WO2007146196A2 - Bismuth-zinc-mercury amalgam, fluorescent lamps, and related methods - Google Patents

Bismuth-zinc-mercury amalgam, fluorescent lamps, and related methods Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2007146196A2
WO2007146196A2 PCT/US2007/013635 US2007013635W WO2007146196A2 WO 2007146196 A2 WO2007146196 A2 WO 2007146196A2 US 2007013635 W US2007013635 W US 2007013635W WO 2007146196 A2 WO2007146196 A2 WO 2007146196A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
weight percent
mercury
pellet
zinc
bismuth
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2007/013635
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2007146196A3 (en
Inventor
Steven C. Hansen
Original Assignee
Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. filed Critical Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc.
Publication of WO2007146196A2 publication Critical patent/WO2007146196A2/en
Publication of WO2007146196A3 publication Critical patent/WO2007146196A3/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
    • H01J61/02—Details
    • H01J61/12—Selection of substances for gas fillings; Specified operating pressure or temperature
    • H01J61/18—Selection of substances for gas fillings; Specified operating pressure or temperature having a metallic vapour as the principal constituent
    • H01J61/20—Selection of substances for gas fillings; Specified operating pressure or temperature having a metallic vapour as the principal constituent mercury vapour
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22F—WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
    • B22F9/00—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof
    • B22F9/02—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes
    • B22F9/12—Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof using physical processes starting from gaseous material
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C1/00—Making non-ferrous alloys
    • C22C1/04—Making non-ferrous alloys by powder metallurgy
    • C22C1/047—Making non-ferrous alloys by powder metallurgy comprising intermetallic compounds
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C12/00—Alloys based on antimony or bismuth
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C18/00—Alloys based on zinc
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J9/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture, installation, removal, maintenance of electric discharge tubes, discharge lamps, or parts thereof; Recovery of material from discharge tubes or lamps
    • H01J9/38—Exhausting, degassing, filling, or cleaning vessels
    • H01J9/395—Filling vessels

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Luminescent Compositions (AREA)

Abstract

A pellet having a microstructure including a bismuth phase, a zinc solid solution phase, and a Zn3Hg phase is disclosed. A method of making a pellet including bismuth, zinc, and mercury is also disclosed. Moreover, a fluorescent lamp with a fill material including bismuth, zinc, and mercury is disclosed. Further, a method of dosing a fluorescent lamp with mercury is disclosed.

