Improved luminous materials

摘要

Disclosed is a luminous material comprising a rubber, glass or plastics material matrix, a rare earth metal luminescent material dispersed throughout the matrix and titanium dioxide with a particle size of less than one micron dispersed throughout the matrix as a colourant, the colourant allowing substantial transmission of light emitted by the luminous material. Also disclosed is a method for making a luminous material, said method comprising the steps of (a) providing a rubber, glass or plastics matrix material; (b) compounding a titanium dioxide colourant having a particle size of less than one micron into the matrix material; and (c) compounding a rare earth metal luminescent material into the matrix material, the luminescent material including at least one alkaline earth metal and at least one rare earth metal; wherein the colourant provides the matrix material with a substantially white color when it is observed under substantially white light and wherein the opacity of the matrix is increased with the compounding of such colourant and luminescent material.