UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
(OP)
I am looking for polymers that allow both UV and visible light through, but not IR. I would like it if the material would allow down to 200nm through. Is anyone aware of any such materials or where I might be able to find out more information about them?
Thanks
Thanks





RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
70% transmission @ 280nM :
http://www.topas.com/markets-optical
Doesn't mention IR, but maybe worth you asking the question. There's a link to Optical Brochure at bottom of above page but very slow to open, so I haven't seen it.
Cheers
Harry
RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
This seems to be a hard plastic material. If you're looking for softer materials, there are clear urethanes that may be worth looking at. My company makes a clear millable polyurethane rubber (http://www.tse-industries.com/Millathane97.asp) which is moderately soft (50-80 Shore A). We haven't done light transmission testing, so I can't speculate on whether it would screen IR but allow visible and UV.
Hope this helps.
Tom Jablonowski, TSE Industries, Inc.
www.tse-industries.com
RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
btw, why mention PU when there is no optical data available? The op specifically stated what he wanted as the most important criteria!
H
RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
For future reference, can I assume if someone else made the product, it'd be ok to mention it?
Mea culpa again,
tom
RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
Just downloaded the transmittance graph - v. sharp cut-off - zero @ 200nM.
No go I guess...
Cheers
Harry
RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
Chris DeArmitt
RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
When I suggest a material, it is usually the case that there is more than one manufacturer, so I usually name a couple.
In the case of Topas, there is only one. I think the site controllers take a dim view of self-promotion which is the main point of my post.
btw - we use PU (injection moulding), and did check where you are - too far away from UK!
Cheers
Harry
RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
Regards
Pat
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RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
TTFN
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RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
PMMA is virtually unaffected by UV and transmits virtually all visible and UV light.
It transmits virtually no light at below 300 nanometres, raising rapidly t over 9% transmission between about 320 and 390 nano hen stays at that level to about 900 nano where it dips and climbs a bit to around 1100 nano then it drops sharply at about 1150 then see saws abut 40 to 80% to about 1600 nano then drops to almost nothing and see saws between 10 and 50% to 2200 nano then drops to opaque by 2300 nano.
Regards
Pat
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RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
Hi Pat,
Op requires down to 200nM - PMMA? "no light below 300nM"?
Some bells ring regarding TPX (polymethylpentene) but I cannot find any relevant data on it...
Demon3 - your turn
Where's the op? Where am I?
Cheers
Harry
ps Pat: your PMMA graph would be useful if you could pm it?
RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
Back when, I sold quite a lot of TPX for ICI and I still have a small library full of data.
I actually sold 120 tonnes a year of it. They bought it at A$5000 per tonne FIS and sold at A$10,000 direct delivery from wharf. Some one made a lot of money from that effort. My reward was to be retrenched.
Regards
Pat
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RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
BASF is trying to buy Ciba so, in answer to what they are now called, I guess it's still Ciba for now.
TPX is one of those illusive polymers you hear about but usually never meet anyone who's seen any so kudos to Pat for that. I'd love to hear more about your experiences with it. It's famous for having the lowest density of all plastics (or is it polyolefins?) and for taking ages to post crystallise so you need to wait before using it.
In regard to this thread I would imagine poly(4-methyl-pentene) would have the same poor UV stability as PP as they both have tertiary carbons.
Chris DeArmitt
RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
SG 0.81 The lowest of any thermoplastic
Clarity, at least as good as PC
Physical properties, very similar to PP
Thermal properties, a bit better than PC
Chemical properties, very similar to PP
UV resistance, very similar to PP
Mould shrinkage an warpage, even higher than PP.
The application was to end microwave oven cookware.
PC was specified and had a severe ESC problem.
I walked in, had a look, had a think and said try this. It worked, I got the order. To easy. Only kudos is I knew the comparative properties, so I knew it should work if it did not warp.
Price at the time, A$ 10.00 vs PC at A$ 7.00 at SG 0.8 vs 1.2
Regards
Pat
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RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
Especially interesting to hear the application. Not many people would think to try that polymer. I see from the prices and densities that the poly(4-methyl pentene) was on a price parity with PC at the time. Not too bad.
Chris DeArmitt
RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
http://www.mitsuichemicals.com/tpx_cha.htm
Chris DeArmitt
RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
Good info Chris - I thought TPX was one of the better ones at UV but not as given, down to 200nM. Quartz seems pretty good though!!
I wonder how thick the sample was for that graph? Maybe better the thinner it is?
H
RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
Regards
Pat
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RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
Pat,
Shouldn't you be asleep now?
H
RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
Regards
Pat
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RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
htt
TTFN
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RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
Thanks for the warning about TPX price, wow.
Chris DeArmitt
RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
Regards
Pat
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RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
Chris DeArmitt
RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
...and I know they both could care less, but I care, and think the OP owes them both stars. So, here they are.
RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
Chris DeArmitt
RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers
Regards
Pat
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RE: UV and Visible Transparent Polymers