Abstract
We fabricated translucent opal glass to replace the polycarbonate diffuser in LED lighting systems in order to solve the durability problem. Batch materials of opal glass with a composition of calcium phosphate were created and melted at $1550^{\circ}C$, and the effect of opaqueness was identified by an addition of 1~7% calcium phosphate as an opacifier raw material. As a result, translucent opal glass was obtained by the melting of the mixed batch materials with a composition of more than 5% calcium phosphate glass at $1550^{\circ}C$ for 2 hrs, which had excellent optical properties for the diffuser of a LED lighting system with no dazzling from direct light by a high haze value exceeding 90% and a low parallel transmittance value of about 5%. For the thermal properties, the thermal expansion coefficient was found to be $5.6{\sim}5.9{\times}10^{-6}/^{\circ}C$ and the softening point was $874{\sim}884^{\circ}C$. In addition, good thermal properties such as good thermal shock resistance and feasibility for use with a general manufacturing process during the forming of glass tubes and bulbs were noted. Therefore, it is concluded that this translucent opal glass can be used as a glass diffuser material for LED lighting due to its high heat resistance and high durability as a replacement for a polycarbonate diffuser.
