Abstract: A neon gas discharge lamp is provided which produces an acceptable amber color emission for automotive applications. The red emission from the neon discharge when the lamp is operated in a pulsed mode is combined with a green emission from a substituted Y.sub.3 Al.sub.15 O.sub.12 :Ce phosphor coated on the interior surface of the lamp. The resulting amber emission meets both SAE and ECE amber color requirements. In particular, phosphor has the general formula:Y.sub.3-(a+b+c) Ce.sub.a M.sub.b V.sub.c Al.sub.5 O.sub.12where M is Gd or La;V are lattice vacanies;0.01.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.08;0.60.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.2.4; and0.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.0.1.

Abstract: A neon lamp providing white light is disclosed. The lamp is operated to stimulate the neon to emit both ultraviolet light, and visible red light. A phosphor coating responsive to the ultraviolet light produces a complementary green blue light that in combination with the neon red light yields a white light. The lamp is small, efficient, and not subject to the effects of cold that cause mercury based fluorescent lamps to operate poor in cold conditions typical of out of door operation.

Abstract: A neon lamp providing white light is disclosed. The lamp is operated to stimulate the neon to emit both ultraviolet light, and visible red light. A phosphor coating responsive to the ultraviolet light produces a complementary green blue light that in combination with the neon red light yields a white light. The lamp is small, efficient, and not subject to the effects of cold that cause mercury based fluorescent lamps to operate poor in cold conditions typical of out of door operation.

Abstract: A process for producing a manganese activated zinc orthosilicate phosphor. An aqueous dispersion is prepared including fumed silica having an ultrafine average particle size of less than 50 nm, a zinc precursor, and a manganese precursor. The molar ratio of zinc:silicon in the dispersion is approximately 1.3:1 to 2.0:1, and the molar ratio of manganese in the dispersion is sufficient to activate the phosphor. The precipitate from the dispersion is calcined in an inert atmosphere at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form a manganese activated zinc silicate phosphor having a broad band emission peaking in the green region of the visible spectrum when stimulated by external radiation at approximately 254 nm. The calcined phosphor may be milled to achieve an average particle size of less than 5 .mu.m, the milling step being performed without significant loss of plaque brightness. Also disclosed is a green emitting manganese activated zinc silicate phosphor having an average particle size of less than 5 .

Abstract: A process for producing a manganese and lead activated calcium metasilicate phosphor having the nominal formula CaSiO.sub.3 :MN:Pb. The process involves preparing a uniform aqueous dispersion of fumed silica having an ultrafine average particle size of less than 50 nm, a calcium precursor, a manganese precursor, and a lead precursor. Preferably, the calcium, manganese, and lead precursors are added as powders to an aqueous dispersion of said ultrafine fumed silica. The ultrafine fumed silica aqueous dispersion is heated to a temperature of about 50.degree.-90.degree. C. and the powders are mechanically dispersed in the fumed silica aqueous dispersion to form the uniform aqueous dispersion. The molar ratio of calcium:silicon in the mixture is approximately stoichiometric to 1.3:1; and the molar ratios of manganese and lead in the dispersion are sufficient to activate the phosphor. The precipitate from the dispersion is calcined at a temperature of about 1050.degree.-1135.degree. C.

Abstract: Europium activated strontium tetraborate phosphor is reacted with strontium carbonate or strontium fluoride or ammonium fluoride in order to improve emission characteristics.

Abstract: The initial power output and maintenance of a fluorescent lamp containing europium-activated barium magnesium silicate phosphor is significantly improved by combining the phosphor with a flux and subjecting the phosphor/flux mixture to a refiring and rewashing process before applying the phosphor to the interior of a fluorescent lamp envelope. Surface concentrations of europium and barium are significantly increased, while surface concentrations of magnesium and silicon are decreased.

Abstract: The initial power output and maintenance of a fluorescent lamp containing europium-activated barium magnesium silicate phosphor is significantly improved by combining the phosphor with a flux and subjecting the phosphor/flux mixture to a refiring and rewashing process before applying the phosphor to the interior of a fluorescent lamp envelope. Surface concentrations of europium and barium are significantly increased, while surface concentrations of magnesium and silicon are decreased.

Abstract: A method of making a lanthanum cerium terbium phosphate phosphor involves the single-step reaction of single-phase, mixed valence state lanthanum cerium terbium oxide with boron phosphate in the presence of a flux-forming compound containing lithium. The resulting phosphor is up to 5% brighter than the same phosphor prepared without the lithium-containing compound.

Abstract: A method of making a lanthanum cerium terbium phosphate phosphor involves the single-step reaction of a single-phase, mixed valence state lanthanum cerium terbium oxide and boron phosphate. Alternatively, the single-step reaction may involve a mixture of lanthanum oxide, cerium oxide, terbium oxide and boron phosphate.

Abstract: A method of making a lanthanum cerium terbium phosphate phosphor involves the coprecipitation of a rare earth nitrate solution with diammonium hydrogen phosphate to form a lanthanmum cerium terbium phosphate, combining the phosphate with a fluxing compound, and firing the resulting mixture to form the phosphor.

