The Cree globes feel like they could be silicone...
“Advanced LED light sources are fueling rapid global demand for innovative new materials that perform under very harsh conditions, especially high temperatures and power densities,” said Eric Peeters, vice president, Dow Corning Electronic Solutions. “As a dedicated collaboration and innovation partner, Dow Corning is joining with our customers to meet this demand with LED silicone technologies. In this way, we can play an active role in helping them to drive the cost-effective and reliable development of true next-generation LED devices.”
Offering excellent optical-quality and a variety of refractive index values, Dow Corning silicones allow designers to more effectively shape light and improve efficiency. Plus, the outstanding thermal stability intrinsic to these materials enables them to retain their excellent transparency and color quality even after prolonged exposure to temperatures exceeding 150ºC. Thus, compared to organic polymers like polycarbonate and acrylic, silicones provide a more effective hedge against heat-induced yellowing of optical elements in high-intensity lamp and luminaire designs.