Infra-red radiation sources

An infra-red radiation source comprising a housing formed of a material transparent to infra-red radiation;

• an electrically conductive element disposed within said housing and formed of a plurality of carbon fibers;
• and connection means for connecting the electrically conductive element across an electrical power supply, said connection means including at leat one support member secured to one end of the eletrically conductive element and formed of or coated with a metal through which carbon does not diffuse, said one end of the electrically conductive element and a portion of the support member in contact with the electrically conductive element being coated or alloyed with a material that wets the surface of both said one end and said portion of the support member and provides electrical contact between the two.

An infra-red radiation source comprising a housing formed of a material transparent to infra-red radiation, an electrically conductive element located within the housing and formed of a plurality of carbon fibers, connection means for connecting the electrically conductive element across an electrical power supply and restraining means for limiting unwanted movement of the conductive element with respect to the housing, said restraining means including one or more formations provided on an internal surface of the housing.

A method of making an infra-red radiation source comprising the steps of forming an electrically conductive element from a plurality of carbon fibers, disposing the electrically conductive element within a housing formed of a material transparent to infra-red radiation, the housing having one or more formations on an internal surface thereof providing the electrically conductive element with means to limit unwanted movement of the electrically conductive element with respect to the housing by engaging the electrically conductive element or one or more members with which the electrically conductive element is itself engaged, with said formations, and securing to the electrically conductive element means for connecting the electrically conductive element across an electrical power supply.