3-component dispensing cell from Sonderhoff

At Fakuma plastics, Sonderhoff will highlight its latest product, the 3-component Dispensing Cell SMART-L / DM 403. This low pressure mixing and dosing machine, thoroughly modular constructed, is adaptable to various production concepts. The thin layer degassing for complete air evacuation of the potting material in the pressure tanks is one of the new features of the machine. This degassing method from Sonderhoff results in a crystal clear potting transparency free of air inclusions.

LED technology rapidly gains major shares in the lighting market. Every 6 to 8 months a new LED generation emerges. For protection against moisture, water, dust and other weather effects as well as for temperature and vibration stability LEDs are mostly encapsulated with 2-component casting resins based on polyurethane or silicone. This affects long durability of LEDs, for instance, in weather resistant LED Arrays for illuminated advertising, street and tunnel lights or information screens. Sonderhoff Chemicals in Cologne is manufacturer of potting and foam seal material systems on the basis of polyurethane or silicone, especially for the foam sealing of housings for lamps and electronics and in particular for the encapsulation of LED lighting.

Sonderhoff will demonstrate live the potting of flexible LED-stripes with a transparent 2-Component polyurethane casting resin system from the product family Fermadur using the new 3-component dispensing cell SMART-L / DM 403 with thin layer degassing. The air evacuation of the potting compound results in a crystal clear potting transparency free of air inclusions and streaks. Opacification and as a result deviation from the ideal LED light distribution caused by air inclusions will be avoided. With this bubble-free LED encapsulation ingress protection classes up to IP67 and an optimal lighting effect can be reached.

The transparent or opaque LED potting systems Fermadur from Sonderhoff do not turn yellow after a time. For, using aliphatic isocyanate they are highly resistant against ultraviolet radiation and therefore have a very good light transmission of up to 89%. Unlike plastics, as for instance PC, PS or SAN, Fermadur clear potting compounds have the resiliency to return to their original undamaged condition by a "self-healing effect" on scratches and cracks which occur under mechanical load. Thus, the transparent LED potting retains its constant light transmission this technology is also suitable for demanding surface coating applications.