In recent years, led lights have been replacing traditional light bulbs. They are more energy-efficient and they produce a warmer glow that is friendlier on the eyes.
The one downside of led lights is that they don’t cast as much light as other types of lighting, which can be problematic for areas like kitchens or bathrooms where there may not be enough natural light to illuminate these spaces.
To combat this problem, we turn to use led light diffusers because they will disperse the light emitted by the led strip light in all directions. This blog post will discuss what makes up an LED diffuser and why it might be worth your time investing in one.
So what are led diffusers made of? Most led diffusers will be made up of a plastic or glass body and a small amount of reflective material. The inner surface will be completely white so that it can reflect as much light as possible.
Although the outer surface will also be white you may in most cases have some sort of design pattern that helps the diffuser stand out in your room or office.
These are the key features of led diffusers. They offer a solution to one of the major issues with led strip lighting by being able to diffuse the light in many different directions.
This ensures that you will have enough lighting throughout your room or office to fully function without any issues.
Let’s talk briefly about what a led diffuser is and why it is worth investing in.
What Is An LED Diffuser?
An led light diffuser is a device that disperses the light emitted by an led strip light in all directions.
This allows the diffused light to cover a wider area and produce less harsh shadows than a single source of light would.
Why Invest In An Led Diffuser?
Led diffusers are useful for covering larger areas with less harsh shadows because they disperse light more evenly than a single source of light.
You can also invest in an led diffuser because it will reduce the glare that is caused by a single source of light.
What Are Led Diffusers Made Of?
There are several different types of materials used to make led diffusers such as glass and plastic.
It’s important to know the different types of materials and how they affect the color temperature, resulting in a warmer glow or a cooler, more sterile light.
Because of this, it’s important to do your research and find out what type of led diffuser is best for your needs.
1. Glass:
Glass is a popular choice because it can be molded into any shape and it maintains the soft, even glow of led strip lights.
Glass has been one of the most popular choices due to its ability to diffuse light evenly.
Glass is great for providing a warm glow, but it can also cast color because of its ability to absorb some wavelengths of light.
Glass is also great for diffusing heat because it won’t trap the heat like plastic or silicone.
It’s important to note that glass is heavier than plastic and silicone, so it may not be best for applications where the diffuser will hang.
But, glass is not without its downsides. Again, it’s heavier than plastic, which can make it difficult to install in some spaces.
It can also be more expensive than other types of led diffusers.
If you’re on the market for a led light diffuser and probably thinking of picking up one made of glass material, you would want to consider some of the pros and cons I have highlighted above so you can make an informed decision.
2. Silicone:
Silicone is a popular choice because it doesn’t change the color temperature of led strip lights.
What this means is that it will create a cool, sterile light that is perfect for office spaces or homes.
Silicone is also great because it’s lightweight and easy to install with double-sided or adhesive tape.
Silicone diffusers are also great for creating different shapes and sizes that can be used to fit unique spaces. This is because silicone can be molded into any shape or size.
Silicone is a great choice because it doesn’t absorb any of the light from led strip lights. All it does is spread out the light.
However, because it doesn’t absorb any of the heat from led strip lights, silicone diffusers will not emit as much heat
Silicone is also great for diffusing heat because it won’t trap the heat like glass or plastic. As a result what you get is a cool, sterile light that emits less heat.
Silicone diffusers are not only lighter than glass, they’re cheaper in price compared to glass led diffusers.
Silicone is not without its drawbacks, however. Since silicone doesn’t diffuse light evenly like glass, it can produce some harsh shadows.
Also, silicone diffusers will not be as durable or long-lasting compared to glass led diffusers.
If you’re on the market for a led light diffuser and probably thinking of picking up one made of silicone material, you would want to consider some of the pros and cons I have highlighted above so you can make an informed decision.
3. Vinyl:
Vinyl is a popular choice because it can be molded into any shape and it’s great for large areas. This is because it will cover a large area without any loss in brightness.
Vinyl is also great for diffusing heat because it won’t trap the heat like glass or plastic. This is a result of the vinyl’s ability to dissipate heat.
Vinyl is also lightweight and easy to install with double-sided or adhesive tape. Its lightweight is not only great for ease of installation, but it’s also great because vinyl diffusers are more affordable than glass or silicone.
One thing I really love about light-diffusing vinyl is its ability to blend in easily with the background. This is a great benefit for those who want an ambient look or those looking for something more subtle.
On top of that vinyl is a flexible material that can be molded into any shape or size and it will never discolor, which makes it an excellent choice for led strip lights that are placed in an area where they might encounter direct sunlight.
However, vinyl is not also without its drawbacks. Vinyl diffusers will absorb some of the light from led strip lights. This means that it will reduce the brightness of your led strip lights.
Also, vinyl diffusers are not as durable or long-lasting compared to glass or silicone.
If you’re on the market for a led light diffuser and probably thinking of picking up one made of vinyl material, you would want to consider some of the pros and cons I have highlighted above so you can make an informed decision.
4. Plastic:
Plastic can be used to make inexpensive diffusers that are easy to replace. They are less durable, though, and may discolor over time as a result of exposure to heat from the led strip light.
But plastic diffusers are the most common today and the majority of the diffusers you will find on the market today are all made of high-quality plastic.
Below are some of the most common plastic materials you will encounter being used for led light diffusers.
Polycarbonate (PC)
Polycarbonate is the main component of led light diffusers. PC is a durable, yet lightweight material that will not warp or bend under pressure and it can be easily molded into different shapes.
It is almost unbreakable and is excellent in diffusing led hot spots. Another great thing about the polycarbonate material used as a led diffuser is that it is extremely resistant to high temperatures.
