Tips on How to Determine if Quartz or Soft Glass Germicidal Lamps Are Best for Your UVC Application

Germicidal UVC lamps can be manufactured with one of two different types of glass --- Quartz Glass or Soft Glass.  Germicidal soft glass is a highly refined and pure type of soda lime glass, similar to that which is used to make visible light fluorescent lamps.  Quartz germicidal glass is made from silica phosphate, and as such, is much, much harder in tensile strength than soft glass.

Soft Glass UVC Germicidal:

Due to its relatively low Fahrenheit melting point it’s much easier to work (process), therefore allowing for more manufacturing automation and leading to an overall lower product cost.  Germicidal UVC soft glass however has its disadvantages…

                                                                       

1. Transmission of UVC is approximately 9% lower than that of quartz lamps, leading to less initial UVC output.
2. Soft glass will not allow the transmission of UVC wavelengths below 200nm and therefore can not be used to produce ozone at 185nm.
3. UVC transmission maintenance over the life of the uncoated soft glass lamp is approximately 30% worse than that of quartz germicidal UVC lamps. 
4. Considerable advances in internal glass coatings have extended the life time of soft glass lamps to 9,000hrs with 80% UVC output maintenance.
5. Soft glass germicidal UVC lamps are limited to operating currents of less than or equal to 850mA.

Quartz Glass UVC Germicidal:

Due to its very high Celsius melting point it’s difficult to work (process), therefore requiring skilled human operators to manufacture and thus leading to an overall higher product cost.  Germicidal UVC quartz glass however has its many advantages…

1. Transmission of UVC is approximately 9% higher than soft glass, thus leading to higher initial UVC output than comparable soft glass lamps.
2. Quartz germicidal UVC lamps can produce both 254nm wavelength (killing wave) and 185nm wavelength (Ozone).
3. UVC maintenance over the life of the lamp is much higher over the life of the lamps.
4. Quartz lamps can maintain 85% of their output at 16,000hrs.
5. Quartz glass allows high current, high powered lamp designs. (i.e., Amalgam lamps)

Therefore, if your application requires the utmost UVC output possible, long operational life and the highest quality available then you need to specify quartz glass UVC germicidal lamps!

LightSources, together with our affiliated companies, represent the foremost high-tech designers and manufacturers in the lamp industry today.  LCD Lighting, our leading affiliate in fluorescent lamps has designed and manufactured thousands of custom fluorescent lamps for virtually every type of OEM lighting application.  Contact us to learn more about our exclusive fluorescent light technology.