Laboratory Ultraviolet Lamps are used in the disinfection and oxidation of air, water and surfaces.
They are also used for ultraviolet polymerisation and drying of synthetic materials.
For example in the production of glues, varnishes and paints.
There are different types of UV lamps on the market.
Medium-pressure UV lamps
.
Mercury medium pressure UV lamps are used in ultraviolet drying and curing. Another use is in ultraviolet disinfection and oxidation.
The quartz tubes can have different diameters and lengths. Power ranges from 100W to 60 Kw. Quartz tubes can have a power density of 80 W/cm to 300 W/cm.
These UV lamps can reach temperatures of up to 900°C.
The standard models are Mercury vapour lamps, but there are also metal halide models that modify the ultraviolet radiation spectrum for other applications.
There are medium-pressure UV lamps with Galli, Iron, Lead, with different emission levels up to 420 nm.
These lamps are also used for the disinfection of the environment and for the oxidation of the skin.
Low Pressure Ultraviolet Lamps
.
Low pressure quartz UV lamps are so-called 'germicidal lamps'. They are used to achieve sterilisation of microorganisms in both air and water. The characteristic feature of these lamps is that they can convert almost half of the electrical energy into UVC radiation.
They are used both for germicidal applications and for oxidation of surfaces.
Ultraviolet Amalgam Lamps
.
An amalgam, which is an alloy of mercury and other metals, is placed inside these UV lamps. They are used for ultraviolet disinfection and oxidation of water, air and surfaces. They possess long-lasting properties and a very high power density.
.
Ultraviolet Black Light or Wood's Light
.
Wood or black light lamps are light sources that emit electromagnetic radiation mainly in the ultraviolet range. The light produced is not directly visible to the human eye.
It is used to induce fluorescence and phosphorescence effects on certain materials.
It is used, for example, in banknote inspection or in the search for cracks in UV-reactive materials.
Quartz tube is used in the manufacture of UV lamps because of its strong thermal and mechanical stability, its transmissivity and its transparency to UV radiation.
