ACRYLITE® LED Light Guiding Edge Lit Technical Information

TECHNICAL INFORMATION ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit Extruded Sheet Product Product Applications Whether its in sheet or rod form ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit shines over the entire surface. When light is introduced at the edge of the products the patented light guiding material evenly distributes the light across the entire surface. ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit is a transparent colorless material offered in various grades and thicknesses. Typical applications for ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit include Properties ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge possesses the following properties Highly efficient light distribution via the perpendicular surfaces Uniform luminance across the panel simply by selecting the appropriate grade Simple to change panel sizes Surface structuring etching or printing not needed Double surface illumination possible without adding materials Single surface illumination possible with white reflective material on backside Crystal clear material allowing the viewer to see through the panel Brightest light rays directed perpendicular from panel surface ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit 3735D Technical Information 1124 Thin profile single or double sided poster walls menu boards and signs for advertising Transparent illuminated partitions Decorative ambient light panels or rods for architecture and interior design Ultra-slim architectural luminaires ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit Extruded Sheet Transparent Applications ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit is the ideal material for evenly illuminating a transparent surface with LEDs. The surface glows in the same color as the chosen LED. If no light is fed in the material offers a clear view without any disturbing optical effects caused by clouding halftone printing or inscribed textures. This makes it perfectly suited for architecture and design furniture store fixtures or exhibition booths. It can be used for example as an illuminated partition or door infi

ll panel or for ambient lighting. Mode of Operation Operating Principle The clear light-diffusing particles embedded in the PMMA deflect the light rays entering the sheet edge. Total internal reflection in the light guide is suppressed allowing light rays to exit the sheet via the surfaces in a controlled manner. This effect provides a uniformly glowing surface. Transparent application with and without light Non-transparent Applications In non-transparent applications ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit is the ideal material for very slim large-scale luminous displays and picture frames luminous ceilings and walls city light posters and many other uses. In the applications shown here light is fed in via the edge of the ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit sheet. Clear ACRYLITE acrylic conducts light by means of total internal reflection. Light rays remain inside the sheet only exit via the edges. The diffuser particles embedded in ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit sheet deflect light rays and suppress total internal reflection. Light rays can exit the sheet via the surfaces too. ACRYLITE Reflections iridescent is used as the patterned sheet ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit 3735D Technical Information 1124 page 29 ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit Extruded Sheet Material Properties Luminance Area to be Illuminated Depending on the size of the light guide there are different versions of ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit available. Depending on the size of the light guide various grades of ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit are offered. The diagram below shows the average luminance values. Average luminance of ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit grades In order to determine the size of the light guide it has proved useful to define the area to be illuminated. Drawings Define the Illuminated Areas the graphs in the diagrams above are based on values measured with a one-sided light input of about 1734 lmm. Product Range with lighting on both sides light inpu

t on one side 1734 lmm using a reflector and a white poster L 0E011L XL 0E012XL XXL 0E013 XXL Single sided edge-lit inch Up to 6 6-12 12-24 24-39 Two or Four sided edge lit inch Up to 12 12-24 24-48 48-78 Sheet Thickness inch .157 4mm .236 6mm .315 8mm .394 10mm .157 4mm .236 6mm .315 8mm .157 4mm .236 6mm .315 8mm .394 10mm .315 8mm .394 10mm Rod diameter mm - 0.787 20mm 1.574 40mm 0.787 20mm 1.574 40mm 0.787 20mm 1.574 40mm NOTE Standard sheet size is 49x97. Custom sizes and thicknesses upon request Recommended for applications with or without graphic overlay Reflective edge tape opposite LEDs recommended ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit 3735D Technical Information 1124 Grades SM and L provide higher luminance than grades XL or XXL since the same amount of light that is fed in at the edge is distributed across a smaller surface. In order to achieve optimal and uniform luminous efficiency it is very important to use the recommended grade of ACRYLITELED light guiding edge lit SM to XXL. L 239 cdm2 300 Luminance in cdm2 SM 0E010 SM ACRYLITE LED for edge lighting 250 200 Comparison of luminance at 300 mm 150 100 LED coupling on both sides version 0E011 L 50 0 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 Position in m page 39 ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit Extruded Sheet Efficiency and Uniformity Forming Processing Efficiency describes how much input light is emitted across the surface. The product can be machined with the same parameters and equipment as ACRYLITE premium. Uniformity refers to even illumination of the sheet i.e. the relationship between minimal and maximal luminance. ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit can be thermoformed e.g. curved see figure below. The lighting properties remain more or less intact. It should be ensured that the radius of curvature r does not fall below the critical value for the given material thickness d. Light rays that are fed into the edge closer to the center of the curvature impinge on the surface at an angle that is smaller th

