blackening phenomenon. It was to be.

[0010]

In the conventional fluorescent lamp constructed as described above (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-245162), the coating formed on the inner surface of the phosphor layer has a so-called sandy space. Things. For this reason, it has been difficult to reliably prevent mercury from entering the phosphor layer and the like. Therefore, in this conventional technique, the amount of mercury consumed by the fluorescent lamp cannot be significantly reduced, and the amount of mercury to be sealed in the lamp container cannot be reduced.

The present invention prevents the adsorption of mercury on a phosphor layer and the like, and also prevents the reaction between sodium and mercury in a glass bulb, thereby setting the amount of mercury to be filled in advance to the minimum necessary for light emission. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluorescent lamp and a method of manufacturing the same.

[0012]

In a fluorescent lamp according to the present invention, a mixed film of a phosphor and a metal oxide linked body is formed on an inner surface of a lamp container, and mercury is sealed in the lamp container. The connected body of the mixed film is disposed in the gap between the phosphor particles, and is connected to the phosphor particle with a gap (shown in FIG. 8).

According to the method of manufacturing a fluorescent lamp according to the present invention, a phosphor material is applied to the inner surface of a lamp vessel, dried to form a phosphor layer, a metal alkoxide solution is applied to the phosphor layer, and hydrolysis is performed. Let it. Next, the phosphor layer is subjected to a heat treatment to form a mixed film having a bridge of a metal oxide between phosphor particles of the phosphor layer.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the fluorescent lamp of the present invention will be described below.

In the fluorescent lamp of the present invention, a mixed film of a phosphor and a metal oxide is formed on the inner surface of the lamp vessel in which mercury is sealed, and the mixed film is formed in a gap between the particles of the phosphor. It has a connected body of the formed metal oxide, and the connected body forms a continuous bridge between particles of the phosphor. Therefore, in the fluorescent lamp of the present invention,
The phosphor particles are firmly connected by the metal oxide, and the mercury in the fluorescent lamp is isolated from the glass container. As a result, mercury does not react with sodium in the glass container, and consumption of mercury sealed in the lamp container is suppressed.

In the fluorescent lamp according to the present invention, the first metal oxide continuous between the inner surface of the lamp vessel and the mixed film.
Is formed. For this reason, in the fluorescent lamp of the present invention, the mercury in the fluorescent lamp is reliably isolated from the lamp container, and the consumption of mercury in the lamp container is suppressed.

In the fluorescent lamp of the present invention, a second thin film of a metal oxide is formed on the inner surface of the mixed film, which is a surface close to the center of the tube. Therefore, according to the present invention, the phosphor is isolated from the mercury by the metal oxide, the chemical deterioration of the phosphor due to mercury adsorption is suppressed, and the consumption of mercury by the adsorption and oxidation of mercury to the phosphor is prevented. Is done.

In the fluorescent lamp according to the present invention, the first metal oxide continuous between the inner surface of the lamp vessel and the mixed film.
Is formed, and a second thin film of metal oxide is formed on the inner surface of the mixed film which is close to the center of the tube. For this reason, in the fluorescent lamp of the present invention, the lamp vessel and the phosphor are isolated from the mercury by the metal oxide, and the phosphor is prevented from being chemically degraded by mercury adsorption.
Further, according to the present invention, mercury consumption due to adsorption and diffusion of mercury to the phosphor and the lamp vessel and oxidation is prevented.

In the fluorescent lamp according to the present invention, the metal oxide is made of a material that transmits light having a wavelength of 254 nm. Therefore, in the fluorescent lamp of the present invention, the excitation wavelength of mercury is 254n.
m light almost certainly reaches the phosphor, causing the phosphor to emit light.

[0020] In the fluorescent lamp of the present invention, the metal oxide is at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, zirconium oxide, vanadium oxide, niobium oxide and yttrium oxide. Therefore, in the fluorescent lamp of the present invention, a chemical reaction with mercury is prevented by using a metal oxide containing an element having a low chemical affinity with mercury as a constituent substance.

