The Bombay Technologist

Photoluminescent Paints

Madhura Arvind Joshi

Polymer Engineering and Technology Department

Madhura Shrikar Pawar

Surface Coatings Technology Department

Keywords: Photo Luminescent Paints, Non-Toxic, Rare Earth Doped Strontium Aluminate, Road Safety, Disaster Management.

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Abstract

Energy conservation and disaster management being the need of the hour, many alternative energy sources have become the buzzword in the industry. Photo luminescent paints, a novel, efficient, non-toxic and non-hazardous technology unlike its predecessors fluorescent and radioactive paints, have generated widespread interest in this regard. Of particular importance are Strontium aluminate based paints doped with rare earth metals and auxiliary activators like transition metal and other rare earth metals. The mechanism of electron hole trapping of photons by the lattice defects in the crystal of the pigment, leading to an afterglow of about eight to ten hours even when the energy is cut off, is studied. The synthesis of these pigments by high temperature method and its effect on afterglow properties is determined. These pigments can be dispersed in water compatible organic film formers and can easily be applied by normal paint application techniques. Compared to other alternate energy resources these perform favorably in terms of cost, maintenance and time constraints and are an intelligent solution which will serve the purpose of energy conservation, road safety and disaster management combined with aesthetic appeal.