PRODUCTION OF FLEXIBLE LIGHT PIPE FOR SIDE LIGHTING APPLICATION

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an improved flexible light pipe which emits light uniformly from the side along the longitudinal direction of a pipe by adding a specific light scattering agent to a molten fluoropolymer before this fluoropolymer is supplied to an annular conduit. SOLUTION: The molten fluoropolymer is extruded from the annular conduit of a co-extrusion die to form an annular fluoropolymer clad. A crosslinkable core mixture is simultaneously extruded via a supply pipe into the annular fluoropolymer clad to fill the annular fluoropolymer clad with this crosslinkable core mixture. The mixture is then cured. The cured crosslinkable core mixture and the annular fluoropolymer clad are brought into complete contact with each other. The light scattering additive is added at 50 to 4000ppm, more preferably 200 to 2000ppm to the molten fluoropolymer before the molten fluoropolymer is supplied to the annular conduit. The light scattering additive is preferably titanium dioxide or calcium dioxide having a particle size of 0.1 to 10 micron.