Tungsten and tungsten alloy electrodes are used to produce the arc in high-intensity discharge lamps. Tungsten electrodes from Plansee excel due to their outstanding physical and mechanical properties: a high melting point, low vapor pressure, low thermal expansion, good thermal conductivity and a low electron work function. Plansee supplies anodes, cathodes and support rods.

With special alloy additives, Plansee improves the high-temperature dimensional stability, electron work function, formability, machinability and thermal conductivity of the material.

For cathodes, aluminium-potassium silicate (AKS) or lanthanum oxide-doped tungsten is available. A new addition to the range: WLZ, a tungsten material doped with lanthanum and zirconium oxide. WLZ is the non-radioactive alternative to thorium-doped materials.