The clarity of a material can be evaluated using different properties: percentage of light transmission, refractive index, percentage of haze ,Abbe number, and yellowness index. In assessing the optical quality of Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) vs. glass based on these metrics, optical LSRs are superior in all except haze and yellowness index, where glass has better values. Overall, the optical properties of a modified optical LSR, are generally better than PC and PMMA polymers, and glass as well.
Silicones offers an array of potential solutions for a variety of applications, including:
- LED
- Displays and projectors
- Optics and Lighting
- Solar Energy
| Category | Property | Opitcal LSR | PC | PMMA | Glass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Properties of optical clarity, 2mm | Transmission (%) | 94 | 86-94 | 89-92 | 92 |
| Index of refraction (RI) | 1.41 | 1.59 | 1.49 | 1.5 ~ 1.6 | |
| Haze(%) | <1 | 1-3 | 2-4 | ||
| Abbe number | 50 | 34 | 57 | 39 ~ 59 | |
| Yellowness index | <1 | 1.0 ~ 3.0 | 1.0 ~ 3.0 | - | |
| Durability | Heat Resistance | Excellent | Poor | Poor | Excellent |
| UV Resistance | Excellent | Poor | Good | Excellent | |
| Design Freedom | Complex/micro design | Excellent | Good | Good | Poor |
| Material Flexibility | Excellent | Poor | Poor | Poor | |
| Light weight design | Excellent | Good | Good | Poor |
Flexible Lighting
Optical Application
Optical Application
