U.S. Philips Corporation

Jacobus A Deckers

Jan Hasker

Paul D Goodell

Franciscus M Snijkers

Albert Manenschijn

Robert H Kane

Petrus A Van Der Heide

Theodorus H Weekers

A method of manufacturing a dispenser cathode, in which method a powder of a refractory metal and a scandium-containing powder are mixed with each other and pressed to form a cathode body. According to the invention at least both these powders and a suitable binder are mixed with each other to form a homogeneous suspension prior to the pressing operation and the whole mixture is subsequently cured and ground to granules having a larger average size and hence a greater fluidity than the grains of the starting powders. Subsequently the granules thus obtained are pressed to form a cathode body (2). The invention leads to a better processibility and greater convenience of handling of the starting powders so that notably very fine staring powders can be used, which results in cathodes (1) having a better recovery after ion bombardment as compared with cathodes manufactured in conventional manners which are necessarily based on relatively coarse powders.

Method of manufacturing a dispenser cathode

A method of manufacturing a dispenser cathode, in which method a powder of a refractory metal and a scandium-containing powder are mixed with each other and pressed to form a cathode body. According to the invention at least both these powders and a suitable binder are mixed with each other to form a homogeneous suspension prior to the pressing operation and the whole mixture is subsequently cured and ground to granules having a larger average size and hence a greater fluidity than the grains of the starting powders. Subsequently the granules thus obtained are pressed to form a cathode body (2). The invention leads to a better processibility and greater convenience of handling of the starting powders so that notably very fine starting powders can be used, which results in cathodes (1) having a better recovery after ion bombardment as compared with cathodes manufactured in conventional manners which are necessarily based on relatively coarse powders.

Dispenser cathode and method of manufacturing a dispenser cathode

Method of manufacturing a dispenser cathode, in which method tungsten and a scandium-containing material are mechanically alloyed and the product thus formed is pressed into a cathode body. The cathode body is further provided with a barium-containing component. In the mechanical alloying process the tungsten is highly deformed and the scandium-containing material is mixed with the tungsten so as to be very finely distributed therein, so that an improved dispensation of scandium and hence an improved recovery after ion bombardment of the final cathode is attained.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Jacobus A Deckers