In the fluorescent lamp according to the present invention, the metal oxide is made of a substance that blocks 50% or more of light near a wavelength of 185 nm. Therefore, according to the present invention, the deterioration of the phosphor of the fluorescent lamp is prevented.

In the fluorescent lamp according to the present invention, the mixed film has phosphorus or boron as an impurity. Therefore, according to the present invention, the movement of sodium in the glass container can be prohibited, and the reaction between mercury and sodium can be suppressed.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the fluorescent lamp of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side sectional view of a fluorescent lamp according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and shows a partially enlarged view. Each layer shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 1 is idealized and drawn flat.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fluorescent lamp of the present embodiment has a straight tube-shaped glass bulb 2 serving as a lamp vessel, and electrodes 1 provided at both ends of the glass bulb 2. On the inner surface of the glass bulb 2, a mixed film 3 having a phosphor is formed. Further, mercury is sealed in the glass bulb 2 together with the rare gas.

The fluorescent lamp of the present embodiment is a straight tube-shaped fluorescent lamp or a ring-shaped fluorescent lamp having a low load but not a high load, and has a load of about 0.35 W / cm.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the mixed film 3 having a phosphor in the fluorescent lamp of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, a linked body 6 made of a vitrified chemically stable metal oxide, in this embodiment, yttrium oxide, is formed in the mixed film 3 so as to fill gaps between the phosphor particles 7. Have been. Between the glass bulb 2 and the mixed film 3, a first thin film 4 made of yttrium oxide which is the same metal oxide as that of the connecting body 6 is formed so as to cover the inner surface of the glass bulb 2. I have. further,
The inner surface of the mixed film 3 (the upper surface in FIG. 2) is
The second metal oxide of yttrium oxide
Is covered with the thin film 5. Since the vitrified metal oxide is formed of yttrium oxide, it transmits light of 254 nm, which is the excitation wavelength of mercury.
Therefore, the phosphor particles 7 in the mixed film 3 emit light upon receiving light of 254 nm which is the excitation wavelength of mercury.

Note that the inventors of the present invention described the SEM (scanning electron microscope) and the XMA (XM) for the above-described linked body 6 of the mixed film 3, the first thin film 4 and the second thin film 5 in the fluorescent lamp of the present embodiment. The presence thereof was confirmed by an analyzer such as an X-ray microanalyzer.

In the above embodiment, yttrium oxide was used as the metal oxide, but in addition, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, zirconium oxide,
Similar results were obtained using vanadium oxide and niobium oxide.

Next, in this embodiment, the first thin film 4,
The light transmittance of the metal oxide used for the second thin film 5 and the connector 6 will be described. FIGS. 3 to 9 are graphs showing the transmittance of the various metal oxide films (thickness of about 0.5 μm) for ultraviolet light.

FIG. 3 shows the transmittance for silicon dioxide (SiO ₂ ), FIG. 4 shows the transmittance for aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ), and FIG. 5 shows the transmittance for hafnium oxide (HfO ₂ ). As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, these metal oxide films transmit almost 100% of the light of 254 nm, which is the excitation wavelength of mercury. For this reason, the first thin film 4, the second thin film 5, and the coupling body 6 formed of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, or hafnium oxide do not adversely affect the emission of the phosphor particles 7.

FIG. 6 shows zirconium oxide (ZrO ₂ ), FIG. 7 shows vanadium oxide (V ₂ O ₅ ), and FIG. 8 shows niobium oxide (N
b ₂ O ₅ ), and FIG. 9 shows respective transmittances in the case of yttrium oxide (Y ₂ O ₃ ).

As shown in FIG. 6, zirconium oxide transmits approximately 95% of light having a wavelength of 254 nm, which is the excitation wavelength of mercury. For this reason, the first zirconium oxide
The thin film 4, the second thin film 5, and the connector 6 of the phosphor particles 7
Has no adverse effect on the emission of light. The zirconium oxide film has a low transmittance for light having a wavelength of 200 nm or less, and has a blocking effect of 80% or more.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, each of vanadium oxide, niobium oxide, and yttrium oxide transmits approximately 85% of light having a wavelength of 254 nm, which is an excitation wavelength of mercury. For this reason, the first thin film 4, the second thin film 5, and the coupling body 6 formed of vanadium oxide, niobium oxide, or yttrium oxide do not adversely affect the emission of the phosphor particles 7. The yttrium oxide film has a low transmittance for light having a wavelength of 200 nm or less, and has a blocking effect of 70% or more.

