Abstract: Thermal spray apparatus for providing a stream of molten fluent material for coating a substrate, including a heat source including a flame for producing a stream of heated gas heated to sufficiently high temperature to melt the material; material advancing means for advancing a stream of heat fusible fluent material into the stream of heated gas to melt the material and produce the stream of molten fluent material; and a flame barrier intermediate the flame and the stream of molten fluent material for preventing reaction between the flame and the material, the flame barrier permits passage therethrough of the stream of heated gas.

Abstract: Methods of and apparatus for coating the glass envelope and predetermined portions of the end caps of a fluorescent lamp with a coating of polymeric material including securing the end caps against displacement, subsequently, preheating the glass envelope and the predetermined portion of the end caps to a first predetermined temperature above the melting point of the polymeric material for a predetermined amount of time; subsequently, masking the electrical connecting pins and all of the end caps except the predetermined portion thereof; subsequently, exposing the glass envelope and the predetermined portion of the end caps to a fluidized bed of powder of the polymeric material for a predetermined amount of time to apply a coating of the powder to the glass envelope and to the predetermined portion of the end caps; subsequently, reheating the glass envelope and the predetermined portion of the end caps to a predetermined temperature above the melting point of the polymeric material and for a predetermined amo