Abstract: Rare earth-activated aluminum nitride powders are made using a solution-based approach to form a mixed hydroxide of aluminum and a rare earth metal, the mixed hydroxide is then converted into an ammonium metal fluoride, preferably a rare earth-substituted ammonium aluminum hexafluoride ((NH4)3Al1-xRExF6), and finally the rare earth-activated aluminum nitride is formed by ammonolysis of the ammonium metal fluoride at a high temperature. The use of a fluoride precursor in this process avoids sources of oxygen during the final ammonolysis step which is a major source of defects in the powder synthesis of nitrides. Also, because the aluminum nitride is formed from a mixed hydroxide co-precipitate, the distribution of the dopants in the powder is substantially homogeneous in each particle.

Abstract: A fluorescent tanning lamp having a glass envelope has an ultra-violet light reflecting coating covering at least 180° of an inside surface of the envelope; and a phosphor layer covering substantially 360° of the inside surface of the envelope, including overlying the ultra-violet reflecting coating. An odor reducing photocatalytic material is provided on an outside surface of the envelope, the photocatalytic material being coextensive with the ultra-violet light reflecting material. A preferred material is anatase TiO2; i.e., the crystalline form.

Abstract: Rare earth-activated aluminum nitride powders are made using a solution-based approach to form a mixed hydroxide of aluminum and a rare earth metal, the mixed hydroxide is then converted into an ammonium metal fluoride, preferably a rare earth-substituted ammonium aluminum hexafluoride ((NH4)3Al1-xRExF6), and finally the rare earth-activated aluminum nitride is formed by ammonolysis of the ammonium metal fluoride at a high temperature. The use of a fluoride precursor in this process avoids sources of oxygen during the final ammonolysis step which is a major source of defects in the powder synthesis of nitrides. Also, because the aluminum nitride is formed from a mixed hydroxide co-precipitate, the distribution of the dopants in the powder is substantially homogeneous in each particle.

Abstract: A safely disposable, mercury-containing lamp includes a component comprising an effective amount of materials to allow the lamp to safely be disposed of, the materials forming a tri-partite component comprising a divalent manganese compound, a copper containing compound and a compound selected from the group consisting of metallic silver and silver containing compounds.

Abstract: A fluorescent tanning lamp having a glass envelope has an ultra-violet light reflecting coating covering at least 180° of an inside surface of the envelope; and a phosphor layer covering substantially 360° of the inside surface of the envelope, including overlying the ultra-violet reflecting coating. An odor reducing photocatalytic material is provided on an outside surface of the envelope, the photocatalytic material being coextensive with the ultra-violet light reflecting material. A preferred material is anatase TiO2; i.e., the crystalline form.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting mercury from leaching from a land-filled arc discharge lamp containing a quantity of elemental mercury at least partially convertible to soluble mercury, provides for including within the lamp a quantity of a non-metallic copper-containing compound and an ingredient X, said ingredient X including a noble metal or a noble metal compound selected from the group consisting of silver and compounds of silver, gold and platinum, and a lamp containing same. The inhibiting compound is preferably included with the basing cement.

Abstract: An arc discharge lamp containing a quantity of elemental mercury at least partially convertible to soluble mercury, provides for including within the lamp a quantity of a non-metallic copper-containing compound and an ingredient X, said ingredient X including a noble metal or a noble metal compound selected from the group consisting of silver and compounds of silver, gold and platinum, and a lamp containing same.

Abstract: A moisture-resistant electroluminescent phosphor is provided wherein the individual phosphor particles have a first coating of an inorganic moisture-resistant coating and a second coating of an organic moisture-resistant coating. The process for making the moisture-resistant phosphor comprises applying a first layer of an inorganic moisture-resistant coating to individual particles of an electroluminescent phosphor to form a first-coated phosphor, substantially isolating said first-coated phosphor from contact with atmospheric oxygen and moisture, and applying a second layer of an organic moisture-resistant coating to the first-coated phosphor to form a second-coated phosphor.

Abstract: A moisture-resistant electroluminescent phosphor is provided wherein the individual phosphor particles have a first coating of an inorganic moisture-resistant coating and a second coating of an organic moisture-resistant coating. The process for making the moisture-resistant phosphor comprises applying a first layer of an inorganic moisture-resistant coating to individual particles of an electroluminescent phosphor to form a first-coated phosphor, substantially isolating said first-coated phosphor from contact with atmospheric oxygen and moisture, and applying a second layer of an organic moisture-resistant coating to the first-coated phosphor to form a second-coated phosphor.

Abstract: A new fluidized bed particle coating method is disclosed by the use of which coatings can be uniformly and conveniently deposited on the surfaces of fluidized particulate materials by vapor deposition processes at temperatures lower than those of the heated coating precursor transport lines. By this method, particle materials with relatively low surface temperatures may be brought into close proximity with a coating precursor containing gas stream characterized by a substantially higher gas volume temperature in such a way that the vaporized precursor molecules are caused to adsorb or condense on the relatively cold particle surfaces without also condensing on any other surface. Further, if the adsorbed precursor molecules are capable of reacting or polymerizing on the relatively cold particle surfaces, thus forming substantially continuous coatings on those surfaces, they may do so without also depositing such coatings on any other surfaces.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the leaching of mercury from a mercury vapor discharge lamp wherein at least a part of the mercury is present as ionic mercury includes depositing a coating of SnO2 on an interior surface of the lamp envelope. The SnO2 coating is substantially free of a substance which would cause electrical conductivity of the coating. Further included within the lamp is a quantity of oxidizable iron in an amount equal to at least 1 gram per kilogram of lamp weight.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the leaching of mercury from a mercury vapor discharge lamp wherein at least a part of the mercury is present as ionic mercury includes depositing a coating of SnO2 on an interior surface of the lamp envelope. The SnO2 coating is substantially free of a substance which would cause electrical conductity of the coating. Further included within the lamp is a quantity of oxidizable iron in an amount equal to at least 1 gram per kilogram of lap weight.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the leaching of mercury from a mercury vapor discharge lamp having a diameter of less than 1.5 inches wherein at least a part of the mercury is present as ionic mercury includes depositing a coating of SnO2 on an interior surface of the lamp envelope. Further included within the lamp is a quantity of oxidizable iron in an amount equal to at least 1 gram per kilogram of lamp weight.