Next, the action of preventing the adhesion of mercury to the phosphor in the fluorescent lamp of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing the fluorescent lamp of the present embodiment partially cut away.

In FIG. 10, the electrons 21 emitted from the electrode 1 (the movement of the electrons 21 are indicated by arrows a) are the mercury atoms 2
Excite 2. Excited mercury atom 22 (mercury atom 22
(Indicated by an arrow b)), the ultraviolet light c having an excitation wavelength of 254 nm passes through the second thin film 5 and the coupling body 6 and collides with the phosphor particles 7. The fluorescent particles 7 emit long-wavelength visible light by light having an excitation wavelength of 254 nm of the mercury atom 22 according to Stokes' law, and the fluorescent lamp is turned on.

When the first thin film 4, the second thin film 5, and the connecting member 6 of the present embodiment are formed of yttrium oxide or zirconium oxide, light having a wavelength of about 185 nm for excitation of mercury is Substantially shut off. As described above, in the fluorescent lamp having the first thin film 4, the second thin film 5, and the coupling body 6 formed of zirconium oxide or yttrium oxide, light having a wavelength of 185 nm, which particularly deteriorates the phosphor particles 7, emits metal oxide Since the phosphor particles 7 are blocked, the deterioration of the phosphor particles 7 is greatly suppressed.

The inner surface of the mixed film 3 of the present embodiment is formed so as to cover the phosphor
Is covered with the thin film 5. For this reason, even if the mercury atoms 22 move by Brownian motion, they do not collide with the phosphor particles 7 in the mixed film 3 and the mercury atoms 22
There is no danger of mercury oxide being formed by adsorption on the surface.

Further, in this embodiment, since the first thin film 4 is formed between the mixed film 3 and the glass bulb 2, there is no possibility that the mercury atoms 22 reach the glass bulb 2. Therefore, the sodium atom 23 contained in the glass bulb 2 does not react with the mercury atom 22 to form amalgam.

As described above, the fluorescent lamp of this embodiment is
The mercury atoms 22 do not adsorb to the phosphor particles 7 and are not oxidized. Further, it does not react with the sodium atom 23 of the glass bulb. For these reasons, the amount of mercury consumed in the glass bulb 2 can be significantly reduced, and the amount of mercury sealed in the fluorescent lamp can be kept to the minimum necessary for light emission.

Next, the penetration state of mercury in the metal oxide material used as the first thin film 4, the second thin film 5, and the connecting body 6 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the diffusion amount of mercury in various materials in the depth direction. In FIG. 11, the number of mercury ions counted was measured using a SIMS (secondary ion mass spectrometer) as the amount of diffusion of mercury.

The lamp used in this measurement was (a)
A lamp with only a clear bulb made of soda glass,
(B) A lamp in which an aluminum oxide film is formed on the inner surface of the same clear valve with a thickness of about 0.5 μm, and (c) A yttrium oxide film is formed on the inner surface of the same clear valve with a thickness of about 0.5 μm. It is a lamp that did. After lighting these lamps for 2000 hours, the amount of diffusion of mercury in each lamp in the depth direction was analyzed. The result is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 11, a curve A shows a diffusion curve of mercury in a clear valve made of only soda glass, and a curve B shows a diffusion curve of mercury into an aluminum oxide film on the clear valve. Curve C shows the diffusion curve of mercury into the yttrium oxide film on the clear valve.

In FIG. 11, the horizontal axis represents the depth (μ
m) is shown on a normal decimal scale, and the vertical axis shows the count number (number) of mercury ions on a logarithmic scale.

As shown in FIG. 11, the lamp formed with the metal oxide film has an extremely small amount of mercury intrusion, and has an effect of preventing adsorption of mercury to the phosphor particles. For this reason, it was experimentally confirmed that the fluorescent lamp having the metal oxide film of the present example suppresses the consumption of mercury.

