Abstract: A dispenser cathode comprising a porous metal body which has an emissive surface and the pores of which contain one or more compounds for dispensing at least barium and scandium to the emissive surface, which compounds are composed of at least barium oxide, scandium oxide and aluminium oxide, in which the quantity of scandium oxide is less than 10% by weight, and preferably 3% by weight, of the overall quantity of the dispensing compound (s), has substantially the same good emissive properties as cathodes in which the dispensing compound comprises 5.5% by weight of scandium oxide and 18% by weight of yttrium oxide (Y.sub.2 O.sub.3), or barium scandate as a dispensing compound.

Abstract: Electrodes for a discharge lamp having a semispherical fused body to produce a very stable arc.The electrodes can be manufactured inter alia by compressing a mixture of tungsten powder, metal carbide powder and a binder to a moulding, sintering the moulding, and fusing it then at least partly in a discharge arc, the sintered moulding serving as one of the electrodes.