The US-based SAE Lighting Committee has formed a task force to look at heat-induced degradation of plastic materials in LED headlamps. With the departure from point light sources (filaments and arcs), optical plastics are being used in new ways that can expose them to heat loads which may tend to affect their optical properties.
They may become cloudy and/or yellow, or otherwise degrade. On the one hand, we have material suppliers warning of this possibility, which is particularly ominous in headlamps with a life-of-car light source and life expectancy. On the other hand, we have LED headlamps in the field and not much hue and cry from Tier 1 suppliers on this issue. So we put the question to you, DVN readers: Are there really problems of this nature? What, if anything, needs to be done? What, if anything, should not be done? What has been your experience with heat-induced deterioration of plastic materials in your LED headlamp work? Please take a few moments to send in your comments as quickly as you’re able. Your experience can help shape SAE’s activities on this new matter, for the maximum benefit of the whole industry.