Description

BISMUTH-ZINC-MERCURY AMALGAM, FLUORESCENT LAMPS, AND
RELATED METHODS
Cross-Reference to Related Applications
[0001] The disclosure claims the filing-date benefit of Provisional Application No.
60/812,122, filed June 9, 2006, and incorporated herein in its entirety.
Background
[0002] Conventional fluorescent lamps contain mercury which is vaporized during lamp operation. The mercury vapor atoms efficiently convert electrical energy to ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength of approximately 253.7nm when the mercury vapor pressure is in the range of
approximately 2xlO"3 to 2xlO"2 Torr (optimally about 6xlO"3 Torr). In turn, the ultraviolet
radiation is absorbed by a phosphor coating on the interior of the lamp wall and converted to visible light.
[0003] , The temperature of the coldest spot on the inner wall of the lamp when the lamp is operating is referred to as the "cold spot temperature." The cold spot temperature determines the mercury^ vapor pressure within the lamp. When a lamp containing only mercury operates with a
cold spot temperature above about 4O0C, the mercury vapor pressure will exceed the optimal
value of 6xlO"3 Torr. As the temperature increases, the mercury vapor pressure increases and
more of the ultraviolet radiation is self-absorbed by the mercury, thereby lowering the efficiency of the lamp and reducing its light output.
[0004] The mercury vapor pressure is maintained within the desired range either by controlling the cold spot temperature of the lamp ("temperature control") or by introducing other metallic elements into the lamp in the form of amalgams that maintain the mercury vapor pressure ("amalgam control"). Temperature-controlled fluorescent lamps generally operate with
a cold spot temperature below about 75°C (typically ranging from 20-750C) and preferably 40-
6O0C' Such lamps are generally referred to as "low temperature" fluorescent lamps.
[0005J Fluorescent lamps with cold spot temperatures above about 75°C (including, but not limited to, certain types of small diameter, low wattage fluorescent lamps generally known as compact fluorescents) are amalgam-controlled in that they typically require two or more elements in addition to mercury which may be introduced into the lamp as solid ternary or multi- component amalgams. Such amalgam-controlled lamps rely on establishment of thermodynamic equilibrium for proper lamp operation (for example, see U.S. Patent No. 4,145,634).
[0006] Conventional fluorescent lamps are dosed with liquid mercury or zinc-mercury amalgam. The mercury vapor pressure is adjusted by controlling the temperature of the lamps. The mercury in lamps containing a zinc-mercury amalgam is in a metastable, non-equilibrium state, in contrast to the condition predicted by an equilibrium phase diagram.
[0007] ■ U.S. Patents 5,882,237, 6,339,287, and 6,791,254, each incorporated herein by reference, disclose materials, methods, and lamps containing a binary zinc-mercury amalgam. Binary zinc-mercury amalgam pellets provide a solid mercury dose for temperature controlled fluorescent lamps. They eliminate excessive amounts of liquid mercury and are easily handled at temperatures below 400C. They also provide methods of dosing a fluorescent lamp with mercury, providing accurate and reliable dosing of fluorescent lamps.
[0008] The disclosed prior art pellets are in a metastable non-equilibrium state. They have a zinc-rich outer portion and regions of mercury-rich amalgam in the central regions of the pellet. The saturated zinc amalgam provides a mercury vapor pressure that is approximately 95 percent of the vapor pressure of pure mercury.
[0009] However, binary zinc-mercury amalgams had several features that were not as desirable as expected. For example, the zinc-mercury amalgam pellets were often times spheroidal, but not substantially spherical. For example, conventional spheroidal pellets have numerous flat spots and high eccentricity (ratio of average major axis over average minor axis significantly greater than unity). The spheroidal pellets required more processing steps than substantially spherical pellets.
[0010]' Recently, a zinc-tin-mercury amalgam has been developed that is rounder than binary , zinc-mercury amalgams. Although the zinc-tin-mercury amalgam improves upon the shape of binary zinc-mercury amalgam, they have the disadvantage of being sensitive to heat and becoming self-agglomerating.
[0011] Binary zinc-mercury amalgam pellets also have the disadvantage of re-absorbing small amounts of mercury over a period of weeks or months. Normally the re-absorption of mercury is not harmful to the operation of the fluorescent lamp. However, it is desirable in industry that the re-absorption of mercury be minimized or eliminated.
[0012] Accordingly, there is a need in industry for technological solutions providing materials, devices, and methods to address concerns such as mercury re-absorption and amalgam pellet shape.
Summary
[0013] A pellet is disclosed, the pellet having a microstructure comprising a bismuth phase, a zinc solid solution phase, and a Zn3Hg phase. In one embodiment, the pellet includes a mercury-rich intergranular phase. In another embodiment, the pellet includes a bismuth solid solution phase. In another embodiment, the pellet includes at least 45 weight percent bismuth. In another embodiment, the bismuth phase comprises less than 10 weight percent zinc. In another embodiment, the bismuth phase includes between about 45-50 weight percent bismuth, between about 45-50 weight percent mercury, and between about 0.5-5 weight percent zinc. In another embodiment, the zinc solid solution phase includes at least 75 weight percent zinc. In another embodiment, the zinc solid solution phase includes between about 75-95 weight percent zinc, between about 5-15 weight percent mercury, and between about 0.1-2 weight percent bismuth. In one embodiment, the pellet includes about 60 weight percent mercury. In another embodiment, the Z^Hg phase includes between about 50-75 weight percent mercury, between about 25-35 weight percent zinc, and between about 0.5-3 weight percent bismuth. In another embodiment, the mercury-rich intergranular phase includes at least 75 weight percent mercury. In another embodiment, the pellet includes about 45 weight percent mercury, about 13.5 weight percent bismuth, and about 41.5 weight percent zinc. In another embodiment, the pellet includes about 35 weight percent mercury, about 8 weight percent bismuth, and about 57 weight percent zinc. In another embodiment, the pellet is substantially spherical. In another embodiment, the pellet includes approximately 0.5-90 weight percent bismuth, approximately 5-60 weight percent mercury, and approximately 10-80 weight percent zinc. In another embodiment, the pellet includes 30-45 weight percent mercury, 35-60 weight percent zinc, and 5-20 weight percent bismuth! In another embodiment, the pellet includes approximately 45 weight percent mercury, approximately 41 weight percent zinc, and approximately 14 weight percent bismuth. In another embodiment, the pellet includes approximately 45 weight percent mercury, approximately 41.5 weight percent zinc, and approximately 13.5 weight percent bismuth. In another embodiment, the pellet includes approximately 35 weight percent mercury, approximately 57 weight percent zinc, and approximately 8 weight percent bismuth. In another embodiment, the pellet includes approximately 35.2 weight percent mercury, approximately 57 weight percent zinc, and approximately 7.8 weight percent bismuth.
