GORE® Diffuse Reflector Product
As the world’s most diffuse light-reflecting, flexible material, GORE® Diffuse Reflector Product increases lighting efficiency and maximizes the uniformity of the light it reflects. Compared to other reflective materials, GORE® Diffuse Reflector Product improves luminance by 30 percent, making it the ideal solution for such applications as display backlighting, air purification, large-scale architectural designs, and ultraviolet cure chambers.
Features and Benefits
- Maximizes light output, efficiency, and uniformity
- Improves performance with reflectance to near-IR, visual light, and UV
- Increases product life with no discoloration
- Decreases energy consumption
- Simplifies maintenance
Typical Applications
- Display Backlighting
- Architectural Lighting
- Ultraviolet (UV) Air Sterilization
- UV Cure Chambers
Reflectance of Materials
The typical effectiveness of materials varies depending on the material and the wavelength. GORE® Diffused Reflector Product has the highest performance, with its 3.0 mm material maintaining an effectiveness level greater than 99 percent and 0.5 mm material greater than 97 percent.
The Science of Reflection
Light reflects in two ways — specular and diffuse. In specular reflection, the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection, as in a reflection from a mirror or from polished aluminum. In diffuse reflection, the light is reflected in multiple angles, improving its reflective effect, such as when sunlight reflects off of snow. Each time a ray of light reflects, some light energy is absorbed. The reflective capability of the surface has a direct impact on the amount of energy absorbed, with each reflection reducing the total light available.
Impact of Refective Surface on Light Energy
Light energy and surface reflectance have a close relationship, with small changes in a surface’s level of reflectivity having a substantial impact on the light energy available. A ray of light that is 98 percent reflective retains more than 85 percent of its energy after reflecting off of a surface eight times. However, if the surface is only 92 percent reflective, the ray of light only retains 50 percent of its energy after eight reflections. GORE® Diffused Reflector Product is almost 100 percent reflective because light that falls on the material’s surface is scattered so that the apparent brightness of the surface is the same regardless of the angle of view.
Properties of GORE® Diffuse Reflector Product
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Color | White |
| Typical density | 0.6 g/cc |
| Reflectance | 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm thick = > 97.4% to 99.2% reflective |
| Continuous operating temperature without adhesive | 288°C |
| Continuous operating temperature with silicone adhesive | 250°C |
| Continuous operating temperature with acrylic adhesive | 170°C |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.04 W/m°K |
| Flammability | Nonflammable UL 94 V-0 |
| Chemical resistance | Chemically inert |
| Fluorescence | Essentially none |
| Diffuseness | Highly lambertian |
| Dimensional shrinkage | < 2% at 60°C |
| Water resistance | Hydrophobic |
| Adhesive peel | 55 ounce/inch |
| UV stability | No color change or degradation |
| Dimensional tolerances | Thickness: ± 0.003" (0.076 mm) for 0.5 mm and 1 mm Laser cut parts: ± 0.020" Sheet stock: Length = 30" ± 0.3" |