| abstract |
A method of making fluorescent lamps having increased brightness and improved maintenance by changing the surface chemistry of the inside surface of the glass tubing while the tubing is being manufactured. While the glass tubing is being drawn from a melt through a bag stage, a predetermined mixture of an organo-fluoride gas and an oxidizing gas is dispensed into the glass bag. The gas mixture is continuously combusted to produce an amount of fluoride gas sufficient to react with alkali ions and alkaline earth ions on the inner surface of the hot glass at the bag stage to form alkali and alkaline earth compounds which are exhausted out through the tubing. Preferably, the organo-fluoride gas is 1,1 difluoroethane. |