[0014] A pellet is disclosed, the pellet including bismuth, zinc, and mercury having a bismuth phase and a Zn3Hg phase, said phases being substantially uniformly distributed in the pellet.1 In one embodiment, the pellet is substantially spherical. In another embodiment, the pellet includes a zinc solid solution phase concentrated in near the periphery of the pellet. In another embodiment, the pellet includes a mercury-rich phase concentrated in the inner portions of the pellet. In another embodiment, the pellet includes between about 0.5-90 weight percent bismuth, between about 5-60 weight percent mercury, and between about 10-80 weight percent zinc.
[0015] A substantially spherical pellet is disclosed, the pellet including bismuth, zinc, and mercury wherein the weight percent of bismuth is greater than 10.
[0016] • A substantially spherical pellet is disclosed, the pellet including bismuth, zinc, mercury, and one or more elements from the group consisting of antimony, indium, tin, gallium, germanium, silicon, lead, copper, nickel, silver, gold, palladium, and platinum.
[0017] An amalgam of zinc and at least one other metal is disclosed, the amalgam having a weight percent ratio of mercury to zinc greater than 1.0. In another embodiment, the amalgam includes bismuth.
[0018] ' A plurality of generally spherical pellets formed from an amalgam is disclosed, the plurality containing zinc wherein the average eccentricity among the pellets is less than 1.05. in one embodiment, the average eccentricity among the pellets is about 1.015. In another embodiment, the amalgam includes bismuth.
[0019] An amalgam pellet for dosing mercury in a fluorescent lamp is disclosed, the pellet including mercury and an amalgamative metal that does not have a significant affect on the vapor pressure of the mercury, the amalgamative metal including zinc and at least 10 weight percent bismuth.
[0020]. A generally spherical amalgam pellet is disclosed, the pellet including zinc and at least one other amalgamative metal having no more than about 15.0 weight percent mercury and having, a diameter greater than about 0.5 mm. In one embodiment, the pellet has a diameter greater than about 1.0 mm. In another embodiment, the pellet has a diameter between about 1.2- 1.7 mm. In another embodiment, the pellet has a diameter of about 1.5 mm. In another embodiment, the pellet has no more than about 5.0 weight percent mercury. In another embodiment, the pellet has no more than 1.0 weight percent mercury. In another embodiment, the pellet includes bismuth.
[0021] A fluorescent lamp containing a predetermined amount of mercury is disclosed, characterized in that the mercury is in the form of a solid bismuth zinc amalgam at room temperature, said amalgam comprising at least 10 weight percent bismuth.
[0022] A fluorescent lamp containing one or more amalgam pellets is disclosed, the pellets including a bismuth phase, a zinc solid solution phase, and a Zn3Hg phase.
[0023] A fluorescent lamp is disclosed, the lamp including a lamp fill material comprising bismuth, zinc, and mercury wherein the ratio of the weight of mercury to the weight of zinc contained in the lamp is greater than 1.0. [0024] A fluorescent lamp is disclosed, the lamp containing an amalgam including bismuth, zinc, mercury, and one or more elements from the group consisting of antimony, indium, tin, gallium, germanium, silicon, lead, copper, nickel, silver, gold, palladium, and platinum.
[0025] A method of dosing a fluorescent lamp with mercury is disclosed, the method including introducing the mercury into the lamp in the form of an amalgam of zinc and at least 10 weight percent bismuth. In one embodiment, the amalgam includes between about 10-90 weight percent bismuth, between about 5-60 weight percent mercury, and between about 5-80 weight percent zinc. In another embodiment, the amalgam includes about 75 weight percent bismuth, about 12 weight percent zinc, and about 13 weight percent mercury. In another embodiment, the amalgam includes about 13.5 weight percent bismuth, about 41.5 weight percent zinc, and about 45 weight percent mercury. In another embodiment, the amalgam is in the form of one or more substantially spherical pellets when introduced into the lamp.
[0026] A method of dosing a fluorescent lamp with mercury comprising introducing one or more amalgam pellets into the lamp, at least one pellet comprising a bismuth phase, a zinc solid solution phase, and a ZnβHg phase. In one embodiment, the at least one pellet includes a mercury-rich phase intergranular phase. In another embodiment, the bismuth phase and the ZnsHg phase are substantially uniformly distributed in the at least one pellet. In another embodiment, the zinc solid solution phase is concentrated near the periphery of the at least one pellet. In another embodiment, the method includes a mercury-rich intergranular phase concentrated in the inner portions of the pellet. In another embodiment, the pellets are substantially spherical. In another embodiment, the lamp is a temperature controlled fluorescent lamp. In another embodiment, the amalgam includes between about 10-90 weight percent bismuth, between about 5-60 weight percent mercury, and between about 5-80 weight percent zinc. ,In another embodiment, the amalgam includes about 13.5 weight percent bismuth, about 41.5 weight percent zinc, and about 45 weight percent mercury. In another embodiment, the amalgam includes about 8 weight percent bismuth, about 57 weight percent zinc, and about 35 weight percent mercury. In another embodiment, the amalgam includes about 75 weight percent bismuth, about 12 weight percent zinc, and about 13 weight percent mercury.
[0027]' A method of dosing a fluorescent lamp with mercury is disclosed, the method including introducing one or more bismuth zinc amalgam pellets into the lamp, the ratio of the weight of the mercury in the pellets to the weight of the zinc in the pellets being greater than 1.0.
[0028] A method of dosing a fluorescent lamp with mercury is disclosed, the method including introducing one or more pellets into the lamp comprising bismuth, zinc, mercury, and one or more elements from the group consisting of antimony, indium, tin, gallium, germanium, silicon,' lead, copper, nickel, silver, gold, palladium, and platinum.
[0029] ' In a method of forming amalgam pellets containing between about 10-80 weight percent'zinc having a generally spherical shape including the steps of melting zinc with mercury and rapidly quenching the melt to form generally spherical pellets, a method of improving the roundness of the pellets is disclosed, the method including the step of adding bismuth to the step of melting in an amount between about 0.5-90 weight percent of the melt.
[0030] A method of improving the roundness of a plurality of generally spherical amalgam pellets containing between about 10-80 weight percent zinc is disclosed, the method including adding between about 0.5-90 weight percent bismuth during formation of the pellet. [0031] In a fluorescent lamp containing mercury that has been released from an amalgam containing zinc, a method of reducing the absorption of the mercury by the amalgam during operation of the lamp is disclosed, the method including adding bismuth to the amalgam.
[0032] Presently disclosed embodiments advantageously provide novel amalgams, novel pellet 'creation methods, novel lamp dosing methods, and novel fluorescent lamps containing a controlled amount of mercury. Various disclosed embodiments are directed to temperature- controlled fluorescent lamps, including temperature-controlled fluorescent lamps which contain mercury in the form of a bismuth-zinc amalgam.
[0033]ι Certain embodiments provide an amalgam with variable mercury contents. Other embodiments also provide an amalgam with variable bismuth contents. Various other I embodiments also provide a solid mercury dose. Disclosed embodiments further improve the roundness of the mercury dose by using a bismuth-zinc amalgam.