Abstract: A new fluidized bed particle coating method is disclosed by the use of which coatings can be uniformly and conveniently deposited on the surfaces of fluidized particulate materials by vapor deposition processes at temperatures lower than those of the heated coating precursor transport lines. By this method, particle materials with relatively low surface temperatures may be brought into close proximity with a coating precursor containing gas stream characterized by a substantially higher gas volume temperature in such a way that the vaporized precursor molecules are caused to adsorb or condense on the relatively cold particle surfaces without also condensing on any other surface. Further, if the adsorbed precursor molecules are capable of reacting or polymerizing on the relatively cold particle surfaces, thus forming substantially continuous coatings on those surfaces, they may do so without also depositing such coatings on any other surfaces.

Abstract: A phosphor particle has thereon a moisture resistant treatment of a metallic nitride. By moisture resistant is meant a condition allowing the phosphor particle to fiction in a humid atmosphere for a significantly longer period of time than an untreated particle. The method of making such phosphors comprises the steps of introducing an inert gas into a reaction vessel; charging phosphor particles into the reaction vessel; heating the reaction vessel to a reaction temperature. introducing a first precursor compound such as triiosbutyl aluminum and a second precursor compound such as dimetylamine into a second reaction vessel to form a nitride precursor. The nitride precursor is hexakis(dimethylamido)dialuminum The nitride precursor is introduced into the first reaction vessel in a manner to avoid restrictive reactions.

Abstract: A method of recovering a base phosphor from encapsulated phosphors, which comprises the steps of selecting a recovery vessel including a magnetic stir bar; adding to the recovery vessel, deionized water, a first batch of concentrated hydrochloric acid and encapsulated phosphor to form a stirred suspension; heating the stirred suspension to about 90° C. for about 2 hours; settling the stirred suspension; decanting the mother liquor and slurrying the remaining solids with a second batch of hydrochloric acid and water; decanting and washing the remaining solids with deionized water; filtering the remaining solids to form a filter cake; heating the filter cake at 110° C. in air for a time sufficient to form a dried filter cake; and screening the dried filter cake through a −325 mesh screen to yield a recovered base phosphor.

Abstract: A new fluidized bed particle coating method is disclosed by the use of which coatings can be uniformly and conveniently deposited on the surfaces of fluidized particulate materials by vapor deposition processes at temperatures lower than those of the heated coating precursor transport lines. By this method, particle materials with relatively low surface temperatures may be brought into close proximity with a coating precursor containing gas stream characterized by a substantially higher gas volume temperature in such a way that the vaporized precursor molecules are caused to adsorb or condense on the relatively cold particle surfaces without also condensing on any other surface. Further, if the adsorbed precursor molecules are capable of reacting or polymerizing on the relatively cold particle surfaces, thus forming substantially continuous coatings on those surfaces, they may do so without also depositing such coatings on any other surfaces.

Abstract: A new fluidized bed particle coating method is disclosed by the use of which coatings can be uniformly and conveniently deposited on the surfaces of fluidized particulate materials by vapor deposition processes at temperatures lower than those of the heated coating precursor transport lines. By this method, particle materials with relatively low surface temperatures may be brought into close proximity with a coating precursor containing gas stream characterized by a substantially higher gas volume temperature in such a way that the vaporized precursor molecules are caused to adsorb or condense on the relatively cold particle surfaces without also condensing on any other surface. Further, if the adsorbed precursor molecules are capable of reacting or polymerizing on the relatively cold particle surfaces, thus forming substantially continuous coatings on those surfaces, they may do so without also depositing such coatings on any other surfaces.

Abstract: A new fluidized bed particle coating method is disclosed by the use of which coatings can be uniformly and conveniently deposited on the surfaces of fluidized particulate materials by vapor deposition processes at temperatures lower than those of the heated coating precursor transport lines. By this method, particle materials with relatively low surface temperatures may be brought into close proximity with a coating precursor containing gas stream characterized by a substantially higher gas volume temperature in such a way that the vaporized precursor molecules are caused to adsorb or condense on the relatively cold particle surfaces without also condensing on any other surface. Further, if the adsorbed precursor molecules are capable of reacting or polymerizing on the relatively cold particle surfaces, thus forming substantially continuous coatings on those surfaces, they may do so without also depositing such coatings on any other surfaces.

Abstract: A phosphor particle has thereon a moisture resistant treatment of a metallic nitride. By moisture resistant is meant a condition allowing the phosphor particle to function in a humid atmosphere for a significantly longer period of time than an untreated particle. The method of making such phosphors comprises the steps of introducing an inert gas into a reaction vessel; charging phosphor particles into the reaction vessel; heating the reaction vessel to a reaction temperature; introducing a nitride coating precursor into the reaction vessel; introducing a co-reactant into the reaction vessel; and maintaining the inert gas flow, co-reactant flow and precursor supply for a time sufficient to moisture-proof the phosphor particles. The nitride treated phosphor particles produced by this method, which can include the deposition of a nitride coating on the particles, have excellent efficacy ratings and strong luminance values in lamps after 100 hours use in high humidity (i.e., >95%).