CCFLlamppuja

CCFLlamppuja (often written CCFL-lamppuja in Finnish) refers to cold cathode fluorescent lamps used primarily for backlighting in LCD displays and other backlit applications. These slender glass tubes contain mercury vapor and an inert gas and are driven by a high-voltage inverter. When energized, electrons collide with mercury atoms, emitting ultraviolet light that excites a phosphor coating on the inside of the tube, producing visible light. Arrays of tubes are arranged behind the LCD panel to provide uniform illumination, with configurations ranging from a few to several dozen tubes depending on panel size.

Color characteristics vary with phosphor and tube design; typical white light is in the cool to neutral range (approximately 6,000 kelvin) with a reasonable color rendering index, though not as high as some LED options. Efficiency is generally lower than modern LEDs, and brightness can decline as tubes age.

Advantages of CCFLlamppuja include good brightness uniformity and mature manufacturing, while drawbacks include the presence of mercury, fragility, need for an inverter and precise ballast, sensitivity to temperature, and aging effects that shift color and reduce luminance. Their use diminished in consumer displays after the mid-2010s as LED backlighting became predominant, but they remain in some older monitors, televisions, laptops, and signage.

Safety and disposal: due to mercury, CCFL lamps require proper handling and recycling at end of life. If broken, ventilation and cleanup guidelines should be followed to minimize mercury exposure.