High Moisture Accelerated Mechanical Behavior Degradation of Phosphor/Silicone Composites Used in White Light-Emitting Diodes

Abstract

In a high-power white light emitting diode (LED) package, the phosphor/silicone composite is typically used for photometric and colorimetric conversions, ultimately producing the white light. However, the phosphor/silicone composite is always exposed under harsh environments with high temperature, high blue light irradiation and high moisture when the LED operates. Therefore, its reliability issue has become one of the critical bottlenecks to improve the lifetime of a high-power white LED package. As the curing process and mechanical behavior of phosphor/silicone composite essentially determine its reliability, this paper firstly uses an in situ viscosity monitoring approach combined with Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis to explain the curing mechanism of a phosphor/silicone composite by taking the effects of temperature and phosphor mass fraction into consideration. Then, the mechanical properties of phosphor/silicone composites aged under a long-term high moisture condition are evaluated by using the tensile test. Meanwhile, the finite element (FE) simulations, the Mori–Tanaka theoretical estimations and the microstructure analysis are applied to investigate the high moisture induced degradation mechanisms. The results show that: (1) the in situ measured isothermal viscosity curves of both pristine silicone and phosphor/silicone composites follow the Arrhenius empirical model, and high temperature and high phosphor mass fraction can increase the curing rate; (2) the hydrosilylation reaction between silicones determines the curing mechanism of phosphor/silicone composite; (3) the tensile test, FE simulation and Mori–Tanaka theoretical prediction results confirm that the Young’s modulus of phosphor/silicone composite increases by gradually adding phosphors; and (4) the Young’s modulus of phosphor/silicone composite increases after the high moisture ageing test, which can be attributed to the oxidation and cross-linking reaction of silicone and the hydrolysis of phosphor powders.

The Influence of Zinc Waste Filler on the Tribological and Mechanical Properties of Silicone-Based Composites

“…Fan et al explored phosphor-silicone composites used in white light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The obtained composites were resistant to aging in wet conditions, and the obtained materials were characterized by a higher Young’s modulus with respect to pure silicone [ 18 ]. Beter et al investigated the effect of fibers on the mechanical behavior of fiber-reinforced silicones under cyclic loading, using twill glass fibers as reinforcement and silicone as the matrix.…”

Determination of Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Silicone-Based Composites Filled with Manganese Waste

“…Examples of the use of fillers introduced into a silicone matrix are described in the literature. Paper [ 23 ] shows results of the research concerning silicone filled with phosphor powders. The obtained composites were characterized by a lower tensile strength with respect to pure silicone.…”

“…Fan et al on the other hand, studied phosphorus-silicone composites used in white light-emitting diodes. The composites were shown to be resistant to the aging process in moist conditions, and have a higher Young’s modulus, compared to pure silicone [ 23 ].…”

The Impact of Wood Waste on the Properties of Silicone-Based Composites

“…Silicone-based composites are one of the most important elastic technical materials produced industrially, e.g., glass-fiber-reinforced silicone composites [13]. In a high-power white light emitting diode (LED) package, the phosphor-silicone composite is typically used for photometric and colorimetric conversions, ultimately producing the white light [14]. Ceramifiable silicone rubber composites play important roles in the field of thermal protection systems (TPS) for rocket motor cases due to their advantages [15].…”