Using silicone gels to protect outdoor LED signage

Here Peter Swanson, Managing Director at adhesives specialist Intertronics, shares a case study of how a manufacturer of outdoor signage used silicone gel to protect its LEDs.

A company that manufactures outdoor signage and lighting products has recently incorporated a silicone rubber gel to protect its product range.  The manufacturer had decided to encapsulate their LED strips to protect them from the weather and other external factors, but had experienced quality issues with the materials tested to date, including delamination of the compound from the substrates; this was aesthetically unacceptable (altering the colour temperature of the light output) and posed the potential for future functional failure.

Intertronics recommended that the manufacturer evaluate Wacker’s SilGel 612. This silicone potting compound has good adhesion to multiple substrates and is crystal clear, so it provides good light transmission. SilGel 612 has a simple one-to-one mix ratio, is completely transparent and non-yellowing, and cures to a soft gel at room temperature. The curing process can be accelerated with heat. It has a wide operating temperature range of -50° to 180°C, suitable for all external conditions, as well as resisting the thermal rise from the LEDs themselves.

SilGel 612 is waterproof and its gel-like texture means that it can absorb shock or vibration that could damage the electronic circuits inside, as well as stresses from thermal cycling.

“We needed to find a suitable resin or silicone to protect the LED lighting we fit inside our signage,” explained the manufacturer that approached Intertronics. “Having trialled almost every encapsulation option there is to embed LEDs for water protection, SilGel612 has been our saviour. It’s easy to use and we don’t have any issues with heat dissipation. Importantly, we don’t get any shrinkage or discoloration over time.”

As the LED industry continues to grow, manufacturers are looking for ways to protect their products, particularly when they are situated in harsh environments. Silicone gels like SilGel 612 can be an effective way of encapsulating and protecting them from vibration, shock, water and other environmental factors. Working with an experienced adhesives supplier will help you to consider all the available options and make an appropriate choice.