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GLOW HOW
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
FOR PHOTOLUMINESCENT
MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS
1/ PHOTOLUMINESCENT STRONTIUM ALUMINATE PIGMENTS
Strontium Aluminate (SRA, SrAl,Al2O4)
is a solid odourless, non-flammable, pale yellow powder, heavier than water. It is chemically and biologically inert.
When activated with a suitable dopant (e.g. europium, then it is labelled SrAl2O4: Eu),
it acts as a photoluminescence phosphor with long persistence of phosphorescence. Its CAS
number is [12004-37-4]. It is frequently used in glow
in the darktoys, where it displaces the cheaper but less efficient ZnS:Cu.
However, the material has high hardness, causing abrasion to the machinery handling it; coating the particles with a suitable
lubricantis usually used when strontium Aluminate is added to plastics.Strontium Aluminate
phosphors produce green and aqua hues, where green gives the highest brightness and aqua the longest glow time. The excitation
wavelengths for strontium Aluminate range from 200 to 450 nm. The wavelength for its green formulation
is 520 nm, its blue-green version emits at 505 nm, and the blue one emits at 490 nm. Colours
with longer wavelengths can be obtained from the strontium
Aluminate as well, though for the price of some loss of brightness.The wavelengths produced
depend on the internal crystal
structure of the material. Slight modifications in the manufacturing process (the type of reducing atmosphere,
small variations of stoichiometry of the reagents, addition of carbon or rare-earth halides) can significantly influence the emission wavelengths.Strontium Aluminate phosphor is fired at about 1250 °C.
Subjecting it to temperatures above 1090 °C is likely to cause loss of its phosphorescent
properties.The glow intensity
depends on the particle size; generally, the bigger the particles, the better the glow.
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GLOW4U PIGMENTS | The Process
of Manufaturing Photoluminescent Pigment is very important us and only by using the Purist of
Materials do we Achieve the Brightest and Longest Durations of Glow Emissions possible resulting in the Highest Possible Performance
and Reliability. Their are four Main Natural Colours which are Ultra Green, Ultra Blue, Aqua Blue and Purple. Secondary Colours
are Red and White but these are Generally less Stable and are made using less Pure Processing Materials often resulting
in disappointing performances. Their are many misleading claims of the Length of Glow Emissions most of which is based on
results of Glow Pigment under laboratory Testing Conditions that do not take in to account that when Glow Pigments are
Blended with other Materials that are necessary ingredients to Make Products such as Paints, Coatings, Plastics and Glass
Severely Reduce the active performance of the Glow Emission of the Pigment in the Final Product. The Green Strontium
Pigment is in General the Brightestof all photoluminescent Materials and the Longest Duration of Glow
until extinction about 8 and 10 hours, Ultra Blue is the Brightest Blue and glows between 6 and 7 hours the Aqua Blue for
5 and 6 Hours and the Purple about 2 to 3 Hours. All Pigments work by Absorbing and Storing Light and Re-Emitting it slowly as an Afterglow Most Light Sources will Work the Quickest are Natural
Daylight and High Energy Ultra Violet Lamps including Black Light of all photoluminescent Materials
and the Longest Duration of Glow until extinction about 8 and 10 hours, Ultra Blue is the Brightest Blue and glows between
6 and 7 hours the Aqua Blue for 5 and 6 Hours and the Purple about 2 to 3 Hours. All Pigments work by Absorbing and
Storing Light and Re-Emitting it slowly as an Afterglow Most Light Sources will Work the Quickest are Natural Daylight and
High Energy Ultra Violet Lamps including Black Light. Our Pigments Absorb Light almost instantly within 700 Hundredth of a Second and only take between 5
and 10 minutes to attain their fully charged State. They start to Re-Emit the Afterglow straight away but until fully Charged
the Glow Duration will be less, the Afterglow is Brightest for the first 5 minutes then Slowly Diminishes over a number
of Hours until invisible to the Human Eye.
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PIGMENT
SIZES AND GRADES
Selecting
the Correct Size and Grade of Pigments are Extremely Important to Ensure Success of any Formulation when using any
Photoluminescent Material, We have a wide Range of Sizes
from:- 3µ up to 300µ (micron)
but not in every Colour and Grade
so please refer to our Pigment Chart to help with your Selection.
GRADES:-
SOLVENT:-
GRADE B
WATERBORNE:- GRADE
W
CERAMIC:- GRADE G PIGMENT MICRON SIZE RECOMMENDATION USAGE
3µ MICRON:- Only
use this size for the products below.
1/ For very detailed and fine work in Paints for Re-Luming Watches.
2/ Thin Film Inks such as Litho or Sol-vented Ink-jet.
3/ When its important to help keep the Pigment in a fine
Suspension for Coatings.
15µ MICRON:-
1/ For Paints coating larger surfaces on Watches.
2/ For Masterbatches where its very important to maintain an even dispersion for
Injection Moulders Plastics such as PE, ABS, SAN
3/ For Extrusions and Blown Films where Film Thickness
is under
150 microns such as LLDPE, LDPE, HDPE,
30µ / 45µ MICRON:-
1/ Silk Screen Inks.
2/ For Masterbatches where a Loading is important not Distribution.
3/ For
Extrusions where Film Thickness is over
200µ microns such as LDPE
4/ Casting
Resins When Optimum Brightness may be achieved
5/ Very Thixotropic Paints that can Support the Colloidal Suspension.
80µ MICRON:-
1/ Silicon Compounds.
2/ Resin
Moulding when Special Effects are required.
3/ Casting Resins When Optium Brightness may be acheived
5/ Very
Thixotropic Paints that can Support the Colloidel Suspension.
160µ / 300µ MICRON:-
1/ Special Applications when required and Loading permits.
ADDITIVES
AND BASES TO AVOID IN ALL FORMULATIONS:
1/
Binders that are not Thixotropic enough to support
the Pigment in a Colloidel Suspension without
soft or hard settling out.
2/ High % of Solidsand Fillers
NOTE: Try to avoid any solid additives and other Pigments as they will reduce the amount of Glow Emissions.
FOR SUCCESSFUL FORMULATIONS:
1/ Any
additives to be as clear or translucent as possible.
2/ Question the use of U.V. Inhibitors or Absorbers
All our products may be custom
formulated to your special requirements
We Create, Supply or License our Technology to almost every area of manufacturing.
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For Trade Prices, Distributorships
and Manufacturers Licences that are available
World Wide
Contact us using our enquiry form or emailing us direct.
All our products may be custom formulated to your special
requirements
We Create, Supply or License our Technology to almost every area of manufacturing.
Unit C1 Broadhill Ockley Lane Burgess Hill West Sussex RH15 0BS U.K.
Email: sales@glow4u.com Website: www.glow4u.com
Tel UK: 07967-707415
Int: 00 44 (0) 7967-707415
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