One of the latest in the lighting industry is OLED, organic light emitting diode. The technology is based on a thin carbon-based (and thus organic) semiconducting plastic film being laminated between two electrodes. When the electrodes are energized, the semiconductor plate emits light. You can get different colors of the light by choosing the right plastic. Thanks to this, it is possible to manufacture ultra-thin displays and spectacular lighting fixtures, such as the famous Vela OLED Chandelier, designed by WAC Lighting.
OLED is a strong candidate for the lighting technology of the future, because the technology has a high efficiency and is therefore very energy efficient. The organic plates are also flexible and it would then be possible to manufacture e.g. bendable reading tablets – or why not luminous wallpaper.
A concern for OLED manufacturers, however, is that the lifespan is limited by corrosion due to moisture and chemicals. Organic materials often have poor resistance to moisture and chemicals.
With the help of special silicone material, the organic diodes can be encapsulated so that the resistance is excellent. Tribotec has several varieties of potting material for OLED. As the diodes are molded in, they are protected from moisture, chemicals, splashes and debris. They retain their transparency over time, and also add strength as the diodes become shockproof.