Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Plastic reflector material questions
2004
Q. We are designing an underwater plastic light.
1)I would like to know what material is used in plastic reflectors AND why?
2)what kind of coating material(specification) is used on the reflecting surface?
3)What is the process of coating the above material on the plastic surface?
Thanking you,
Best regards
RUDRESWARA H.S
Pentair Water India Pvt Ltd - New Delhi, DELHI, INDIA
Your question is pretty vague and lacks any detail. However, most cheap reflectors are made from injection moulded plastics such as polycarbonate. If the reflector is to go under water, it must not absorb water or it will distort; plastics such as nylon are therefore out. However, this property must be weighed against the cost of the raw material - its horses for courses. To make it reflecting depends on whether you want convergent or divergent reflection; if it is divergent, just mould the reflector surface with prisms. like a bicycle reflector. If it is convergent, you may want to put a reflective metal coating down. Your choice will depend on the quality of your final product, how much you can sell it for, your level of expertise and your ability or willingness to invest in plant and technology. Its all down to economics. You can choose between vacuum coating and plating on plastics. Both methods are very well documented on the web, so have a trawl. As far as I know there is no specification for reflectors for underwater lights, so now is your chance to make a name for yourself and make the "benchmark reflector" by which all other underwater reflectors will be judged.
Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2004
Q. Dear
I am making plastic road studs. For this I want to know the best raw material to make reflector which can give me high quality reflection.
Best regards
Shakil bhutta
hi tech road safety - Karachi, Pakistan
April 9, 2012
A. Hi Shakil. The polycarbonate that Trevor mentions sounds good to me. What material are you presently using?
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
April 12, 2012
Q. Dear Sir,
We have used plastic reflector for downlight lamp (office lighting) but there is problem, the reflector has melted like black fire. Can you advise what material to use for the plastic material of the reflector?
Yoyon Haryono
- Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia
April 26, 2012
A. Hi cousin Yoyon.
Unfortunately, we don't know what plastic you used, or what type of lighting, or why it melted. But it is possible that plastic isn't the right material for the application. Bright dipped aluminum is very widely used for reflectors, and may be the right material for you. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
April , 2012
Q. Which material should be used to make bicycle reflectors for best reflection and luminous qualities?
Nikhil thukral- Ludhiana Punjab, India
May 3, 2016
A. Hi Nikhil. Probably acrylic if you're on a tight budget; probably polycarbonate if you're not. See
www.hydrosight.com/acrylic-vs-polycarbonate-a-quantitative-and-qualitative-comparison/
But please tell us about your company and the project so that the readers can learn from your situation.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
May 2016
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