Long-lasting phosphorescent glasses and glass-ceramics

Long-lasting phosphorescent glass-ceramics having a composition comprising in mol %:

• SiO2 30-65% ZnO 20-50% Al2O3 0-20% Ga2O3 0-20% B2O3 0-15% MO 0-20%
• where M is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba
• R2O 0-15%
• where R is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of Li, Na and K, and
• P2O5 + ZrO2 + SnO2 0-8%
• said composition further comprising 0-5mol % of Ln2O3 as an activator or auxiliary activator wherein Ln is Eu or Dy.

Long-lasting phosphorescent glass-ceramics obtained by heat treating a base glass having a composition in mol % of:

• SiO2 30-70% GeO2 0-10% MgO 5-40% MO 10-55%
• where M is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr and Ba
• B2O3 0-15% Y2O3 0-10% Sc2O3 0-10% Al2O3 0-10% Ga2O3 0-15% MeO 0-15%
• where Me is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of Be, Zn, Cd and Pb
• R2O 0-6%
• where R is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of Li, Na and K
• Cl + F 0-8% Bi2O3 0-8% P2O5 + ZrO2 + SnO2 0-6% and Sb2O3 + As2O3 0-4%
• said composition further comprising in mol % as an activator
• Eu2O3 0.0001-5%
• and as an auxiliary activator
• Ln2O3 0.0001-6%
• where Ln is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu.

Long-lasting phosphorescent glass-ceramics obtained by mixing a base glass with one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of SiO2, ZrO2, B2O3, Al2O3, Y2O3, BaO, SrO, CaO, MgO, Eu2O3, Nd2D3, Dy2O3, Ho2O3 and Tm2O3 and compounds which can be converted to them, and sintering a mixture of the base glass and the compound or compounds, and said base glass having a composition in mol % of:

• SiO2 30-70% GeO2 0-10% MgO 5-40% MO 10-55%
• where M is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr and Ba
• B2O3 0-15% Y2O3 0-10% Sc2O3 0-10% Al2O3 0-10% Ga2O3 0-15% MeO 0-15%
• where Me is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of Be, Zn, Cd and Pb
• R2O 0-6%
• where R is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of Li, Na and K
• Cl + F 0-8% Bi2O3 0-8% P2O5 + ZrO2 + SnO2 0-6% and Sb2O3 + As2O3 0-4%
• said composition further comprising in mol % as an activator
• Eu2O3 0.0001-5%
• and as an auxiliary activator
• Ln2O3 0.0001-6%
• where Ln is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu.