Guidelines:
- The more powder or higher the percentage used, the brighter and longer the glow will last.
- Add Medium to powder, not powder to medium. That way you can stop when desired glow effect is reached.
- Use a white, or light color as a background for best results. Any color other than white will diminish glow.
- If painting a black surface with powders, brilliance will be much less.
- Use the clearest vehicle possible. Any color in the vehicle will decrease the brightness and length of glow.
- The thicker (to a point) the layer of Glow Powder will produce longer and brighter luminosity.
- Try to prevent moisture in the manufacturing process. A yellowing of resin may indicate moisture.
- Do not use vehicle with high acidity.
- Do not grind the Glow Powder, it will destroy the crystal structure and therefore decrease luminosity.
- Ratio of Glow Powder to medium is from 5% to 40% by weight depending on application and manufacture process.
- Work with a black light on so you can see your work as you create it.
- To minimize settling, use a viscous vehicle or anti-settling agents. Stir well prior to application, process small batches at a time.
- Apply a final clear overcoat to protect the material from humidity and to improve gross.
- Stronitum based pigments should only be mixed into oil/solvent bases. If your project requires a water based medium, then you need to purchase one of our pigments that are treated for water protection.
A glass or plastic spatula should be used when stirring the powder and printing ink. A metal implement may react with powder.
Choosing a Paint:
1The powders are almost clear in the daylight. They will tend to show a slight pale yellow tinge due to pigments suspended throughout. (exeptions are Zinc orange, red yellow, and pink…which show as those colors in the daylight!)
You may choose any brand paint or top coat, but as long as it is thick and clear. Any color to the paint will mask the glow.
*Clear & thick:
*No UV Filer
*Use any enamel based, acrylic based, urethane lacquer
Examples: MinWax Polyurethane or Polyacrylic.
1Work with a blacklight
How to Mix Paint and Glow Powder:
It is best to add paint to powder, and not the other way around. This way you can stop when desire glow effect is achieved. We recommend starting at 10%, and may go as high as 50% (pigment by weight). Powders do not dissolve in medium, but will suspend in it. They must be mixed well before use.
*10-50% Powder
*Stir well or shake Vigorously.
To minimize settling, use a viscous vehicle or anti-settling agents. Stir well prior to application, process small batches at a time.
*Use anti-settling agents if working with large quantities
Painting
Apply to a white or light background for best effect. A dark or black background will reduce glow.
Several layers will increase glow intensity.The thicker (to a point) the layer of Glow Powder will produce longer and brighter luminosity.
Our glow products have a shelf life of 10 years. This means that it can be re-charged by exposure to light over and over again. They will last longer indoors(5-7yr) than outdoors(3-5yr).
You can increase the lifespan of the product, by applying additional protection, on the glow surfaces. We recommend applying a clear acrylic overcoat to protect powders from moisture and the environment. (Gloss Epoxy Protector)
How Much Glow Powder to add:
For smaller amounts add 1/2oz powder to 1oz paint. ADD Paint to powder and not the other way around! You can make stencils simply by cutting out shapes from paper or cardboard. Apply with a small brush, roller, airbrush, cotton swab on stick or sponge.
(1oz=28gm)
( for maximum glow)1oz – 14gm pigment
1 Pint – 1/2lb pigment
1 Quart – 1 llb pigment
1 Gallon – 2 lb pigment
To improve the glow effect, apply a white base coat under the photoluminescence layer. If the paint is clear, you will obtain a brighter glow. Kids will have fun helping and everyone will enjoy the magic of turning out the lights once the paint dries.
Gel Candles:
The powder is an opaque pigment that does not actually dissolve in candle gel, but rather is suspended. Mixing powder with candle gel (we recommend penreco MD or HD) creates a white opaque looking material. You cannot see through it. One method that we have used for this material is to pour a bottom layer of a powder/gel mix with a clear gel over pour. We have had the most success with a bottom layer, which is about 1/5 to 1/8, the depth of the candle.
The powder/gel mixture then provides bottom light, which glows through the clear gel. A very clear gel does not pick up the light. Objects or bubbles suspended in the gel reflect the light emitted by the Glow Powder and will be seen as suspended in midair. (So make lots of bubbles when you pour clear over it!) The way the Glow Powder is used is up to the artist’s imagination! You can also make the entire candle with the glow powder/gel mix! It is all up to you!
