13.05.2017

Operating principle and classification of neon paint

Neon paint is excellent material to create exceptional decorative effects. With its help, an ordinary room can be turned into a beautiful and truly fabulous place. The luminescent pigment contained in the material allows you to give original look any object or type of surface. Among the advantages, it is also worth noting that phosphor is easy and quick to make at home.

How to make luminous paint, where to get the necessary components, as well as the features of use will be discussed in this article. We will also tell you how to make a phosphor yourself.

Luminescent paints are created on the basis of a special powder - a phosphor, which, after a short exposure to light, can give it off for 7-8 hours.

Classification of paints

The secret is that the substance contains a special pigment, the basis of which is luminescent powder. The substance has the ability to accumulate light, which it then releases in the dark for quite a long time.

The luminescent substance has a wide range of shades, and 100 grams of the substance is enough to fill 8 m² of paint.

Phosphor paint comes in several types:

• For metal surfaces– used for painting cars and other parts;
• for fabric glow - in demand in the textile industry;
• luminous paint for glossy surfaces and glass - used in the manufacture of dishes, ceramic tiles, glass finishing panels, etc.;
• water-based fluorescent paint – allows you to create the effect of a luminous bouquet of flowers;
• glow-in-the-dark for finishing wood – fences and facades of country estates;
• for concrete products;
• fluorescent paints for plastic.

Useful tips

If you are fascinated by objects that glow in the dark, then you will be interested in learning how you can make different liquids and things shine. Children and teenagers will be especially happy, but you need to follow the instructions carefully to make sure everything works out.

What is fluorescent?

How to make glowing liquid

To begin with, it is worth noting that creating a luminous liquid at home is not an easy process. It is also not very clean, which means you will have to wash the dishes properly after making it.

Obviously, if a liquid glows, it means that certain chemical processes are occurring in it.

But you shouldn’t go too deep into chemistry. To complement this, we can say that some substances, when in an acidic environment, can emit light.

For the one we need chemical reaction, it is worth preparing the necessary reagents.

It is also worth noting that there are several ways to make a luminous liquid.

How to make glowing water

I Method

You will need:

Luminol (can be found in stores specializing in chemicals) - 2-3 g

Hydrogen peroxide 3% (can be found at the pharmacy) - 80 ml

Water - 100 ml

Copper sulfate - 3 g

Caustic soda solution - 10 ml

Fluorescent dyes such as rubrene or brilliant green

Transparent glass container

Luminol is a powder yellow color. If you pour it into acidic and neutral solutions, it will begin to glow blue. This is the main ingredient in this experiment.

1. Pour water into a glass container and dissolve luminol in it.

2. Add hydrogen peroxide to the container.

3. Add copper sulfate (you can replace it with ferric chloride or red blood salt).

* If you don’t have one or three ingredients, you can use improvised means. Squeeze out a little blood from the chicken leg and dilute it in water, then add 1 tbsp. spoon of this solution to the mixture in the container.

4. Add caustic soda.

Now you can turn off the light and admire the blue glow from the container.

* If you want a color other than blue, you can add any fluorescent dye to the solution.

II Method

You will need:

Luminol - 0.15 g

Dry alkali (KOH) - 35 g

Dimexide - 30 ml

Glass container with stopper - 500 ml

Fluorescent dye

1. Mix luminol, alkali and dimexide in a container.

2. Close the container with a lid and shake. You should get a blue glow. You can repaint it using any fluorescent dye.

* If the glow has weakened, open the lid to fill the container with air. After this, the liquid will again emit light.

III Method

You will need:

One tall glass

Solution washing powder- 20 ml

Hydrogen peroxide 3% - 10 ml

Luminol solution 3% - 5 ml

Some potassium permanganate crystals

1. Prepare a solution of washing powder in a glass.

2. Add hydrogen peroxide.

3. Add luminol solution.

4. Grind several crystals of potassium permanganate and add them to the same container.

* If you start stirring the mixture, it will begin to foam and sparkle.

