Which Green?
Due to its efficiency, green glow in the dark products are preferred.
To meet the needs of our various customers, we now stock seven different
green phosphorescent pigments and their associated glow in the dark paints. This guide is intended to
assist the purchaser in buying the correct product.
| Product |
Part Number |
Brightness 10min
(mcd/m2) |
Brightness 60min
(mcd/m2) |
Grade |
Particle Size
(micron) |
| Ultra Green v10 |
PDPG |
945 |
126 |
Grade 0 |
55-85 |
| Ultra Green |
PDUG |
607 |
80 |
Grade 1 |
35-65 |
| Ultra Green Tiny |
PDTG |
196 |
25 |
Grade 0 |
2-8 |
| Economy Green |
PDEG |
319 |
41 |
Grade 5 |
15-40 |
| Coated Ultra Green v10 |
PCPG |
898 |
120 |
Grade 0 |
56-86 |
| Coated Ultra Green |
PCUG |
577 |
76 |
Grade 1 |
36-66 |
| Green Sand |
PSUG |
~400 |
~40 |
Grade 3 |
250-500 |
Grade Green strontium aluminate phosphorescent pigment is
currently sold in 7 grades. At the wholesale level, the difference
is brightness vs. cost. Over 95% of
phosphorescent material produced is Grade 4 and 5. Glow Inc.
purchases over 90% of the Grade 1 and Grade 0 manufactured in the world.
Particle Size Phosphorescent pigments are not a dye. They
maintain their original shape and they do not color the medium around
them. Larger particles within a grade are brighter. However,
larger particle sizes create rough textured surfaces. On thin
applications, they can also create a speckled look when observed closely.
Therefore, smaller particle sizes look and feel smoother at the cost of
brightness. Additionally, smaller particle sizes are more likely
to work in air brushes and printers. Smaller particle sizes are also
less likely to settle in their medium. Backgrounds Bright
white backgrounds are less likely to show the above-mentioned speckled
appearance for large particle pigments. White will also reflect
the glow on thin applications, improving performance. If possible,
stay clear from dark backgrounds. Mixing Powders To create a
medium with the brightness of V10, but with a smoother appearance, add
Ultra Green Fine. It will fill the gaps between the larger
particles and smooth the contrast edge. Coated Coated Pigments
have a thin protective layer added to each individual particle.
This prevents them from dissolving in water or being damaged by some
acids. They are also more durable. The additional thickness
allows for less actual phosphorescent pigment in a given volume, hence
the performance loss. A request from the author: Glow Inc.
has always been at the forefront of providing free technical information
on the subject of "glow in the
dark". Most recently, we added the
Glow in the Dark Forum so that
customers can add to this free information base. However, we are
in desperate need of exposure on the Internet. If you enjoyed this
article, please consider putting a link to it on your website, blog, or
your favorite forum. |