The World of LED Lighting has driven an increase in the interest in LED housing. When we buy LED Lighting, it is always the LED housing that draws us in first with its aesthetic appearance. It not only provides beauty and security to the LED light but also affects other technical aspects such as light transmission rate, heat sinks and has an overall impact on the product.
The material that is chosen for any LED housing, impacts the core benefits of the LED within. Therefore, the housing material should be chosen carefully so that it offers good protection to the internal components, good thermal stability, enhances the operating life of the product, keeps the product light, and allows for versatile designs while satisfying the UL anti-flammability requirements. The options may vary from metallic to a range of engineered plastics.
Aluminum provides great heat conductivity and has been the leading housing material in the past. Thermoplastics are a relative variation in the LED housing world. Cost is the most important variable of why it can compete with aluminum LED housings. Here’s a quick comparison between the two most popular options.
Aluminum
Advantages and disadvantages
- High heat conductivity
- Heavier than plastic
- Difficult in processing in comparison to plastic
- Design limitations
- Applied in high power output LED lighting products
- High price
- Corrosion-resistant material that is ideal for challenging environments
- The decay rate is less than plastic which increases the LEDs lifespan
Nowadays, aluminum fixtures are designed in such a way that they can also be used as an effective heat-sink material for LED lighting, therefore reducing the need to use any additional heat-sinks. This helps LEDs to significantly exceed other light sources by maximizing the lumen output and longevity of the product.
Plastics
Advantages and disadvantages
- Lower heat conductivity than aluminium
- Lightweight and significantly reduces the weight of end products
- Easy to shape up and process
- Allows for versatile design
- Low price
- Sustains high impact
- Aesthetically pleasing finish
- UV protection
Despite being less conductive than its aluminium partner, manufacturers now prefer to design their products using thermoplastics, which can significantly lower the overall manufacturing cost and weight of the product.
Thermoplastics are highly engineered plastic polymers that are moldable above a specific temperature and become rock solid upon cooling. It is an excellent quality that helps them in designing complex models. This property makes the products strong enough to withstand high temperatures and also increases their resistance to breakage.
When it comes to choosing the correct lighting, make sure that you have the right LED housing for your needs. Thermoplastics provide an affordable, effective, and environmentally friendly solution while Aluminium is corrosion-resistant and has excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, which increases the lifespan of the LED product.
