Plexiglas LED - New Evonik solutions shown at Strategies in Light Europe, Munich

Sept. 24, 2012
Date Announced: 24 Sep 2012 PLEXIGLAS® and LEDs – the right combination •PLEXIGLAS® LED for edge lighting: specialty molding compounds, sheets and rods bring light to the surface•PLEXIGLAS® LED for backlighting: molding compounds and sheets for uniform illumination with no LED hot spots and with maximum luminous efficiencyEvonik Industries is breaking new ground in the lighting sector. LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are meanwhile a ubiquitous light source. They provide powerful light, come in a wide range of colors, are energy-saving and offer an incredible variety of applications due to their compact shape. But all of these advantages only come to the fore when the light source is adjusted to the optical components. That is the case with PLEXIGLAS® LED. Uniform light output despite slim shapeEdge-lit elements enable slimmer structures and require smaller fitting depths. PLEXIGLAS® LED was optimized for this purpose and comes in a wide range of sheets with different thicknesses and rods of different lengths. The patented material contains special embedded diffuser particles. These ensure that the light fed in via the edges is evenly emitted across the surface, which glows in the same color as the chosen LED. That makes PLEXIGLAS® LED an excellent choice for transparent applications, such as partitions in exhibition booths and store fixtures. But it is also suitable for non-transparent items such as picture frames, luminous walls and backlit posters. To meet especially stringent requirements for hard-wearing surfaces, the PLEXIGLAS® LED sheets are now available in a scratch-resistant grade too. The new PLEXIGLAS® LED specialty molding compounds serve the same purpose and can be processed by means of all conventional injection molding and extrusion processes. Plastics processors can use this new and extremely effective grade to manufacture highly transparent molded or extruded parts that appear crystal-clear when unlit, without any technically demanding printed patterns or other obtrusive textures. When light is fed into these parts, their surface looks uniformly illuminated. This transparency, combined with the interplay of different colors, makes it possible to create specific moods for ambient lighting in cars, displays, control systems or switching elements. The new PLEXIGLAS® LED molding compound is available in four grades that provide homogenous light output across the entire component surface for areas of up to 96 centimeters. In addition, the material is suitable for all thermoplastic processing methods. Uniform direct lightingBesides this, PLEXIGLAS® LED molding compound in two specialty colors is perfectly suited for light installations with reduced fitting depths and direct LED lighting. These light-diffusing molding compounds transmit over 60% of light and therefore prevent fluctuations in luminance even at extremely low wall thicknesses. That offers designers unprecedented creative freedom, since they can now produce lighting with very little space between the LED and the cover, but without any visible hot spots. The PLEXIGLAS® LED product portfolio offers another highlight for backlighting in the form of a semifinished material. Specifically developed for modern LED technology, it is precisely tuned to LEDs’ individual color coordinates. In terms of transmission and light diffusion, the sheet’s color is, thus, optimally adjusted to the wavelength range of a particular LED color. The combination of a red sheet and red LEDs uncovers the full potential of this special material. This feature is unique on the market and distinguishes this PLEXIGLAS® variant from all standard acrylic glasses for illuminated advertising and light design.BU1: PLEXIGLAS® LED for edge-lit sales displays with uniform frontal brightnessBU2: With the new PLEXIGLAS® specialty colors for backlighting, hot spots are a thing of the past (left: visible hot spots; right: no hot spots with PLEXIGLAS® LED)Photos are available for downloading at www.plexiglas.net and at www.plexiglas-polymers.com.Evonik Industries is a worldwide manufacturer of PMMA products sold under the PLEXIGLAS® trademark on the European, Asian, African and Australian continents and under the trademark ACRYLITE® in the Americas.Company information Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. Profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company form the heart of Evonik’s corporate strategy. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms.Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In fiscal 2011 more than 33,000 employees generated sales of around €14.5 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of about €2.8 billion.

Contact
Doris Hirsch PR Management Acrylic Polymers Performance Polymers Phone +49 6151 18-4079 Fax +49 6151 18-844079; +49 6151 18-3177

E-mail:[email protected]

Web Site:www.plexiglas.net