Method for introducing a limited amount of mercury into a fluorescent lamp
during manufacture thereof includes the steps of forming the lamp with an exhaust
tubulation therein open at an end thereof, exhausting the interior of the lamp
through the exhaust tubulation, placing a body of metal material not reactive with
mercury in the exhaust tubulation open end, the body having a coating of metal
which amalgams with mercury, over a selected surface area of the body, and having
mercury on the coated area of the body, such that a limited amount of the mercury
is retained by the metal coating, and sealing the open end of the exhaust tubulation,
whereby the amount of mercury retained on the body and introduced into the lamp
is limited by the surface area of the metal coating on the body.
