volframisäikeestä

Volframisäie, known in English as a tungsten filament, is a critical component in incandescent light bulbs. It is a thin wire, typically made of tungsten, that glows and emits light when an electric current passes through it. Tungsten is chosen for its exceptionally high melting point, which is crucial for this application as it allows the filament to withstand the high temperatures required for incandescence without vaporizing too quickly.

The process of creating a volframisäie involves extruding tungsten powder into a ductile wire, which is then coiled into a helical shape to maximize its length within the confined space of the bulb. This coiling also increases the filament's resistance, which in turn generates more heat. To prevent oxidation and prolong the life of the filament, the glass bulb is typically filled with an inert gas, such as argon or nitrogen, or a vacuum is created. As the filament heats up, it reaches temperatures around 2,500 to 3,000 degrees Celsius. While effective for light generation, this process is energy-intensive, with a significant portion of the electrical energy converted into heat rather than visible light, leading to the development of more efficient lighting technologies. Despite this, volframisäie remains a classic example of early electrical lighting technology.