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 method is disclosed for producing a terbium activated cerium magnesium aluminate phosphor which comprises forming a uniform powder blend consisting essentially of in percent by weight from about 73 to about 74 aluminum oxide wherein the aluminum oxide can be alpha aluminum oxide or gamma aluminum oxide or combinations thereof, from about 12 to about 14 cerium oxide, from about 2 to about 3 magnesium, from about 0.3 to about 0.7 fluoride, and from about 6 to about 9 terbium, firing the blend in a non-oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature of from about 1500.degree. C. to about 1800.degree. C. for a sufficient time to produce the phosphor wherein the particle size is no greater than about 5 micrometers in diameter. The phosphor is then cooled and deagglomerated.

Abstract: Selected portions of metal carbide are recovered from scrap material containing pieces of cemented metal carbide having various compositions of metal carbide distributed in a matrix material. The scrap material is treated with a suitable liquid for a sufficient period of time to dissolve the matrix material and form a piece of matrix depleted metal carbide which is introduced as a feed into a ferrofluid material. A magnetic field is passed through the ferrofluid for positioning pieces of metal carbide of the type having a heavier density spaced from pieces of metal carbide of a lighter density. The separated portions of matrix depleted metal carbide are collected to produce metal carbide powder which may be further reprocessed to produce a desired cemented metal carbide.