Next, the amount of mercury sealed in the fluorescent lamp of this embodiment will be described.

In the following description, an example of a fluorescent lamp (a straight tube-shaped 20 W; FL20SS.EX-N / 18) using yttrium oxide as a metal oxide film body will be described with reference to FIG. I do.

FIG. 12 shows a fluorescent lamp having only a phosphor layer,
4 is a graph in which a relationship between a luminous flux and a lighting time in a fluorescent lamp using yttrium oxide as a metal oxide is analyzed.

The amount of mercury used in a conventional fluorescent lamp is about 10 mg in the case of a straight tube shape of 20 W, but the fluorescent lamp of the present embodiment having a straight tube shape of 20 W used in this analysis has a mercury consumption of 0.5 mg. Limited to very small amounts.

In FIG. 12, a curve D shows a luminous flux change curve of the fluorescent lamp of the comparative example having only the phosphor layer, and a curve E shows a luminous flux change curve of the fluorescent lamp of the present embodiment having the metal oxide of yttrium oxide. ing.

As is clear from the graph of FIG. 12, in the fluorescent lamp having only the phosphor layer (curve D), mercury disappeared in about 2000 hours, and the lamp did not light. On the other hand, the fluorescent lamp having the metal oxide of yttrium oxide (curve E) has a luminous flux retention rate of 90% after 5000 hours.
Had been maintained.

From the results of the graph shown in FIG. 12, the fluorescent lamp of this embodiment has the mixed film 3 containing a metal oxide and the first thin film 4 and the second thin film 5 made of a metal oxide. I have. Therefore, it was confirmed that the fluorescent lamp of this example had an effect of greatly reducing the amount of mercury used.

Next, the consumption of mercury sealed in the fluorescent lamp will be described. In order to measure the amount of mercury consumed in the fluorescent lamp, a cataphoresis-analysis method capable of nondestructively quantitatively analyzing the amount of mercury in the fluorescent lamp was used. FIG. 13 is a graph obtained by analyzing the relationship between the amount of mercury consumed and the lighting time.

The fluorescent lamp used in this analysis was a straight tube-shaped 20 W fluorescent lamp (FL20SS-EX-N).
/ 18) was filled with 3.0 mg of mercury. In FIG. 13, a curve F shows a mercury consumption curve of a fluorescent lamp having only a phosphor layer, and a curve G shows a mercury consumption curve of a fluorescent lamp having a metal oxide of yttrium oxide.

As is clear from the graph of FIG. 13, the fluorescent lamp having the metal oxide consumes much less mercury than the fluorescent lamp having only the phosphor layer. From the graph of FIG. 13, it can be seen that the fluorescent lamp having the metal oxide is about 6 hours lighter for 5000 hours than the fluorescent lamp having only the phosphor layer.
It can be seen that the mercury consumption by 5% can be reduced.

Next, a method of manufacturing a fluorescent lamp according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In step 1, a phosphor material, for example, a luminescent material of a three-wavelength band emission type is prepared. Next, this phosphor material is applied to the inner surface of the glass bulb 2 and dried,
A phosphor layer is formed (Step 2). Thereafter, in Step 3, a metal alkoxide, for example, yttrium isopropoxide is dissolved in butyl acetate on the phosphor layer, applied, dried at about 100 ° C. for about 15 minutes, and the metal alkoxide is hydrolyzed. Further, alcohol is generated as the polymerization reaction of the metal alkoxide proceeds, and the alcohol is vaporized and removed.

Thereafter, in step 4, the phosphor layer is subjected to a heat treatment (approximately 500 ° C., approximately 2 minutes) in a sinter furnace so as to obtain the mixed film 3, the first thin film 4 and the second thin film 5
To form

Thereafter, the fluorescent lamp of the present embodiment is manufactured through the usual method of manufacturing a fluorescent lamp including the following steps: the glass bulb is evacuated (step 5), and In each step, a rare gas and mercury are sealed (step 6) and the glass bulb is sealed (step 7).