Abstract: A process for producing cerium activated yttrium gallium aluminate phosphor comprises dry blending yttrium oxide, gallium oxide, cerium oxide, and unmilled aluminum hydroxide wherein the aluminum hydroxide is a small particle size aluminum hydroxide wherein the 50% size as measured by Coulter Counter 2 minute stir technique using about a 100 micrometer aperture is about 10.8.+-.5 micrometers in diameter and by Coulter Counter 5 minute sonic technique using about a 100 micrometer aperture is about 9.3.+-.3 micrometers in diameter to form a uniform mixture thereof, and firing the mixture in air at a temperature of about 1550.degree. C. to about 1625.degree. C. for about 4 hours to 8 hours to produce a once-fired phosphor wherein the brightness is at least about 24% higher than phosphors produced using milled aluminum hydroxide that is large in particle size than the small size aluminum hydroxide. By refiring the phosphor, the brightness is further increased by at least about 14% over the once-fired phosphor.

Abstract: The powder weight of high powder weight SrB.sub.4 O.sub.7 :Eu phosphor is reduced by milling the phosphor, blending it with EuF.sub.3 and H.sub.3 BO.sub.3, firing the blend and then milling the blend in water containing Sr(OH).sub.2.8H.sub.2 O.

Abstract: A method for producing manganese activated zinc silicate phosphor wherein the individual phosphor particles are surrounded with a non-particulate, conformal aluminum oxide coating is disclosed. The method comprises dry blending a mixture of components consisting essentially of zinc oxide, silicic acid, a source of manganese, ammonium chloride, ammonium fluoride, tungstic oxide, and silica, wherein the Zn+Mn/Si mole ratio is from about 1.95 to about 2.02, wherein the silica is colloidal and has a surface area of from about 50 to about 410 m.sup.2 per gram, and wherein the colloidal silica makes up from about 0.01% to about 1.0% by weight of the mixture; firing the resulting dry blend of components in a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature of from about 1200.degree. C. to about 1300.degree. C.

Abstract: A europium activated yttrium oxide phosphor is prepared as follows. Europium oxide is dissolved in nitric acid. Ammonium hydroxide is added to precipitate europium hydroxide, which is then dissolved in citric acid monohydrate to form europium citrate solution. Yttrium oxide powder is added to the solution to form a slurry, which is then spray dried. The spray dried powder is fired at a high temperature to form the phosphor.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing an aluminum oxide coated manganese activated zinc silicate phosphor which comprises forming a solution of Al.sup.+3 ions in water with the concentration of the aluminum being from about 0.01 to about 0.30 moles/l, adding manganese activated zinc silicate phosphor to the aluminum solution to form a slurry wherein the amount of phosphor is about 0.7 to about 1.0 moles per liter of slurry with agitation for a sufficient time to result in aluminum ions being adsorbed onto the surfaces of the particles of the phosphor, separating the resulting phosphor with adsorbed aluminum ions from the resulting liquor, drying the phosphor with the adsorbed aluminum ions, firing the resulting dried phosphor at a temperature of from about 750.degree. C. to about 850.degree. C.

Abstract: A manganese activated zinc silicate phosphor and method for producing same is disclosed which comprises dry blending a mixture of components consisting essentially of zinc oxide, silicic acid, a source of manganese, ammonium chloride, ammonium fluoride, tungstic oxide and silica wherein the Zn+Mn/Si mole ratio is from about 1.95 to about 2.02, wherein the silica is colloidal and has a surface area of from about 50 to about 410 m.sup.2 /g, and wherein the colloidal silica makes up from about 0.01% to about 1.0% by weight, firing the blend in a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature of from about 1200.degree. C. to about 1300.degree. C. for a sufficient time to produce the phosphor, and firing the phosphor in air at a temperature of from about 1175.degree. C. to about 1275.degree. C. for a sufficient time to diffuse the tungsten and manganese to the surfaces of the phosphor particles. Between the firing steps, the phosphor can be milled for from about 60 to 120 minutes to increase luminescence.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reproducibly producing manganese activated zinc silicate phosphor particles, which comprises dry blending a mixture of components consisting essentially of zinc oxide, silicic acid, a source of manganese, ammonium chloride, ammonium fluoride, tungstic oxide, and silica, wherein the Zu+Mn/Si mole ratio is from about 1.95 to about 2.02, wherein the silica is colloidal and has a surface area of from about 50 to about 410 m.sup.2 per gram, and wherein the colloidal silica makes up from about 0.01% to about 1.0% by weight of the mixture, and firing the resulting dry blend of components in a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature of from about 1200.degree. C. to about 1300.degree. C. for a sufficient time to produce the phosphor wherein the phosphor exhibits reproducible brightness.

Abstract: A Y.sub.3 Al.sub.5 O.sub.12 :Tb and method for producing the phosphor are disclosed. The method invloves forming a uniform mixture of source materials for Y.sub.3 Al.sub.5 O.sub.12 :Tb phosphor and barium fluoride with the barium fluoride being present in the mixture at a level of from about 0.254 to about 7.61 weight percent, and firing the mixture at an elevated temperature to react the source material to form the phosphor. The phosphor has an improved brightness of at least about 75% over a phosphor of the same type produced without the barium fluorides.

Abstract: The luminous efficiency of Y.sub.3 Al.sub.5 O.sub.12 :Ce phosphor can be increased by milling the phosphor to reduce its particle size, blending barium fluoride into the milled phosphor, and then reduction annealing the blend of phosphor and barium fluoride.