Characteristics of opal glass by calcium phosphate opacifier for a LED light diffuser

Abstract

We fabricated translucent opal glass to replace the polycarbonate diffuser in LED lighting systems in order to solve the durability problem. Batch materials of opal glass with a composition of calcium phosphate were created and melted at $1550^{circ}C$, and the effect of opaqueness was identified by an addition of 1~7% calcium phosphate as an opacifier raw material. As a result, translucent opal glass was obtained by the melting of the mixed batch materials with a composition of more than 5% calcium phosphate glass at $1550^{circ}C$ for 2 hrs, which had excellent optical properties for the diffuser of a LED lighting system with no dazzling from direct light by a high haze value exceeding 90% and a low parallel transmittance value of about 5%. For the thermal properties, the thermal expansion coefficient was found to be $5.6{sim}5.9{times}10^{-6}/^{circ}C$ and the softening point was $874{sim}884^{circ}C$. In addition, good thermal properties such as good thermal shock resistance and feasibility for use with a general manufacturing process during the forming of glass tubes and bulbs were noted. Therefore, it is concluded that this translucent opal glass can be used as a glass diffuser material for LED lighting due to its high heat resistance and high durability as a replacement for a polycarbonate diffuser.