In the above-mentioned manufacturing method, a metal compound is applied after forming a phosphor layer with a phosphor material, but the manufacturing method of the fluorescent lamp of the present invention is not limited to the above-described manufacturing method. That is, it is possible to mix the metal compound and the phosphor material in advance and form the mixed film 3 on the inner surface of the glass bulb. However, when the mixed film is formed by previously mixing the metal compound and the phosphor material, steps 3 and 4 in the above manufacturing method become unnecessary, and the setting of the drying time and the temperature in step 1 needs to be changed. .

The metal compound of the metal alkoxide of this embodiment is not an oxide (MOx) having a low molecular structure such as a film made of a metal oxide, but an oxide (M-O) having a high molecular structure.
A strong film body or the like is formed using a metal alkoxide from which OMO -...) is obtained.

As an example of a metal oxide film, yttrium isopropoxide when the metal element is yttrium (Y) is taken as an example, and the process of forming a metal oxide formed between phosphor particles and the like is described as a metal alkoxide. The following is based on the flow of the chemical reaction.

[0064]

Embedded image

In the case of yttrium isopropoxide, the isopropyl group (—OC ₃ H ₇ ) of yttrium isopropoxide is replaced with a hydroxyl group (—OH) by hydrolysis to produce propanol. The yttrium compound is further dehydrated and polymerized. Repeat this reaction at about 500 ° C
Is performed, a continuous metal oxide of yttrium oxide (Y ₂ O ₃ ) is formed.

In the production method of the present invention, a film of a continuous metal oxide of yttrium oxide (Y ₂ O ₃ ) or the like is formed even when an organic metal compound represented by an alkyl group is used as a starting material. . The general chemical reaction is shown below.

[0067]

Embedded image

As another example of the metal oxide film, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) when the metal element is silicon (Si) is taken as an example to form a metal oxide formed between phosphor particles and the like. The process is shown below based on the flow of the chemical reaction of the metal alkoxide.

[0069]

Embedded image

In the tetraethoxysilane, the ethoxy group (—OC ₂ H ₅ ) of the tetraethoxysilane is replaced by a hydroxyl group (—OH) by hydrolysis, and is converted into a silanol.
Ethanol is produced. Silanol is further dehydrated and polymerized. By repeating this reaction and performing an annealing treatment at about 500 ° C., a strong metal oxide film of SiO ₂ or the like is formed.

Further, in the method for manufacturing a fluorescent lamp of the present invention, the starting material for forming the metal oxide is an inorganic metal compound such as a metal nitrate, a metal sulfate, a metal carboxylate, a metal β-diketonate complex, and an organic compound. Metal compounds can be used. When such a metal compound is used, the organometallic compound is oxidized by a thermal decomposition reaction without going through a hydrolysis reaction process, and a film or the like similar to the above-described metal oxide is formed as a final product. It was confirmed that.

In order to form a film or the like through any of the above-mentioned inorganic metal compounds and organic metal compounds through a thermal decomposition reaction and an oxidation reaction, annealing is performed at a temperature in the range of 300 ° C. to 800 ° C. Is preferred. This temperature range was confirmed by differential thermal analysis.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where at least one pair of electrodes is provided in the lamp vessel has been described. However, the fluorescent lamp of the present invention can be applied to an electrodeless fluorescent lamp.

In the fluorescent lamp of the present invention, the following metal oxides can be used in addition to the above-described yttrium oxide and silicon dioxide. An example thereof is a case where a simple substance of aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, zirconium oxide, vanadium oxide, and niobium oxide, or a mixture of two or more kinds thereof is used. In this case, it can be carried out in the same manner as the above-mentioned yttrium oxide and silicon dioxide.

In the fluorescent lamp of the present invention, by adding an antioxidant to the metal alkoxide solution to form a mixed film, the oxidation of mercury is prevented, and the generation of mercury oxide in the fluorescent lamp is suppressed. be able to.