* Since the tap water is chlorinated, the luminol solution will glow under its influence.

How to make glowing liquid (video)

* Glows under UV light

How to make glowing shoelaces

If there are two options for making luminous laces.

It is worth noting that the glowing lanyard consists of a small electronic unit with a built-in LED. The latter is placed in a soft cord, which is made of silicone, and which is capable of transmitting light. The LED gets its energy from a battery.

You choose the color of the glowing laces yourself. Glowing laces operate in 3 modes. They have a switch located on the electronic unit.

* Standard length laces 80cm.

* The laces will glow for approximately 70 hours without recharging. Next, simply replace the battery.

*Remember that luminous laces are just an accessory and therefore should not be used for tight lacing. They are not intended for specialized footwear such as running shoes or football boots (bumps).

Video lesson

How to make glowing paint

The main ingredient of luminous paint made at home is the same phosphor.

You can purchase phosphor, as already mentioned, in special stores or via the Internet. It is a powdery substance that converts energy into glow.

You will need (per 1 kg of paint):

250 gr. phosphor

750 gr. varnish

Just mix all the ingredients.

It is worth noting that such paint will not glow as long as the one sold in stores. And don't forget to recharge sunlight your paint.

Using luminous paint, we can paint a picture in a room or paint any object. You can also put a design on a T-shirt.

How to make a glowing keyboard

You can go the long and complicated route and use a 9V LED cord like this:

But everything can be done much simpler.

Just use glow paint. There is a special spray paint that can be found in auto stores.

This paint stores energy from the sun or artificial lighting for a long time, and glows in the dark.

First, paint the keyboard with this paint, and then stick letters on the keys (you can buy them at any computer showroom or electronics store).

This keyboard will glow a pale green, but you can look for other paint colors.

Glowing paint in the dark looks simply incredible, giving a huge scope for imagination when using it. In this article we will consider the principle of operation of such paint, its characteristics and give advice on choosing. Let's talk about the technology for making luminous paint at home.

Composition and principle of action of luminous paint

Luminescence is the ability of materials to glow with the onset of darkness or when the artificial light source is turned off. This effect can be given to any object by treating it with a special luminous paint, which is also called phosphor, luminescent, fluorescent or self-luminous.

Enamel accumulates light energy during the day, and then continuously releases it in the dark. The duration of “work” of such paint without external lighting is about 8-12 hours. The cumulative glow process is a continuous cycle and can be used for several years.

The glow of the paint occurs due to the presence of a special component - phosphor (luminescent pigment). Glow powder adapts well to environment, frost- and heat-resistant, has stable chemical, physical properties and long service life - more than 30 years. It is used for both external and internal work.

The phosphor is combined with a transparent carrier, usually an acrylic, alkyd or polyurethane-based varnish. The standard proportion of components is 1:3. The type of varnish does not affect the brightness of the glow, but this criterion largely determines the scope of the paint and the durability of the coating.

Scope of application of reflective paints

Glowing colors have wide scope applications.

1. The material is in demand when creating a glowing effect in the interior, for decorative finishing ceilings, walls, application artistic painting, in the interior design of cafes and night clubs.

2. Original design furniture, paintings, interior items.

3. For body art and creating glowing makeup and manicure.

4. Decoration of artificial or live flower arrangements.

6. For wooden fencing, gazebos and window frames.

7. Applications in silk screen printing - advertising stickers, posters, notepads, etc.

8. Bicycle and car tuning: luminous wheels, hubcaps, calipers, bicycle spokes and frames, protective helmets, spectacular designs on the car body.

9. Creation of warning signs and protective clothing.

Types of luminous paints and features of their use

Glowing paints can be roughly classified according to basic parameters.

Type of active substance (luminescent pigment)

Fluorescent paint , glowing in ultraviolet rays: such paint will not glow on its own, the fluorescent effect disappears after turning off the UV lamp. This type of paint is very often used when decorating exteriors, club rooms and car tuning.

