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In its simplest terms, carbon filament light bulbs are light bulbs powered by an organic fiber. The carbon filament light bulb was originally developed by Joseph Swan and Thomas Edison.
The First
Swan and Edison used organic threads such as cotton or bamboo for the first light bulbs. To prepare these filaments they would heat them until they were strictly carbon.
Flashing
Putting the carbon filament into an atmosphere of hydrocarbon gas increased the efficiency of the filament. This was patented by William Sawyer and Albon Man.
Cellulose
Taking the original idea of natural fibers, a number of different people worked on making amorphous cellulose filaments. Making filaments in this way lead to mass production of light bulbs.
GEM Filament
A new heating process invented by Willis R. Whitney lead to a hardened surface of the filament. This allowed the filament to last even longer.
Tungsten
In modern days, the original carbon filament has been replaced by tungsten metal filaments. The gas inside has been replaced by tungsten gas.
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