[0034] ', A novel material is also disclosed which is less likely than binary zinc amalgam to re-absorb mercury within a fluorescent lamp. Various embodiments also provide an amalgam with a mercury vapor pressure similar to liquid mercury and to binary zinc-mercury amalgam. Also, certain embodiments advantageously provide a free-flowing amalgam.
[0035] ' These and many other features and advantages of the present disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art to which the disclosed embodiments pertain from a perusal of the claims, the appended drawings, and the following detailed description.
Brief Description of the Drawings [0036] Various aspects of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying exemplary non-limiting embodiments, wherein:
[0037] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an embodiment of a fluorescent lamp;
[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates a bismuth-zinc-mercury equilibrium phase diagram;
I I
[0039]' FIG. 3 illustrates a weight loss curve from an individual bismuth-zinc-mercury amalgam pellet;
[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates the mercury vapor pressure above a bismuth-zinc amalgam; and
[0041] FIG. 5 is a graph of the mercury vapor pressure of the bismuth-zinc amalgam of
FIG. 4.
Detailed Description
[0042] ' FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a novel fluorescent lamp 101 according to the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the lamp is of standard size suitable for installation and use in conventional ceiling fixtures 100 and contains mercury in the form of a bismuth-zinc amalgam.
[0043] In one embodiment, the amalgam is ternary - that is, the amalgam includes zinc, bismuth, and mercury (and with such minor impurities as may be introduced in the manufacturing process). In other embodiments, the amalgam includes bismuth, zinc, and mercury with a portion (for example, less than 40 weight percent) of other materials as may be appropriate (including, but not limited to, antimony, indium, tin, gallium, germanium, silicon, lead, copper, nickel, silver, gold, palladium and platinum). The amalgam is preferably better than 99 weight percent pure and generally free of oxygen and water.
[0044] Various embodiments of the amalgam are preferably between 5-60 weight percent mercury, with 10-80 weight percent zinc, and 0.5-90 weight percent bismuth. Disclosed embodiments form rounder pellets with less mercury re-absorption than binary zinc-mercury amalgams. In a preferred embodiment, the composition range is 30-45 weight percent mercury, 35-60 weight percent zinc and 5-20 weight percent bismuth.
[0045]' In a more preferred embodiment, the composition is approximately 45 weight percent mercury, approximately 41 weight percent zinc, and approximately 14 weight percent bismuth. One particularly preferred embodiment includes approximately 45 weight percent mercury, approximately 41.5 weight percent zinc, and approximately 13.5 weight percent bismuth. Solid and free flowing at room temperature, this composition is rounder than binary zinc-mercury amalgam.
[0046] In an alternatively preferred embodiment, the composition includes approximately
35 weight percent mercury, approximately 57 weight percent zinc, and approximately 8 weight percent ■ bismuth. Another particularly preferred alternative embodiment of a bismuth-zinc- mercury composition includes approximately 35.2 weight percent mercury, approximately 57.0 weight percent zinc, and approximately 7.8 weight percent bismuth. It is free flowing and has excellent shape qualities when compared to binary zinc-mercury (50 weight percent mercury).
[0047] Adding bismuth to binary zinc-mercury amalgam does not significantly change their mercury vapor pressure. As discussed elsewhere, the bismuth-zinc-mercury amalgam retains a mercury vapor pressure substantially similar to the vapor pressure of pure mercury. [0048] A description of the relevant phase diagrams indicates the insolubility of bismuth in mercury and in zinc. A binary bismuth-mercury phase diagram is a simple eutectic system with two solid phases that have no mutual solubility and that do not form intermetallic compounds. In the liquid phase, bismuth and mercury show one homogeneous liquid that extends from pure bismuth to pure mercury. Mixtures of bismuth and mercury all freeze at
approximately -39.2°C.
[0049] Binary bismuth-zinc alloys also show little solubility in each other in the solid state. Zinc is slightly soluble in bismuth but little or no bismuth can be dissolved in zinc. No intermetallic compounds form between zinc and bismuth. These two metals form a miscibility gap in the liquid state. The miscibility gap extends from approximately 16 weight percent zinc to 98 weight percent zinc. Furthermore, it extends into the ternary bismuth-zinc-mercury system and creates a region that is generally impractical for pellet formation.
[0050] . Bismuth-zinc amalgams have lower mercury contents than prior art amalgams
(for example, zinc-mercury amalgams containing 50 weight percent zinc and 50 weight percent mercury) due to the addition of bismuth. Larger pellets may be needed to contain the same amount of mercury as a binary zinc-mercury amalgam containing 50 weight percent zinc and 50 weight percent mercury. In some of the presently disclosed embodiments, the Hg/Zn ratio is greater than 1.0. For prior art zinc-mercury amalgams, the Hg/Zn ratio is approximately 1.0.
[0051] FIG. 2 is a bismuth-zinc-mercury equilibrium phase diagram at 2O0C. As shown
in phase diagram 200, the amalgams as presently disclosed are a solid at 2O0C and include bismuth, zinc solid solution, and the intermetallic compound Zn3Hg. As discussed below, the amalgam may not have the predicted room temperature phases and may not be at equilibrium. The amalgam may be in a metastable, non-equilibrium state.
[0052] Bi-Zn-Hg pellets also advantageously dispense low amounts of mercury. This is
1 due to the phase diagram construction illustrated in FIG. 2. A two-phase band 201 of solid Zn3Hg and solid Bi extends from almost pure Bi to 50 weight percent mercury (pure Zn3Hg). Amalgams with low mercury content (for example, 15 weight percent Hg and below) are readily manufactured (for example, using the method disclosed by Anderson) and have low total mercury amounts. Example 3, described in detail elsewhere, illustrates a material with a large diameter and low mercury content. The pellet in the example contained about 2.2mg Hg and had a diameter of approximately 1.5mm. The low end of the Hg content in a practical application can be as low as O.lmg Hg in approximately a 1.5mm pellet. In fact, the Hg content of any pellet of this sort (Zn-Bi-Hg) can be made arbitrarily low.
[0053] FIG. 2 also shows a three-phase triangle 203 comprised of (Zn) solid solution, Bi5 and Zn3Hg. This region includes lower mercury content. Materials in this three-phase region may also be produced by the method of Anderson or other suitable production methods. They may have low mercury content and be suitable for applications where low mercury content is desirable. In both cases, the mercury content and the pellet diameter are independently adjustable and are optionally used to obtain a desirable diameter and mercury content.
[0054] FIG. 2 also shows a two-phase region 205 existing between (Zn) solid solution and Bi. This region 205 is even lower in mercury content. Mercury content in this region 205 ranges from approximately 0.4 weight percent at nearly pure bismuth to approximately 5.5 weight percent mercury near pure zinc. Low bismuth regions 207, 209 have varying mercury contents.
[0055] Because the amalgam is a solid at room temperature, the amount of amalgam that is to be introduced into a lamp may be easily quantified and dispensed. For example, small pellets of generally uniform mass and composition may be formed with any shape that is appropriate for the manufacturing process, although spherical and substantially spherical pellets are the most easily handled. Pellet diameters are desirably between about 200 to 3000 microns.
[0056] In various embodiments, spherical and substantially spherical pellets of generally uniform mass and composition are made by rapidly solidifying or quenching the amalgam melt. Exemplary apparatus and processes are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,216,178 (Anderson), issued Aug. 5, 1980, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0057] Features and advantages of various disclosed embodiments are illustrated in greater detail in the following examples:
[0058] EXAMPLE 1 — 13.3 grams of bismuth pellets, 40.2 grams of zinc pellets and
46.5 grams of liquid mercury were melted and pelletized by the method disclosed in Anderson. Eighty-one of these pellets were subjected to a weight loss experiment. Mercury was released
from these pellets at 3250C for 1 hour under a vacuum of about 0.3 Torr. The pellets were
weighed, before and after the weight loss experiment and the difference in weight was measured. The percent change in mass was then calculated. The average weight loss from 81 ternary bismuth-zinc-mercury pellets was 45.3 weight percent.
[0059] EXAMPLE 2 — A single ternary amalgam pellet comprised of bismuth, zinc, and mercury in the amounts of Example 1 was placed in a thermogravimetric analyzer to record the mercury loss with time. The amalgam pellet was heated to 3000C and purged with argon gas at a
pressure of 1.8 Torr. The pellet weight was recorded. It had an initial weight of 9.451 mg and a final weight of 5.105 mg. The weight loss was 4.346 mg and the percent change in weigh was
46.0 percent. FIG. 3 shows the weight loss curve from an individual bismuth-zinc-mercury amalgam pellet. In particular, FIG. 3 illustrates the mercury evolution rate from a single bismuth
zinc amalgam pellet at 3000C and 1.8 Torr of argon pressure.
[0060] EXAMPLE 3 — 76 grams of bismuth pellets, 12 grams of zinc pellets, and 13 grams of liquid mercury were melted and pelletized by the method disclosed in Anderson. A single pellet of this composition was placed in a thermogravimetric analyzer. The amalgam
pellet was heated to 3000C and purged with argon gas at a pressure of 1.8 Torr. The pellet
weight was recorded. It had an initial weight of 17.553 mg and a final weight of 15.33 mg. The weight loss was 2.223 mg and the weight loss percentage was 12.6 percent.
[0061] EXAMPLE 4 — 57.0 g of zinc shot, 7.8 g of bismuth pellets and 35.2 g of mercury were melted and pelletized by the method disclosed in Anderson. Several pellets of this composition were crushed and placed in a thermostated cell. The cell was heated and mercury vapor was emitted from the pellet. The absorbance of the mercury vapor was measured and used to calculate its mercury vapor pressure. The results are shown in FIG. 4.
[0062] FIG. 4 illustrates the mercury vapor pressure above a bismuth-zinc amalgam containing 57.0 weight percent zinc, 7.8 weight percent bismuth, and 35.2 weight percent mercury. The mercury vapor pressure is plotted as a function of inverse temperature. A comparison to the literature values of pure mercury are shown for reference. The vapor pressure of the material is nearly identical to the vapor pressure of pure mercury. These pellets are free flowing at room temperature.
{0063] FIG. 5 is a graph of the mercury vapor pressure of the same bismuth-zinc amalgam given in FIG. 4. The mercury vapor pressure is plotted as a function of temperature on a linear scale (log(pβi-zn-Hg) vs. T0C). Literature values of pure mercury are shown for reference.
[0064] These processes can be used to manufacture spherical or substantially spherical pellets of predetermined and uniform mass (+15%) in the range from 0.25-125 milligrams. Other suitable techniques for making the pellets, such as die casting or extrusion, may be used. Using existing devices and suitable techniques, the pellets may be weighed, counted or measured volumetrically and introduced into the lamp. For example, a lamp that requires 9 mg of mercury may use 2 pellets, each containing 45 weight percent mercury and each weighing 10 mg.
[0065] U.S. Patent No. 5,882,237 describes the microstructure of rapidly solidified binary zinc-mercury amalgams. Binary zinc-mercury amalgams have a metastable, non- equilibrium structure. Ternary bismuth-zinc amalgam pellets manufactured by the rapid solidification or quenching processes discussed above also have a structure that is different from that obtained by equilibrium freezing. In particular, they do not necessarily melt or freeze in accordance with the published bismuth-zinc-mercury phase diagram. Bismuth-zinc-mercury amalgam pellets produced by the method disclosed in Anderson show a metastable microstructure. Four phases are present: zinc solid solution, bismuth, ZnsHg (γ phase), and a mercury-rich intergranular phase.
[0066] Zinc solid solution is present and is concentrated near the perimeter of the pellet.
This results from non-equilibrium solidification for an amalgam containing 45 weight percent mercury and 13.3 weight percent bismuth. An equilibrium microstructure would consist only of Zn3Hg and bismuth. A mercury-rich phase is also present and is concentrated in the interior
1 regions of the pellet. This results from the non-equilibrium solidification found in the presently disclosed embodiments. The mercury-rich phase is primarily found in the intergranular regions of bismuth-zinc amalgams.
[0067] The equilibrium phases, bismuth and Zn3Hg are uniformly spread throughout the pellet.' Pellet with compositions high in bismuth, compositions near point A (of FIG. 2, corresponding to pure Bi) in FIG. 3, will have a predominance of bismuth, and pellets with compositions high in zinc and mercury will have large amounts OfZn3Hg.
[0068] The composition of bismuth-zinc amalgams can also be understood by a triangle formed between pure bismuth, Bi3 point A, pure Zn, point B (of FIG. 2, corresponding to pure Zn), and point C (of FIG. 2, corresponding to 67 weight percent Hg, 33 weight percent Zn), a zinc-mercury binary amalgam containing approximately 32.8 atomic percent (60 weight percent) mercury.
[0069] Table I reflects eccentricity measurements for 46 bismuth-zinc-mercury pellets.
They are compared to zinc-mercury (50 weight percent mercury). Bismuth-zinc-mercury pellets are substantially rounder than zinc-mercury pellets. A side-by-side comparison of bismuth-zinc- mercury pellets with zinc-mercury pellets qualitatively indicates that Zn-Bi-Hg pellets are rounder than Zn-Hg pellets:
Table I
Figure imgf000018_0001
Figure imgf000019_0001
[0070] In another embodiment, a spherical amalgam pellet including zinc and at least one other amalgamative metal (including, but not limited to bismuth) with no more than approximately 15 weight percent mercury has a diameter greater than about 0.5mm. In alternative preferred embodiments, the pellet has no more than approximately 5 or 1 weight percent mercury to provide a low mercury dose. In other alternative embodiments, the diameter is greater than approximately lmm, 1.5mm, or 1.2-1.7mm. These pellets advantageously provide a low mercury dose in a relatively large pellet which is easier to arrange, trap, or attach at a particular position within a lamp.
[007I]1 While preferred embodiments have been described, it is to be understood that the embodiments described are illustrative only and the scope of the disclosed embodiments is to be defined solely by the appended claims when accorded a full range of equivalence, many variations and modifications naturally occurring to those skilled in the art from a perusal hereof.