Acrylic varnish is most often used as a base, which makes the coating safe for health. The pigment can have different colors; red, green, pink and yellow look the most impressive.

Glowing (luminescent) paint based on a phosphor: the painted product glows in the dark, releasing the accumulated energy of the sun. To “recharge” this paint, 10-15 minutes of bright daylight or artificial lighting is enough.

Reflective paint begins to glow when light rays hit it. Mainly used for territory markings, road markings, reflective elements and signs. This enamel significantly increases the level of safety on industrial enterprises and roads.

Phosphorescent paint contains an active pigment - phosphorus, which is dangerous to human health. Phosphorus paint is used for car decoration and interior decoration. They try not to use it in the interior, and replace it with paint with a phosphor.

Degree of transparency

Colorless (translucent) in normal light they are practically invisible and have a slight whitish tint. In the dark, the paint glows blue or yellow-green.

Colored paints visible in daylight and emit light in the dark. Often colored enamel contains a phosphor and fluorescent pigment, which allows it to manifest its properties under UV rays and in complete darkness.

The composition of paints and the presence of special components is determined intended purpose enamels:

• paint for PVC surfaces and plastics - contains polyurethane-mineral resins that improve the adhesion of materials;
• flower paints are made on the basis of water-acrylic dispersion, which does not harm plants;
• heat-resistant paint for treating metal and glass surfaces - contains polyphenyl resins (maximum permissible temperature exposure is +500 ° C);
• paints for aquatic environments - durable water-repellent polyurethane varnish is used.

Comparative characteristics of luminous paints from different manufacturers

The technology for producing luminous paints is quite simple and does not require expensive equipment. Therefore, today the production of luminescent and fluorescent enamels is carried out by a large number of large and small enterprises. Let's compare the products of some of them:

How to make glowing paint with your own hands

You can prepare the coloring mixture yourself. To work you will need the following components and tools:

• phosphor;
• varnish suitable for the type of coating;
• varnish solvent;
• glass or ceramic containers.

Sequence of preparing luminous paint:

1. Pour the varnish into the prepared container.
2. Add luminescent pigment. The amount of phosphor will determine the brightness of the paint and the saturation of the glow; the indicator ranges from 15-50%. The optimal proportion of pigment is 30%.
3. In order for the phosphor to be better distributed, you need to add a little solvent to the composition. The amount of solvent should not exceed 1% of the total mass.
4. Mix the paint until it has a homogeneous consistency.

This technology produces transparent enamel. If desired, you can add a color to the composition, which will give the desired shade to the surface.

To obtain a uniform and rich glow of objects during painting, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. The surface of the product must be clean and dry.
2. The paint must be thoroughly mixed before use, since the phosphor particles precipitate over time.
3. The second coat of paint must be applied after the first has dried. The interval between paintings should be at least 1-1.5 hours.
4. The brightest glow will be on a plain white surface; a dark base absorbs more emitted energy, so when painting some products it is recommended to pre-treat the surface with white primer.
5. When working with phosphorus paints, you need to take care of the means personal protection: glasses with side shields, gloves and a respirator. Painting should be done in a well-ventilated area.

Thanks to unique properties luminous paints have found application in the most different areas, and you can prepare the coloring composition yourself - just adhere to the given proportions and simple technology.

Luminous objects have become a fashionable part modern interior. In the last few years, luminescent decorations can be seen not only in nightclubs, but also in the homes of many ordinary people. Glowing toys and decorations will make holidays, family feasts and children's games bright and memorable. It's hard to imagine a child who doesn't like luminous things.

The basis for making luminous paint is a substance called phosphor. It can be purchased at specialty chemical stores or ordered online. It is a yellow powder that creates a blue glow in the dark. It can be combined with colored dyes and eventually get paint of any shade. At the same time, it is important to ensure that the added color does not overpower the main composition and the coloring does not affect the quality of the glow of the powder.

