Method of making a long life high current density cathode from tungsten and iridium powders using a barium iridiate as the impregnant

摘要

A long life high current density cathode is made from a mixture of tungsten and iridium powders using a barium iridiate as the impregnant by processing the mixture of powders with an activator into a porous billet, and then impregnating the billet with a barium iridiate by firing the billet in a dry hydrogen furnace at a temperature at which the impregnant melts.