Claims

IN THE CLAIMS:
I . A pellet having a microstructure comprising a bismuth phase, a zinc solid solution phase, and a ZnsHg phase.
. 2. The pellet of Claim 1 further comprising a mercury-rich intergranular phase.
3. The pellet of Claim 1 comprising a bismuth solid solution phase.
4. The pellet of Claim 1 wherein said bismuth phase comprises at least 45 weight percent bismuth.
, 5. The pellet of Claim 4 wherein said bismuth phase comprises less than 10 weight percent zinc.
' 6. The pellet of Claim 5 wherein said bismuth phase comprises between about 45-50 weight' percent bismuth, between about 45-50 weight percent mercury, and between about 0.5-5 weight percent zinc.
7. The pellet of Claim 1 wherein said zinc solid solution phase comprises at least 75 weight percent zinc.
8. The pellet of Claim 7 wherein said zinc solid solution phase comprises between about 75-95 weight percent zinc, between about 5-15 weight percent mercury, and between about 0.1-2 weight percent bismuth.
9. The pellet of Claim 1 comprising about 60 weight percent mercury. iθ. The pellet of Claim 1 wherein said Zn3Hg phase comprises between about 50-75 weight percent mercury, between about 25-35 weight percent zinc, and between about 0.5-3 weight percent bismuth.
I 1. The pellet of Claim 2 wherein said mercury-rich intergranular phase comprises at least 75 weight percent mercury.
12. The pellet of Claim 1 comprising about 45 weight percent mercury, about 13.5 weight percent bismuth, and about 41.5 weight percent zinc.
1 13. The pellet of Claim 1 comprising about 35 weight percent mercury, about 8 weight percent bismuth, and about 57 weight percent zinc.
14. The pellet of Claim 1 wherein said pellet is substantially spherical.
15. The pellet of Claim 1 comprising approximately 0.5-90 weight percent bismuth, approximately 5-60 weight percent mercury, and approximately 10-80 weight percent zinc.
16. The pellet of Claim 15 comprising 30-45 weight percent mercury, 35-60 weight percent zinc, and 5-20 weight percent bismuth.
17. The pellet of Claim 16 comprising approximately 45 weight percent mercury, approximately 41 weight percent zinc, and approximately 14 weight percent bismuth.
18. The pellet of Claim 17 comprising approximately 45 weight percent mercury, approximately 41.5 weight percent zinc, and approximately 13.5 weight percent bismuth.
19. The pellet of Claim 16 comprising approximately 35 weight percent mercury, approximately 57 weight percent zinc, and approximately 8 weight percent bismuth.
20. The pellet of Claim 19 comprising approximately 35.2 weight percent mercury, approximately 57 weight percent zinc, and approximately 7.8 weight percent bismuth.
21. The pellet of Claim 15 wherein said pellet is substantially spherical.
22. A pellet comprising bismuth, zinc, and mercury having a bismuth phase and a Zn3Hg phase, said phases being substantially uniformly distributed in the pellet.
23. The pellet of Claim 22 wherein said pellet is substantially spherical.
24. The pellet of Claim 23 further comprising a zinc solid solution phase concentrated in near the periphery of said pellet.
, 25. The pellet of Claim 23 further comprising a mercury-rich phase concentrated in the inner portions of said pellet.
' 26. The pellet of Claim 22 comprising between about 0.5-90 weight percent bismuth, between about 5-60 weight percent mercury, and between about 10-80 weight percent zinc.
' 27. The pellet of Claim 26 wherein said pellet is substantially spherical.
28. A substantially spherical pellet comprising bismuth, zinc, and mercury wherein the weight percent of bismuth is greater than 10.
>29. A substantially spherical pellet comprising bismuth, zinc, mercury, and one or more elements from the group consisting of antimony, indium, tin, gallium, germanium, silicon, lead, copper, nickel, silver, gold, palladium, and platinum.
30. An amalgam of zinc and at least one other metal having a weight percent ratio of mercury to zinc greater than 1.0.
31. The amalgam of Claim 30 comprising bismuth.
32. A plurality of generally spherical pellets formed from an amalgam containing zinc wherein the average eccentricity among the pellets is less than 1.05.
33. The plurality of pellets of Claim 32 wherein the average eccentricity among the pellets is. about 1.015.
34. The plurality of pellets of Claim 32 wherein said amalgam includes bismuth.
\ 35. An amalgam pellet for dosing mercury in a fluorescent lamp, said pellet comprising mercury and an amalgamative metal that does not have a significant affect on the vapor pressure of the mercury, said amalgamative metal including zinc and at least 10 weight percent bismuth.
■ 36. A generally spherical amalgam pellet comprising zinc and at least one other amalgamative metal having no more than about 15.0 weight percent mercury and having a diameter greater than about 0.5 mm.
37. The pellet of Claim 36 having a diameter greater than about 1.0 mm.
38. The pellet of Claim 38 having a diameter between about 1.2-1.7 mm.
39. The pellet of Claim 39 having a diameter of about 1.5 mm.
40. The pellet of Claim 36 having no more than about 5.0 weight percent mercury.
41. The pellet of Claim 40 having a diameter greater than about 1.0 mm.
42. The pellet of Claim 41 having a diameter between about 1.2-1.7 mm.
43. The pellet of Claim 42 having a diameter of about 1.5 mm.
44. The pellet of Claim 36 having no more than 1.0 weight percent mercury.
45. The pellet of Claim 44 having a diameter greater than about 1.0 mm.
