Innovative polycarbonates for lighting and building technology

At the Light + Building trade fair from March 3-8, 2024 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Covestro will be showcasing a wide range of innovative material developments for the lighting and building industry, including the current trends of “electrification” and “smart connectivity”. In line with the increasing demand for more sustainable products, the company also offers Makrolon^® R polycarbonates made from mechanically recycled plastic waste and ISCC PLUS-certified, mass-balanced grades from the Makrolon^® RE range using biowaste and residual materials.

The company’s stand A39 in Hall 8.0 will showcase commercial luminaires from well-known manufacturers using these more sustainable types of plastic, as well as switches and sockets from the SAGA^TM series from ABB, a leading technology company in the fields of electrification and automation, in which Makrolon^® RE is used.

However, Covestro not only offers the right plastics for increasing technical and sustainability requirements, but also supports customers from conception through product and design development to commercialisation. The company’s application and material experts strive to meet customer requirements in terms of colours, materials and surface finishes (Color, Material, Finish; CMF). This also includes a close co-operation with industrial designers.

Realistic virtual prototypes

The use of digital technologies in particular contributes to accelerated product development. Complex optical measurement processes can be used to create digital twins and thus photorealistic renderings that allow the appearance of the finished product to be recognized at an early stage without the need to produce complex prototypes. New colour trends will be presented at the trade fair stand and digital materials can be tried out on a wallbox rendering on site.

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Tailor-made polycarbonates from Covestro are available for lighting and illumination technology, covering a whole range of requirements and properties:

• High light transmission: The Makrolon^® LED range offers exceptional light transmission of over 90%, which improves the light output of transparent luminaire covers, lenses, light guides and other optical products. It enables more efficient lighting solutions while maintaining transparency and aesthetics.
• Different levels of translucency: Covestro offers three levels of translucency with maximum light transmission to realize customisation of opacity for luminaires. The Makrolon^® DQ range ensures optimum lighting conditions without compromising on design and visual appeal.
• Diffuse reflection: Ideal for reflectors, Makrolon^® RW offers aesthetic white surfaces combined with up to 97% diffuse reflection in all directions. This property results in glare-free, eye-friendly light and makes it an excellent choice for various lighting applications. An opaque version is also available to avoid light emissions.
• Good thermal conductivity: The Makrolon^® TC range offers plastic solutions with maximum thermal conductivity. As an alternative to metal heat sinks, these materials not only enable weight reduction, but also design flexibility and more energy-efficient production than with the conventional material aluminium.
• Flame retardant plastics: Under the name Makrolon^® FR, Covestro offers flame retardant variants of Makrolon^® LED, DQ, RW and TC products for applications with high lighting and safety requirements. These include materials that are suitable for use in trains or other means of mass transportation.

If you would like to find out more about the functional and more sustainable material solutions for the lighting industry, visit the Covestro stand in Hall 8B, Stand A39.

On March 5, Covestro expert Dr. Niklas Meine will give a presentation entitled “Smart Plastics Solutions for a Circular Economy – Combining Performance, Aesthetics and Sustainability” at stand B60 in hall 5.0 from 2:30 pm.