To prepare 1 kilogram of paint, you need to take 250 grams of this substance and mix it with 750 grams of clear varnish. The type of varnish is selected depending on what you will paint. For furniture you will need construction varnish, and using clear nail polish, you can give yourself a glowing manicure. Using phosphor on nails or skin is not harmful to health.

This paint will glow less intensely than purchased paint. To make the glow brighter, before the onset of darkness, the painted item should stand in the light as much as possible, absorbing the sun's rays.

If everything works out with the paint, try a more complex chemical experiment - creating glowing water. IN Lately containers with such water have become fashionable and are used to decorate rooms.

In order to make glowing water you will need the following substances: 2 grams of luminol, 80 milliliters of hydrogen peroxide, 100 milliliters of water, 3 grams copper sulfate, 10 milliliters of sodium hydroxide solution and fluorescent dyes different colors.

Pour water and stir luminol in it until completely dissolved, add hydrogen peroxide, then copper and sodium. The mixture will be instantly ready and when the light is turned off, the container will begin to glow blue. If you want to give the liquid a different shade, use additional dyes. You can easily get it at home glowing liquid all the colors of the rainbow.

If you can't find an ingredient, there is another recipe option. Mix 0.15 grams of luminol, 35 grams of dry alkali, 30 milliliters of dimexide and 500 milliliters of water. Another method: combining 20 milliliters of washing powder, 10 milliliters of hydrogen peroxide, 5 milliliters of luminol, a few grains of potassium permanganate and 200 milliliters of water.

How does interior design affect your mood? It can completely change the emotional background, easily relieve stress and nervous tension, relieve anxiety, worry and fear, and leave all problems beyond the threshold. It’s easier to look for solutions to problems based on inspiration and intuition - you should paint the walls with luminous paint of a pleasant color in the bedroom or living room or apply a drawing.

Glowing paint can be used to decorate any surface: furniture, radiators and even leaves indoor plants, as a result of which a good fairy tale and an atmosphere of romance will be created. The dream is just a stone's throw away. To do this, you only need a luminescent dye.

Buying glowing paint is not a problem now. But to implement all kinds of ideas you need different types paints I want to make my life easier, and this is possible. It is enough to purchase a base, add the same luminescent dye to it and prepare a luminous mixture with your own hands at home.

Are these dyes safe for health?

Luminescent dyes are often associated with phosphorus, chemicals which may cause harm to health. In fact, this technology has long been adapted, meets the needs and is absolutely safe. Phosphor paint is used in body art for body painting, floristry and make-up. The only thing: they can interfere with photosynthesis and air exchange. They must be handled with care for these reasons alone.

They are also used when renovating premises and creating interior design. They are also used for tuning cars, creating toys and clothing. But phosphorescent dyes are used mainly for exterior construction and finishing work, since they are truly harmful to health.

Features and Specifications

Luminescent dye is a powder consisting of a luminophore pigment. It absorbs light and then emits it, causing the painted part of the wall or the applied design to glow in the dark. The glow will be noticeable and clear if the room is light for only 15-20 minutes. This pigment absorbs rays emanating from the Sun and the rays of a regular light bulb.

The decor does not need to be updated for an average of 8 years. Of course, repairs are done once every 5 years - cosmetic. In the case when the decor in the room is excellent, has not become boring, and has retained its attractiveness, you can postpone finishing work until later.

Luminescent paint, subject to the rules and regulations for the operation of premises, will last a long time without losing its magical effect. The glow will dispel the darkness and improve your mood.

There is also fluorescent paint, which must be illuminated with ultraviolet light in order for it to glow. This is convenient in some cases. But luminescent dyes are still universal.

Benefits of purchasing

The following types of luminescent paints can be purchased in stores:

• for metal;
• for glass;
• for glossy surfaces;
• for wood;
• for fabric;
• with a water-based base;
• for concrete.

There are colored dyes and clear varnishes. Any idea can be put into practice without problems. You just need to buy one of these luminescent paints.

