Accelerated lifetime testing setup for photodegradation of optical (bio)-plastics
Moritz Hemmerich, Hochschule Hamm-Lippstadt, Lippstadt, DeutschlandJana Baltscheit, Hochschule Hamm-Lippstadt, Lippstadt, DeutschlandJörg Meyer, Hochschule Hamm-Lippstadt, Lippstadt, DeutschlandFrank Walther, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Deutschland
Due to their high durability and energy efficiency, modern semiconductor light sources are an excellent solution for almost all lighting applications. For the production of housing and optics, fossil plastics are still used, which do not contribute to product sustainability (e.g. resource efficiency). Especially optical components are exclusively made from petrochemical raw materials. For the implementation of a holistic, sustainable development of optical applications, it is relevant to look for substitution possibilities. An accelerated lifetime testing setup was developed, which investigates the properties of the photochemical degradation of transparent bioplastics. The contents presented here show the construction of the testing setup and preliminary life-time testing results for (bio)-plastics. A selection of (bio)-plastics was aged by the influence of increased temperature and blue light irradiation and compared to unaged reference samples for different material parameters. Especially the transmission spectra of the samples in the UV-, visible- and infrared- wavelength range were analyzed. Furthermore, a concept for an optimized setup is presented. The innovative design is intended to achieve homogeneous temperature control of the sample and effective water-cooling for the used high power LEDs. In addition, a continuous and controlled monitoring of all process parameters should be realized. This should enable a more accurate and traceable accelerated lifetime test for (bio)-plastics.