an the critical angle of total internal reflection due to the curved surface. The diagrams show the values measured at the recommended maximum lengths of the respective grades. Measurements show that uniformity and efficiency move in opposite directions and the grades were optimized correspondingly. Since the human eye perceives brightness logarithmically it cannot recognize differences less than about 30. Efficiency This means the light is not conducted into the sheet at this point but involuntarily passes across the surface to the outside. At this point the surface shines brightly whereas this light is missing further from the point of light input and can no longer reach the surface via the diffuser particles. This may result in an unevenly lit surface. The following formula therefore has to be borne in mind In pract a curvat Math. limit value r 32 Uniformity L_minL_max In practice we recommend a curvature radius of r 6 x material thickness Math. limit value r 32 32 ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit 3735D Technical Information 1124 page 49 ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit Extruded Sheet Free forming Light Emission and Structure Both rectangular and round displays can be fabricated. Consideration should be given however to the mechanism used by the light guide to conduct and distribute the light so that it is uniformly emitted towards the front. This is easy to establish with ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit because the material does not use any patterns in order to achieve the diffusion effect and the direction of light input is therefore irrelevant. For transparent applications all the edges of the illuminated sheet can be clamped in an aluminum frame for example. The sheet must be covered especially at the points where light is fed in so that the LED strips cannot be seen. The diffuser sheet only has to be cut in the same shape as the front display. See page 6 for recommended materials. In these cases it is best to use LED mo

dules as the light source. These are mounted on flexible strips to follow the contour of the sheet. This makes it possible to simply feed the light into the edge of the diffuser sheet. There is no need to use a reflector or diffuser in transparent applications. The light therefore exits both sheet surfaces. Protective sheet of transparent ACRYLITE LED modules ACRYLITE LED Polished edge Protective sheet of transparent ACRYLITE Amount of useful light Optimized structure of a transparent application The light-guiding function ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit may be disturbed by soiling on the sheet e.g. finger marks but also by surface scratches or sandingsand blasting. Light is refracted at these points and is therefore emitted more strongly. To prevent this an abrasion resistant coating can be added to one or both sides of the sheet. Since this protective coating does not influence the light-guiding function of ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit soiling or scratches do not show through. Indications for optimal use of ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit Reflector made of opaque ACRYLITE ACRYLITE LED Back-lit poster Protective Sheet Transparent Applications Greater brightness in transparent applications ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit contains specially optimized diffuser particles that deflect light rays much more effectively than other diffuser particles. This causes light rays to exit the sheet surface of the light guide at a much more vertical angle. ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit 3735D Technical Information 1124 Amount of useful light LED modules Polished edge Poster backlighting page 59 ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit Extruded Sheet Structure The figure on the previous page shows the optimized structure of an illuminated advertising sign that emits light on one side. This type of structure maximizes the amount of useful light i.e. the light that is not lost by premature emission at the edges or the surface in non-transparent applications. Eve

n a drop of water see picture below can impair light emission and lead to irregular brightening. The light output is always balanced i.e. to achieve uniform distribution light is lost in other places. That means a poster may be placed on the sheet but should not be bonded to it Application of the Image Carrier The covers or image carriers must not be bonded or laminated onto the entire surface of the ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit because optical contact would produce disturbing brightening or darkening effects. The correct spacing should therefore be observed during construction. Impaired light emission caused by water droplets Recommended Materials to work with ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit Material Optical contact Sheetposter optical disturbances Company Product Website LED Strips International Light Technologies ILT-FLX350-OS50 ILT-FLX350-0S40 www.intl-lighttech.com White Reflective Backer Various Polystyrene ACRYLITE premium WT020 White Optics F23 - Edge Reflective tape Find Tape JVCC MPF-01 Metalized Polyester Film Tape Reflective Color Silver www.findtape.com Aluminum Frames Signcomp U Channels www.signcomp.com Distributed by most ACRYLITE Distributors Additional ACRYLITE Recommended Materials No optical contact Sheetposter light is only emitted through the ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit sheet. ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit 3735D Technical Information 1124 Item Product Reflective back sheet opaque white ACRYLITE WT020 GT ACRYLITE Hi-Gloss 7M807 C1 Diffusers instead of Back-lit Poster Protection ACRYLITE Satinice WD008 DF White appearance ACRYLITE LED optimized WH14 White appearance ACRYLITE Satinice 0D010 DF High efficient light scattering Transparent protective ACRYLITE Optical 0A000 MR1 ACRYLITE 0A000 GT Product Description Reflector side white reverse silver Mar-resistant Premium page 69 ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit Extruded Sheet Indications on edge lighting with LEDs Treating Surface Scratches Unlike fluorescent tubes