46. The pellet of Claim 45 having a diameter between about 1.2-1.7 mm.
47. The pellet of Claim 46 having a diameter of about 1.5 mm.
48. The pellet of Claim 36 comprising bismuth.
49. The pellet of Claim 48 having a diameter greater than about 1.0 mm.
50. The pellet of Claim 49 having a diameter between about 1.2-1.7 mm.
51. The pellet of Claim 50 having a diameter of about 1.5 mm.
52. A fluorescent lamp containing a predetermined amount of mercury characterized in that the mercury is in the form of a solid bismuth zinc amalgam at room temperature, said amalgam comprising at least 10 weight percent bismuth.
53. A fluorescent lamp containing one or more amalgam pellets, said pellets comprising a bismuth phase, a zinc solid solution phase, and a Zn3Hg phase.
54. A fluorescent lamp containing a lamp fill material comprising bismuth, zinc, and mercury wherein the ratio of the weight of mercury to the weight of zinc contained in the lamp is greater than 1.0.
55. The lamp of Claim 54 wherein said lamp fill material is a solid amalgam at room temperature and is partially solid and partially liquid at lamp operating temperature.
56. A fluorescent lamp containing an amalgam comprising bismuth, zinc, mercury, and one or more elements from the group consisting of antimony, indium, tin, gallium, germanium, silicon, lead, copper, nickel, silver, gold, palladium, and platinum.
57. A method of dosing a fluorescent lamp with mercury comprising introducing the mercury into the lamp in the form of an amalgam of zinc and at least 10 weight percent bismuth.
58. The method of Claim 57 wherein the amalgam includes between about 10-90 weight percent bismuth, between about 5-60 weight percent mercury, and between about 5-80 weight percent zinc.
■ 59. The method of Claim 58 wherein the amalgam includes about 75 weight percent bismuth, about 12 weight percent zinc, and about 13 weight percent mercury.
. 60. The method of Claim 58 wherein the amalgam includes about 13.5 weight percent bismuth, about 41.5 weight percent zinc, and about 45 weight percent mercury.
. 61. The method of Claim 57 wherein the amalgam is in the form of one or more substantially spherical pellets when introduced into the lamp.
)
62. A method of dosing a fluorescent lamp with mercury comprising introducing one or more amalgam pellets into the lamp, at least one pellet comprising a bismuth phase, a zinc solid solution phase, and a Z^Hg phase.
63. The method of Claim 62 wherein the at least one pellet further comprises a mercury-rich phase intergranular phase.
64. The method of Claim 62 wherein the bismuth phase and the Z^Hg phase are substantially uniformly distributed in the at least one pellet.
65. The method of Claim 64 wherein the zinc solid solution phase is concentrated near the; periphery of the at least one pellet.
66. The method of Claim 65 comprising a mercury-rich intergranular phase concentrated in the inner portions of the pellet.
67. The method of Claim 62 wherein the pellets are substantially spherical. ' 68. The method of Claim 62 wherein the lamp is a temperature controlled fluorescent lamp.
1 69. The method of Claim 62 wherein the amalgam includes between about 10-90 weight percent bismuth, between about 5-60 weight percent mercury, and between about 5-80 weight percent zinc.
■ 70. The method of Claim 69 wherein the amalgam includes about 13.5 weight percent bismuth, about 41.5 weight percent zinc, and about 45 weight percent mercury.
71. The method of Claim 69 wherein the amalgam includes about 8 weight percent bismuth, about 57 weight percent zinc, and about 35 weight percent mercury.
.72. The method of Claim 69 wherein the amalgam includes about 75 weight percent bismuth, about 12 weight percent zinc, and about 13 weight percent mercury.
73. A method of dosing a fluorescent lamp with mercury comprising introducing one or more bismuth zinc amalgam pellets into the lamp, the ratio of the weight of the mercury in the pellets to the weight of the zinc in the pellets being greater than 1.0.
74. A method of dosing a fluorescent lamp with mercury comprising introducing one or more,pellets into the lamp comprising bismuth, zinc, mercury, and one or more elements from the group consisting of antimony, indium, tin, gallium, germanium, silicon, lead, copper, nickel, silver, gold, palladium, and platinum.
75. In a method of forming amalgam pellets containing between about 10-80 weight percent zinc having a generally spherical shape including the steps of melting zinc with mercury and rapidly quenching the melt to form generally spherical pellets, a method of improving the roundness of the pellets comprising the step of adding bismuth to the step of melting in an amount between about 0.5-90 weight percent of the melt.
, 76. A method of improving the roundness of a plurality of generally spherical amalgam pellets containing between about 10-80 weight percent zinc comprising adding between about 0.5-90 weight percent bismuth during formation of the pellet.
77. In a fluorescent lamp containing mercury that has been released from an amalgam containing zinc, a method of reducing the absorption of the mercury by the amalgam during operation of the lamp comprising adding bismuth to the amalgam.
PCT/US2007/013635 2006-06-09 2007-06-11 Bismuth-zinc-mercury amalgam, fluorescent lamps, and related methods WO2007146196A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US81212206P 2006-06-09 2006-06-09
US60/812,122 2006-06-09

