Incandescent lighting and powder metallurgical manufacturing of tungsten wire

Abstract

This paper presents a historic overview, starting with a fireplace as source for illumination via the carbon filament lamp and ending with the IR-coated halogen lamp. The physico-chemical principles of the different periods of incandescent lighting are “illuminated.” The chemical and technological basics of powder metallurgical manufacturing of tungsten wire as well as the significance of this revolutionary technology for the mass production of incandescent lamps are demonstrated. In conclusion, a comparison of the modern incandescent lamp with alternative light sources is given.