Dow Corning, a global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology and innovation, today announced that its recently launched Dow Corning® MS-2002 Moldable White Reflector Silicone was the winner of the Non-Luminous Components, Specialty Hardware, Shades and Solar category at the 2014 LIGHTFAIR® International Innovation Awards. This marks the third time in two years that Dow Corning’s Moldable Silicone product technology has garnered top recognition during LIGHTFAIR International’s (LFI) annual awards.
Held each year during LFI, the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference, the award competition recognizes the best lighting-related applications and designs introduced over the past year. Judged by an independent panel of lighting industry professionals, MS-2002 Moldable White Reflector Silicone beat out 13 competitors to win its category.
“Cutting-edge LED design begin with cutting-edge LED materials, and MS-2002 Moldable White Reflector Silicone is helping to redefine the performance boundaries for next-generation LED lighting,” said Hugo da Silva, global industry director, LED Lighting at Dow Corning. “This new highly moldable reflective material is already making a clear impact on the LED industry, as demonstrated by its top spot among this year’s LFI awards. MS-2002 Silicone’s impact is further evident from the positive customer feedback on its exceptional performance and durability in a wide array of demanding, high-heat LED applications.”
Launched in late 2013, MS-2002 Silicone is a bright white material that extends its excellent photo-thermal stability and high-moldability to the reflective elements of LED lamp and luminaire applications. It targets reflectivity as high as 98 percent to help further boost light output from LED devices, improve overall energy efficiency and prolong device reliability. The new technology also provides excellent moldability to enable complex shapes, micro optical features, multifunctional parts and even undercuts once difficult to achieve with plastics or glass.
MS-2002 Moldable White Reflector Silicone can be easily overmolded onto transparent silicones and enables such LED concepts as mixing chambers for superior light output vs. competitive materials. The material offers outstanding mechanical, thermal and optical stability at temperatures exceeding 150° C where conventional LED materials, such as epoxies, polycarbonates and acrylics often yellow or degrade. This is critical as LED sources are increasingly expected to deliver more intense white light from comparatively smaller package sizes, and as customers seek smaller designs with higher luminous flux, which also drives up temperatures at the device level.
“Receiving this LFI award is a true honor,” da Silva added. “Not only does it recognize our contribution to an increasingly important market, but also spotlights our commitment to our LED customers and the industry as a whole.”
This year’s award for MS-2002 Silicone follows top recognitions for Dow Corning at last year’s LIGHTFAIR show. The company beat 307 contenders to earn LFI’s prestigious Technical Innovation Award last year for outstanding achievement in design and application, and also received the show’s Best Product award in the Non-Luminous Components and Specialty Hardware category for its high clarity Dow Corning® MS-1002 and MS-1003 Moldable Silicones.
LIGHTFAIR International is the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference. Held recently at the Las Vegas Convention Center on June 3-5, the event sets the global stage each year for lighting, design and technology innovation.