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007146196A2 true WO2007146196A2 (en) 2007-12-21
WO2007146196A3 WO2007146196A3 (en) 2008-07-31

Family

ID=38832444

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2007/013635 WO2007146196A2 (en) 2006-06-09 2007-06-11 Bismuth-zinc-mercury amalgam, fluorescent lamps, and related methods

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US8668841B2 (en)
WO (1) WO2007146196A2 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2469576A1 (en) 2010-12-24 2012-06-27 SAES GETTERS S.p.A. Improved mercury source for dosing small amounts of mercury, method of manufacturing and use of said source for the production of mercury requiring devices
CN104498772A (en) * 2014-11-05 2015-04-08 扬州市邗江圣珠光电有限公司 Solid-state antimony-mercury alloy for fluorescent lamps

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
PL1985717T3 (en) 2007-04-28 2011-11-30 Umicore Ag & Co Kg Amalgam globules for energy saving lamps and their manufacture
DE102009039147A1 (en) * 2009-08-27 2011-03-03 Osram Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung Gas discharge lamp, e.g. luminescent lamp, contains zinc source to bind soluble mercury compounds and allow environmentally acceptable disposal
US20110250455A1 (en) * 2010-04-09 2011-10-13 Gordon Daniel J Mechanically plated pellets and method of manufacture
EP2975143B1 (en) 2011-03-09 2018-12-19 SAXONIA Technical Materials GmbH Process for the manufacture of amalgamballs
US20150041713A1 (en) * 2013-08-06 2015-02-12 Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. Intermetallic compounds for releasing mercury

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3683227A (en) * 1970-05-25 1972-08-08 Jury Iosifovich Shindelman Low-pressure mercury-vapor gas-discharge fluorescent lamp with amalgam
US4972118A (en) * 1988-02-02 1990-11-20 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Amalgam having extended stable mercury vapor pressure range and low mercury vapor pressure discharge lamp using the same
US5882237A (en) * 1994-09-01 1999-03-16 Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. Fluorescent lamp containing a mercury zinc amalgam and a method of manufacture
US5952780A (en) * 1995-10-05 1999-09-14 General Electric Company Amalgam for use in fluorescent lamps comprising lead, tin, mercury together with another of the group silver, magnesium, copper, nickel, gold and platinum.

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4216178A (en) 1976-02-02 1980-08-05 Scott Anderson Process for producing sodium amalgam particles
US4145634A (en) 1978-02-17 1979-03-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Fluorescent lamp having integral mercury-vapor pressure control means
US4615846A (en) * 1983-09-30 1986-10-07 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Method of manufacturing a low-melting point alloy for sealing in a fluorescent lamp
JP3027006B2 (en) 1993-02-12 2000-03-27 アドバンスド ライティング テクノロジーズ，インク． Fluorescent lamp containing mercury / zinc amalgam and method for producing the same
TW494439B (en) * 2000-03-21 2002-07-11 Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv Low-pressure mercury-vapor discharge lamp and amalgam
AU2001253395A1 (en) * 2000-04-12 2001-10-30 Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. A solid mercury releasing material and method of dosing mercury into discharge lamps

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3683227A (en) * 1970-05-25 1972-08-08 Jury Iosifovich Shindelman Low-pressure mercury-vapor gas-discharge fluorescent lamp with amalgam
US4972118A (en) * 1988-02-02 1990-11-20 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Amalgam having extended stable mercury vapor pressure range and low mercury vapor pressure discharge lamp using the same
US5882237A (en) * 1994-09-01 1999-03-16 Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. Fluorescent lamp containing a mercury zinc amalgam and a method of manufacture
US20030151351A1 (en) * 1994-09-01 2003-08-14 Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. Fluorescent lamp containing a mercury zinc amalgam and a method of manufacture
US5952780A (en) * 1995-10-05 1999-09-14 General Electric Company Amalgam for use in fluorescent lamps comprising lead, tin, mercury together with another of the group silver, magnesium, copper, nickel, gold and platinum.

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2469576A1 (en) 2010-12-24 2012-06-27 SAES GETTERS S.p.A. Improved mercury source for dosing small amounts of mercury, method of manufacturing and use of said source for the production of mercury requiring devices
WO2012084679A1 (en) 2010-12-24 2012-06-28 Saes Getters S.P.A. Improved mercury source for dosing small amounts of mercury, method of manufacturing and use of said source for the production of mercury requiring devices
CN104498772A (en) * 2014-11-05 2015-04-08 扬州市邗江圣珠光电有限公司 Solid-state antimony-mercury alloy for fluorescent lamps

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US8668841B2 (en) 2014-03-11
WO2007146196A3 (en) 2008-07-31
US20080001519A1 (en) 2008-01-03

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8668841B2 (en) Bismuth-zinc-mercury amalgam, fluorescent lamps, and related methods
US8133433B2 (en) Bismuth-indium amalgam, fluorescent lamps, and methods of manufacture
RU2091895C1 (en) Mercury metering mixture, mercury metering device, and technique for mercury introduction in electronic devices
JP3027006B2 (en) Fluorescent lamp containing mercury / zinc amalgam and method for producing the same
US5882237A (en) Fluorescent lamp containing a mercury zinc amalgam and a method of manufacture
HU215489B (en) A combination of materials for mercury-dispensing devices, mercury-dispensing device, and process for introducing mercury inside electron tubes
EP1179216B1 (en) Method for the manufacture of mercury dispenser devices to be used in fluorescent lamps
CN100595859C (en) Mercury dispensing compositions and device using the same
US3525009A (en) Low pressure mercury vapour discharge lamp including an alloy type getter coating
EP0307037A1 (en) Low-pressure mercury vapour discharge lamp
CA2656189A1 (en) Mercury releasing method
US20020180340A1 (en) Materials and methods for mercury vapor pressure control in discharge devices
US5972442A (en) Strengthening agent, strengthened metal halide particles, and improved lamp fill material
CN110690086A (en) Mercury fixing process for fluorescent lamp core column
EP2764533A1 (en) Lamp containing an improved starting amalgam
JP2005310525A (en) Amalgam for fluorescent lamp, and fluorescent lamp using this
JP2000251836A (en) Amalgam pellet for fluorescent lamp, and the fluorescent lamp using the pellet
US20030160565A1 (en) Halogen lamps, fill material and methods of dosing halogen lamps
US20150041713A1 (en) Intermetallic compounds for releasing mercury
Corazza et al. Mercury Dosing in Fluorescent Lamps
JP6282638B2 (en) Improved mercury injecting composition
JP2001192756A (en) Hydrogen storage alloy, producing method therefor and hydrogen storage alloy electrode made of same alloy
JP2005163063A (en) Hydrogen storage alloy

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 07777454

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A2

DPE1 Request for preliminary examination filed after expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed from 20040101)
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: RU

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 07777454

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A2