LEDs are spot-shaped light sources. This means that the points at which light is fed in are brighter though this brightness fades again after a few millimeters. The frame system should therefore cover this area. Scratches can be completely removed from ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit by polishing. If the surface is damaged due to external influences more light is emitted and uniform light distribution is impaired see lighter spots in the picture on the right. Polishing makes it possible to completely restore the optical properties of ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit. Light is once again uniformly distributed in the sheet. A Practical Rule for Using LEDs The cover should be as wide as the spacing between the LEDs. As a rule LEDs emit light at an angle of 120 140. Example If the space between the LEDs is 25mm the frame should be about 25mm wide to cover the light source. The LEDs should be installed as close to the edge as possible to ensure optimal light input. Optimal Use of Light With ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit Important Information At a Glance Polishing the Material Edges All edges should be polished. To minimize diffusion losses during light input rough edges are smoothed by means of diamond milling cutters or flame polishing. Laser-cut edges require no further polishing. ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit 3735D Technical Information 1124 Complete functionality is only provided after removing the masking film To achieve optimal luminous efficiency the suitable grade of ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit SM to XXL should be used for the desired area to be illuminated see page 3 The thickness of the material should be greater than the width of the LEDs to assure optimal light coupling page 79 ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit Extruded Sheet Bonding laminating and printing on the front or backside surfaces impair the lighting properties of ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit and therefore create nonhomogenous illumination see page 6 A

ll edges should be polished or a laser-cut method should be used to minimize diffusion losses see diagram on previous page To avoid light losses via the unlit edges they should be provided with a reflective surface e.g. by painting the inside surfaces of the clamping profiles white The LEDs should be placed as close to the edge as possible for optimal light input In transparent applications it is advisable to use transparent cover sheets to protect against surface scratching see page 5 In non-transparent applications it is advisable to use a white reflective sheet see page 2 One weak link in an LED system design such as poor LED selection or lack of thermal management can cause the overall results to be less than optimal Frequently Asked Questions What are the advantages of LED technology LEDs are energy-efficient and save electricity. Their service life is over four times longer than that of fluorescent tubes. When their service life is over all that happens is that their brightness slowly fades. There is no display failure. RGBLEDs allow various color programs to be run. The light can simply be fed into the edge and almost all the light passes into the sheet. What can be the cause of undesired brightening at the edges Corona effect It should be ensured that light is only fed into the edge of the ACRYLITE light guiding edge sheet not into the image carrier the cover sheet diffuser sheet or reflective sheet. ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit has been completely installed but is not uniformly illuminated when the light is switched on. The masking film is still in place to protect the sheet. The masking film must be completely removed and then the light will be properly distributed. The masking film impairs light guiding because of its optical contact with the surface. What happens if I use the smaller grade L instead of the recommended grade XL Illumination is less homogeneous. Since the smaller grade was optimized for smaller surfaces light no longer reach

es the depths of the sheet. Brightness would decrease in the center. See page 3. What happens if I use the larger grade XXL instead of the recommended grade XL Illumination is still homogeneous. Since the larger grade was optimized for larger surfaces light will not be as bright as the smaller grade. See page 3. ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit 3735D Technical Information 1124 page 89 ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit Extruded Sheet POLYVANTIS Sanford LLC 1796 Main Street Sanford ME 04073 USA www.polyvantis.com www.acrylite.co Semi-finished polymethyl methacrylate PMMA products from POLYVANTIS are sold on the European Asian African and Australian continents under the registered trademark PLEXIGLAS in the Americas under the registered trademark ACRYLITE both owned by Rhm GmbH Darmstadt or its affiliates. Fire Precautions ACRYLITE sheet is a combustible thermoplastic. Precautions should be taken to protect this material from flames and high heat sources. ACRYLITE sheet usually burns rapidly to completion if not extinguished. The products of combustion if sufficient air is present are carbon dioxide and water. However in many fires sufficient air will not be available and toxic carbon monoxide will be formed as it will when other common combustible materials are burned. We urge good judgement in the use of this versatile material and recommend that building codes be followed carefully to assure it is used properly. Compatibility Like other plastic materials ACRYLITE sheet is subject to crazing cracking or discoloration if brought into contact with incompatible materials. These materials may include cleaners polishes adhesives sealants gasketing or packaging materials cutting emulsions etc. See the Tech Briefs in this series for more information or contact your ACRYLITE sheet Distributor for information on a specific product. This information and all further technical advice is based on our present knowledge and experience. Such information or advice whether gi

ven at Buyers request or not implies no liability or other legal responsibility on our part including with regard to existing third-party intellectual property rights. In particular no warranty whether expressed or implied or guarantee of product properties in the legal sense is intended or implied. We reserve the right to make any changes according to technical progress or further developments. The customer is not released from the obligation to conduct careful inspection and testing of incoming goods. Performance of the product described herein should be verified by testing which should be carried out only by qualified experts in the sole responsibility of a customer. Reference to trade names used by other companies is neither a recommendation nor does it imply that similar products should be used. ACRYLITE LED light guiding edge lit 3735D Technical Information 1124 page 99