MERCURY DISPENSER FOR FLUORESCENT LAMP AND METHOD OF DISPENSING

摘要

A dispenser (10) for a volatilizable material has a first member (14) that i s substantially cup- shaped with a given diameter (X) and with a given depth (Z) and having a fir st peripheral flange (16) having a first diameter (D). A second member (18) has a second peripheral flange (20) with a second diameter (D2) greater than the given diameter (X). The first peripheral flange (16) and the second peripheral flange (20) are in intimate contact thereby defining a volatilizable material chamber (22) between the bottom (24) of th e second member (18) and the bottom (26) of the first cup-shaped member (14). A volatilizable material (12) such as liquid mercury is placed in the chamber; and a hermeti c seal (28) is formed between the first and second flanges. When installed in a fluorescent lamp the volatilizable material is released by heating the dispenser with RF current. The material is released when the vapor pressure within the dispenser reaches about 20 atmospheres. For mercury, this pressure is achieved when the dispenser reaches about 600.degree.C.