The pigment itself is also always on sale. It sometimes costs more than paint, but this is not surprising. You can select the concentration taking into account individual needs; mix the powder with the base in the amount you want. As a rule, a little is needed. To paint the ceiling of a small bathroom, for example, you will need about 25 g of pigment and 2 kg of paint. Sometimes you just need to draw a picture. Having bought the pigment, used it, used up some of it, you can put it aside, and later decorate something else with it.

With the help of a phosphor and a base it will be possible to create not only unique design walls, but also an unusual manicure. It will come in handy when you want to do it original gift to a loved one. For example, put an ornate, fancy pattern on a notebook, a postcard - why not? Things will cease to be ordinary: as soon as it gets dark outside, they will begin to glow.

Originality helps to surprise, delight, and puzzle. You don’t need to be able to draw well - it’s easy to come up with an abstraction and create a picture using a stencil.

If the lights are turned off

An interior design in which walls and interior items are decorated with a glow-in-the-dark pattern can be called extravagant. If you paint the entire wall with this paint, darkness will cease to exist. A kingdom of twilight can be created in the living room or hallway, in the bathroom, in the toilet, in the kitchen, balcony, in service rooms and passage rooms. If a person was taking a shower at the time of a power outage, phosphorus paint will save the situation: it will be easy to find a towel and the lock latch too.

This is original lighting, but it will not replace a chandelier: There’s no way to turn it off - that’s the downside. In the bedroom you need to create decor with care. But in technical rooms it is appropriate to use, painting surfaces with a large area. In the attic or basement, fluorescent dye will be useful. At night the home will be cozy and comfortable.

For bedroom and nursery

In children's rooms, the use of phosphor pigment is relevant - there is no doubt about it. Children are sometimes afraid of the dark, but a beautiful luminous drawing will give deep sleep, dreams, will direct imagination and fantasy in the right direction. In an adult’s bedroom, you should also use this paint or varnish. Luminescent dyes do not violate the boundaries of many styles - popular, favorite, interesting. On the contrary, they will complement the decor and emphasize its creativity and versatility. This luxurious decoration is a luminous pattern, drawing.

What to do when the glow or twilight suddenly begins to interfere? Your eyes need rest. The darkness is not superfluous after all. One person will feel constant tension in the receptors, but another will not. Just in case, it’s better to come up with a way to limit the glow. A curtain or screen, carpet or tapestry will help with this.

Luminescent paint is an excellent tool for zoning space. You can always paint over the drawing, but there is no need to rush.

In landscape design

On summer cottage It makes sense to paint the gazebo with fluorescent paint or varnish. This perfect solution. Butterflies and moths, as you know, always fly into the light of lamps. A brutal life-and-death battle unfolds before everyone's eyes. There's no way to stop this. Mosquito net they won’t help in a gazebo at the dacha or in the courtyard. Can be used led light bulbs, which remain cold. Or you might prefer paints and varnishes with phosphor.

Not every summer resident decides to install wiring in the garden, because this will increase energy consumption and the load on the electrical network. If you paint the gazebo, benches, fence, stones enclosing the flowerbed area with this paint, you will be able to forget about your problems for at least two or three years, and the garden will be transformed in this way.

Isolating decorative elements and creating an ensemble

Dyes with phosphor are useful when restoring furniture and decorating some interior elements. For example, you can paint the entire chandelier or some of its elements, use a transparent base, improve the design or add to it.

Since there are bases that adhere well to fabric and do not conflict with the phosphor, they can be used to decorate curtains, furniture upholstery, and a bedside rug. Vases and clocks will turn into magical objects and become a bright element of the room. Artificial flowers, vines, entwining a column or located along a fillet will look great and make a positive impression if they are varnished with a phosphor.

If objects are painted with small area, lighting is automatically created at an intensity that does not tire the eyes.

Overfatigue of receptors can manifest itself in the form of increasing anxiety and irritation, but we wanted to achieve the opposite effect - to get rid of negative emotions. You can remove the luminescent dye with a solvent that matches the base - this is not a problem. It is important to remember this and boldly conduct experiments. The risk of spoiling the selected items is minimized.