A starting point is to make a 5% stock. 5 parts of Glow Powder mixed with 95 parts of melted gel. This is not a critical mix. Variations of this mix can be used depending on the effects you want to achieve. Get the temperature of the gel in the 200-210 F range. Fragrance Gel is done at much lower temperatures (140 F). Add the powder and mix well, Make sure that all the material is dispersed well in the solution and none remains on the bottom. Always mix well just before you pour. This stock solution can be reheated. Try to keep the same container for your stock solution and reheat and add your new material to it.
Glow Embeds:
Pour your gel/powder mix into a pan. Let cool, & using cookie cutters cut out pieces, or pour gel into moulds. Stick the “glowing” gel pieces to the sides of candle dish, then pour clear gel over. They will appear suspended within gel!!
Paraffin, Cream Crystalline, and other wax candles
Make or purchase a paraffin candle. Melt candle wax, and following usage amounts, add glow powder. Make sure you mix well before dipping candles, because powder will settle. Dip your candle in 2 or 3 times, drying between each dip. You only need to do this for the last layers of wax to save on cost.
Hidden Pictures:
Paint a mural on your wall, then with the Clear Glow in the Dark paint you make, add in hidden pictures that will only show when room is dark!
Plastics:
May be mixed with PE, PP, ABS, PVC ect… Can be extruded, cast, dipped, coated injected and blown moulded. If you are considering using our pigments in a manufacturing process for plastics, rubbers, resins, PVC etc. you will require our master batch pellets.
Tackle and Rods:
Glow powder is used in a wide range of applications like production of glow in the dark clear coats for your lures. Simply add a small amount of glow pigment to your clear coat or vinyl and stir. Another method is to use a strong adhesive and coat the lure, then spray a clear topcoat to protect powder.Yes you can add it to POWDER PAINTS! Can withstand temps up to 500 degree F. If you want to add it directly to silicon lures, just add it to silicon when it is in the liquid state, then pour into moulds. Powder does tend to settle so you may want to add a anti-settling agent. Test and add more pigment as required. The more pigment added the brighter the glow. It can also be added to a rod wrapping epoxy.
Acrylic Nails:
Add a small amount of powder to your acrylic powder or gel system. Can be mixed ahead of time and stored as well. Can also be added to clear top coat for a more temporary effect. Use violet, green, blue or aqua and it will be invisible in the day and Glow amazingly at night! (5gm will do 10-15 sets)
Dusting Technique (achieves the greatest glow effect)
Mask off area you wish to paint. Spray a coat of clear spray paint onto the surface. Dust powder on top of the area and shake the surface until the painted area is completely coated in powder. Pour off excess back into container for reuse. Dry completely (1-2 hr). Repeat steps 2 & 3 until you have reached the desired glow effect. Paint a final coat of clear over the powder for protection.
Notes: It takes very little paint on each layer to make this work. If you see the powder turning to a liquid paint, then you are using way to much paint. Identification Marks:
Use glow powder to mark items to protect from theft (example: tools). Then use a black light to show your identification mark!
Silk Screening:
In order to get a better luminosity effect of the printed patterns; use silk screen of below 200 meshes for screen-printing. The reason is that the layer of the printing ink will be thicker and will obtain a better luminous effect by using silk screen of a lower mesh number. The ideal screen is of 80~120 meshes.
- To heighten the lightness and prolong the luminous period of the printed pattern, please place a lining in white colour under the layer of printing ink, or, print directly onto the white colour base material.
- To get the ideal lightness of the luminous printed patterns, the minimum thickness of the layer of printing ink should not be less than 100µm(micron). When the thickness ranges between 130 to 150µm, the lightness will be the greatest. (To achieve this, print the ink twice on 80-mesh silk screen.)
- Overlap-printing will obtain a more distinctive printed pattern.
Caution:
Although it is free from the heavy metals and any of radioactive substances, it is recommended to wear the dust mask or other safety devices, when handling our products. May cause irritation of nose, throat, eyes and skin. Wash with water when your skin or eyes are exposed to our products. Keep the products away from moisture and seal it when not in use.
Our luminescence powders will remain stable and can repeatedly glow for more than 10 years and is not affected by almost all chemicals and any sort of light. Free of toxic and radioactive materials: does not harm the human body and is an environmentally safe product.
