Lighting manufacturer Iwasaki Electric and plastics and chemicals supplier Teijin say they have developed the world's first outdoor LED lamp made 100% from plastics. Heat dissipation is handled by a carbon-fiber-filled polycarbonate, which replaces aluminum for the entire lamp's housing except for the bayonet cap.
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| A carbon-flled PC compound replaces aluminum in these outdoor lights. |
The development makes use of a highly heat conductivity compound made by combining Teijin's Raheama high thermal conductivity carbon material with polycarbonate. The thermal conductivity of Raheama is greater than that of silver and about 10 times that of conventional carbon fiber, according to the supplier. Iwasaki Electric expects initial annual sales of 30,000 lamps but also intends to broaden the number of models it offers. Teijin hopes that this development and others expected in LED and other applications will further expand the market for its Raheama material, and aims to sell several hundred tons of it annually by 2015. Teijin currently produces the material at its Iwakuni facility in Japan and is now preparing for full-scale production.
While conventional self-ballasted mercury-vapor lamps are usually available in 3100K (Ra58), the new product comes in a warm-colored 3000K (color rendering index of Ra80) model, and a white 6500K (Ra70) version. Self-ballasted mercury-vapor lamps often are used as lighting in outdoor signs and at worksites. LED lamps feature low power consumption and long life, but since they generally use aluminum for heat dissipation, achieving adequate luminous flux usually results in excessive weight, while heat generated by the LED may affect electric circuit components.
The two companies, both headquartered in Tokyo, began joint development of the new LED lamps in late 2009.—[email protected]