Further, the fluorescent lamp of the present invention inhibits the movement of sodium from the glass bulb by adding phosphorus or boron as an impurity to the metal alkoxide solution to form a mixed film, thereby preventing the sodium and mercury from being mixed. The reaction can be reliably suppressed.

The above-described effects can be obtained by adding an antioxidant and phosphorus or button using a metal nitrate, a metal sulfate, a metal carboxylate, or a metal β-diketonate complex instead of the metal alkoxide solution. Has the same effect as.

The technique of the fluorescent lamp of the present invention can be applied not only to an ordinary starter type fluorescent lamp but also to a rapid starter type fluorescent lamp having a conductive film.

[0079]

As described above, according to the fluorescent lamp of the present invention, the fluorescent film is formed by forming a mixed film having a connecting body that transmits light having an excitation wavelength of 254 nm and the fluorescent material on the inner surface of the lamp vessel. Can prevent the adsorption of mercury. In addition, the amount of mercury to be sealed in the fluorescent lamp can be suppressed to the minimum amount required for light emission. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to significantly reduce the amount of mercury used, which is a problem from the viewpoint of environmental protection,
A highly safe fluorescent lamp can be provided.

Further, in the fluorescent lamp of the present invention, the first thin film was formed between the glass container and the mixed film, and the second thin film was formed on the inner surface of the mixed film near the center of the tube. For this reason, the mercury sealed in the glass container is reliably isolated from the glass container and the phosphor, diffusion and adsorption of the mercury to the glass container and the phosphor are prevented, and the consumption of mercury is greatly reduced. . As a result, according to the present invention, wasteful use of mercury can be eliminated, and the amount of use of mercury, which is a problem in pollution, can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a part of a fluorescent lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention cut away, and an enlarged view showing a part thereof.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a mixed film and the like in the fluorescent lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing light transmittance of a silicon dioxide film.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing light transmittance of an aluminum oxide film.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing light transmittance of a hafnium oxide film.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing light transmittance of a zirconium oxide film.

FIG. 7 shows light transmittance of a vanadium oxide film.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing light transmittance of a niobium oxide film.

FIG. 9 shows light transmittance of an yttrium oxide film.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a part of the fluorescent lamp of the present invention in a cutaway manner.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the depth and the amount of diffusion of mercury in an yttrium oxide film, an aluminum oxide film, and the like.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the relationship between the luminous flux maintenance ratio and the lighting time of the fluorescent lamp of the present invention and the conventional fluorescent lamp.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between mercury consumption and lighting time in the fluorescent lamp of the present invention and a conventional fluorescent lamp.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a fluorescent lamp according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the amount of diffusion of mercury in a conventional fluorescent lamp (40 W).

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Glass bulb 3 Mixed film 4 First thin film 5 Second thin film 6 Connected body 7 Phosphor particles

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Juichi Sasada 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5C043 AA20 CC09 CD01 DD36 EB07 EB18

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A mixed film of a phosphor and a metal oxide is formed on an inner surface of a lamp container having mercury sealed therein.
The mixed film has a linked body of the metal oxide formed in a gap between the phosphor particles, and the linked body forms a continuous bridge between the phosphor particles and forms the phosphor particles. A fluorescent lamp characterized by being connected with a gap. 2. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein a first thin film of a continuous metal oxide is formed between an inner surface of the lamp vessel and the mixed film. 3. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein a continuous second thin film of metal oxide is formed on an inner surface of the mixed film that is closer to a tube center. 4. A metal oxide first thin film continuous between an inner surface of the lamp vessel and the mixed film is formed, and a metal oxide continuous on an inner surface of the mixed film which is close to a tube center. 2. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein a second thin film of an object is formed. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the metal oxide is made of a material that transmits light having a wavelength of 254 nm.
The fluorescent lamp according to 3 or 4. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the metal oxide is at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, zirconium oxide, vanadium oxide, niobium oxide and yttrium oxide. The fluorescent lamp according to 2, 3 or 4. 7. The fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein the metal oxide is made of a substance that blocks 50% or more of light near a wavelength of 185 nm. 8. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the mixed film has phosphorus or boron as an impurity.
The fluorescent lamp as described.