Abstract: Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp provided with a discharge vessel (10). The discharge vessel (10) encloses a discharge space (11), provided with a filling of mercury and a rare gas, in a gastight manner. At least a part of an inner surface of the discharge vessel (10) is provided with a transparent layer (16) comprising an oxide of scandium, yttrium, or a rare earth metal (lanthanum, cerium, gadolinium, ytterbium, and/or lutetium). The discharge lamp is characterized in that the transparent layer (16) comprises a borate or a phosphate of an alkaline earth metal and/or of scandium, yttrium or a further rare earth metal. Preferably, the alkaline earth metal is calcium, strontium and/or barium. The further rare earth metal is preferably lanthanum, cerium and/or gadolinium. The oxide is preferably Y2O3 or Gd2O3. Preferably, the transparent layer (16) has a thickness of between 5 nm and 200 nm. A luminescent layer (17) is preferably provided on top of the transparent layer in the discharge vessel.

Abstract: An optical element comprising a substrate which is provided with a transparent coating (9) containing a photochromic material, the transmission of said optical element varying in the visible region in response to a variation in light. The optical element is characterized in that the coating (9) comprises an inorganic network of a silicon oxide and an organic polymer which is chemically bonded to the inorganic network via Si—C bonds. Preferably, also macroscopic particles of a metal oxide are incorporated in the network, the metal preferably being selected from the group formed by Al, Si, Ti, Zr, In and Sn. Preferably, metal-oxide particles are used whose size is above 5 nm. Such photochromic coatings (9) are scratch-resistant and demonstrate a good switching behavior. The coatings are used, for example, on display windows (3) of display devices (1) and on sunglasses. Methods of manufacturing said layers are described.

Abstract: The invention relates to an iron having a metal soleplate, which is provided with an anti-friction layer containing an inorganic polymer. To improve the scratch resistance of the anti-friction layer, a hard intermediate layer is provided between the predominantly aluminum part of the soleplate facing the anti-friction layer and the anti-friction layer.This intermediate layer is preferably composed of aluminum oxide which is provided by means of an electrochemical treatment. The use of polymerized alkyl trialkoxysilane, in particular methyl trimethoxysilane, in the anti-friction layer makes it possible to obtain layers which are thicker and hence more scratch-resistant. In such layers, oxidic nano-particles and inorganic color pigments may be incorporated, which cause a further increase of the scratch resistance.