This means that the led light diffuser will not melt or warp at higher operating temperatures, which can be an issue with other types of plastic materials.
However, it is important to note that PC material can discolor over time as a result of exposure to heat from the led strip light.
This means that it is not a suitable material for led strip lights used in places where they will be exposed to direct sunlight over long periods.
Overall it’s the material of choice for most diffusers because it can be easily shaped to fit any installation.
Pros:
- It softens and diffuses led lights in a natural way
- Last life long
- Cost-Effective
- Its coating is available in UV stabilized varieties for outdoor use
- Impact-resistant and durable
- Lightweight
- It is very easy to mold into different shapes and designs
Cons:
- It is not as effective as glass at controlling light
Polypropylene (PP)
Polypropylene is another common plastic material used to make led light diffusers because it has many of the same benefits as polycarbonate.
It is extremely lightweight and moldable, which makes it ideal for led strip lights that are used in small or narrow spaces where they might be difficult to install.
However, it is not as durable or resistant to high temperatures as PC material and can also discolor over time if exposed to direct sunlight.
Overall, it is a good alternative to PC material and can be used in applications where the led strip lights will not experience prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
Pros:
- It is very durable and impact-resistant, which makes it an excellent choice for led strip lights that might experience some wear and tear.
- It has excellent heat resistance properties, which makes it suitable for outdoor use in places where the led strip lights will be exposed to direct sunlight.
- It is easy to shape into different designs and can be molded or cut with ease, which makes it an excellent choice for led strip lights that are difficult to install.
- It absorbs less dust compared to polycarbonate diffusers.
- Its light transmission is comparable to that of a PC, and it can achieve up to 85 percent light penetration.
Cons:
- It is not as effective at diffusing light as glass or silicone materials.
- It is not as durable or resistant to high temperatures as polycarbonate material.
Polystyrene (PS)
Polystyrene is the most affordable type of plastic material used to make led light diffusers. It has very poor durability and can easily break or crack when pressure is applied.
This means that it should not be used in led strip lights where they would experience any wear and tear or high impact.
Polystyrene is also very susceptible to discoloration and will turn yellow over time when exposed to direct sunlight. It has very poor heat resistance properties and can melt or warp when exposed to high temperatures.
Overall, polystyrene is not ideally a good choice for led strip lights and but if you’re out looking for something super cheap, it might be a good choice for you.
Pros:
- It is very cheap and cost-effective, which makes it an excellent alternative to polycarbonate material.
- It is very lightweight and easy to mold into different shapes, which makes it an excellent choice for led strip lights that are difficult to install.
- It is a transparent material with a high refractive index that offers good optical transmittance.
- It has excellent anti-static properties, preventing dust absorption.
Cons:
- It is very fragile and susceptible to breakage or cracking.
- It discolors easily when exposed to direct sunlight for prolonged periods.
Acrylic or Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)
Acrylic is a type of plastic material that looks similar to glass, but it has some very different properties. Different properties in the sense that they are very different from the properties of glass.
One of the major properties that make the acrylic or PMMA is its fire resistance properties. This is because it does not burn and melts at a very high temperature, so it is very safe.
So if you choose to use acrylic material instead of glass, this is a good idea.
But the acrylic material has many other benefits as well that you can use to your advantage. For example, it is a very lightweight material, which makes it easy to install led strip lights.
It also has excellent light transmission properties that are comparable to glass materials.
Also, not to forget that acrylic or PMMA has a high level of luminance, which means that it is a good choice for led strip lights.
Finally, the optical properties of the acrylic or the PMMA are superior when compared to that of PC as it offers better light transmission.
Pros:
- It can be easily shaped into different designs and fit into tight spaces.
- It has the highest light transmission.
- It has exceptional weather resistance and excellent high-temperature performance.
- It allows for a wide range of designs.
- It offers higher optical qualities and illumination than other types.
- It is UV-stable by nature.
- Budget-friendly
Cons:
- It can be difficult to drill holes into it for the installation of cables.
- It is susceptible to surface scratching.
- Scratches on the acrylic material are more visible than those of other materials, such as glass.
How To Choose The Best Material For Your Led Light Diffusers
The best material for led strip lights will be different depending on the user’s needs.
- If you want something that is lightweight and easy to mold into different shapes, polystyrene is the best choice for you.
- If you want something that has high transparency properties and excellent optical transmittance, then acrylic or PMMA is a good choice.
- If you want something that has excellent fire resistance properties, then polycarbonate is the best choice for you.
- If you want something that has a high light transmission and offers a wide range of design choices, then acrylic or PMMA is the best choice for you.
- If you want something that is budget-friendly, then polystyrene is a good choice.
- If you want something that has excellent weather resistance and high-temperature performance, then acrylic or PMMA is a good choice.
- If you want something that has UV-stabilizing properties, then polycarbonate is a good choice.
- If you want something that has scratch resistance properties, then polycarbonate is the best choice for you.
- If you want something that is easily drilled, then polycarbonate is the best choice for you.
- Finally, if what you want is something that has a good balance between optical properties and mechanical strength, then acrylic or PMMA is the best choice for you.
Final Thoughts
To be able to make your choice of the best material for your led diffusers, you need to prioritize the properties that are important to your specific situation.
In order to make the best choice for you, it is important that you consider all of the above points carefully.
It’s also a good idea to do some research and read reviews by people who have used the product you’re interested in before making your final decision.
Please note that every product offers different benefits and you need to make sure that your choice is based on the specific requirements of your application.
For this reason, it is necessary to do thorough research and compare all the options you have before making your final choice.
Remember, when it comes to led strip lights, it’s important to make the best choice for you.