Electroluminescence
Electroluminescence is the emission of light from a material when an electric current is passed through it. An electroluminescent lamp is essentially a screen-printed capacitor. The electric current excites the electrons of the phosphorous atoms in the conducting layer. The frequency of the current causes the energy level of the electrons to continuously change. This changing energy level triggers the emission of photons, which are observed by the human eye as light.
An electroluminescent lamp consists of a front and a rear electrode sandwiching the active and dielectric layers. Commonly an ITO (indium tin oxide) foil is used as front electrode also acting as a screen-printing basis, but a conductive polymer printable onto almost any material can also be used. The next layer is the active layer which contains zinc sulphide, separated by a dielectric layer from a layer containing silver acting as rear electrode. The electrodes are then connected via an inverter to a normal power supply. This results in a lamp which is extremely thin, flexible, versatile and more homogeneous than any light source you have ever seen.
Key features and benefits of electroluminescent lamps are:
- high luminosity
- adjustable brightness
- extremely flat; only 0.23 mm thick (w/o laminate)
- requires minimal installation space
- very flexible; bending radius 50 – 150 mm (standard laminate)
- effective uniform illumination for shaped and uneven surfaces
- lightweight
- long lifetime; up to 12,500 hours depending on inverter set-up
- low power consumption; only approx. 34 W/m²
- cold light, negligible heat generation
- very durable; impact, vibration and vandal resistant surface,
- applicable for large format printing, cascading possible
- practically maintenance-free
- no failure without warning
- very cost effective, taking into account initial investment, operating and maintenance costs
METALOR has developed a single component compatible series of electroluminescent pastes, the Briflex® range. This comprises pastes for the dielectric, the conductive and the active layers, whereby the active layer is offered in different colours such as blue, green, blue-green, orange or white. Other colours on request.
Briflex® lamps open a wide field of possibilities and can be encountered in various key segments and applications such as:
- Automotive/aviation
- Consumer electronics/white goods
- Construction – fair, shop, furniture, architecture, safety
- Sign marketing/advertising
Besides developing, manufacturing and supplying electroluminescent paste systems, METALOR offers support to manufacturers and customers through its technical development centre. If you wish to know more about our Briflex® electroluminescence range or need a customised solution, please don’t hesitate to contact us.