The introduction of thermally conductive compounds in LED artificial lighting is now a reality that LATI has helped build over more than twenty years of experience in the field.
The design activities have evolved over time: from the first attempts to replace aluminum radiators to real integration challenges in solutions that are increasingly challenging and demanding both in terms of the application field and electric power taken into consideration.
The thermal performance of modern materials and specific design skills now make it possible to realize extremely high-performance heat-conducting housings and heat exchangers for LED lamps. An example of this is the new “Brave” replacement kit that Vossloh Schwabe has created to replace traditional light sources in the lighting of streets, tunnels, industry and public places.
The replacement kits belonging to the Brave family can house 12 or 24 LEDs inside a heat sink and housing made of LATICONTHER 62 GR/50, closed frontally with a glass plate that guarantees IP66 sealing.
The electrical power that can be applied to Brave solutions cross the threshold of 40W electrical power and come close to 7.000 lm as luminous flux of the final product. The heat generated is dissipated through the extremely small technopolymer radiant surface: 231.6 mm in length and 182 mm in width. This figure is particularly interesting because it makes one think about the effectiveness of the combination between available heat-conducting plastic solutions and correct design. The temperature management of the LEDs is also and above all achieved in difficult environments, such as the interior of tunnels or the attic of industrial halls, where both high temperatures and chemically aggressive environments can occur. Optimal temperature management is achieved under natural convection, i.e. without resorting to forced ventilation and oversized fins.
This is not the first time that Vossloh Schwabe, a leading German lighting company, has enthusiastically combined its expertise with advanced and challenging technical solutions. In fact, the first collaboration with LATI dates back to 2011, when graphite-filled LATICONTHER compounds were successfully applied to replace aluminum in lower wattage light sources intended for recessed installation.
LATICONTHER compounds are the result of experience gained in hundreds of application cases in which LATI has been involved, where the best compromise between thermal and electrical requirements and the mechanical needs of the various items has been sought: this is also demonstrated in this case by the IK09 impact resistance certified on BRAVE luminaires (10 joule impact).
The LATICONTHER 62 GR/50 material chosen by Vossloh Schwabe represents a winning choice both on the technical side and from the environmental sustainability point of view, thanks to its density of just over 1.5 g/cc and reduced carbon footprint, widely discussed during a LATI webinar dedicated to the topic.
“An innovative vision of design where light is able to generate emotion and interaction”. This phrase perfectly fits Artemide’s presentation of Ameluna, the lamp designed in partnership with Mercedes-Benz Style.
It is known that the most performant thermally conductive compounds are obtained by adding large amounts of selected graphite to the thermoplastic matrix.
The combined skills of LATI and Protool Plastics Group were instrumental in enabling the successful use of polymer heat sinks in Whitecroft Lighting’s innovative new Mirage 3 range of luminaires.