Photoluminescent Glow Powder

Techno Glow provides exclusive glow-in-the-dark powder suitable for personal, commercial, and industrial purposes. You can make a statement with the most brilliant and long-lasting glow powders available. Whether you plan to build a luminous driveway or design a birthday card, Techno Glow is committed to delivering superior products, competitive pricing, speedy delivery, and exceptional customer support.

On this page, you will find extensive information about our glow powder comparisons, types, and characteristics, documentation, applications, mixing ratios, safety guidelines, and frequently asked questions.

STANDARD GLOW

Strontium Aluminate
Professional Low Cost
Up to 12-Hour Glow
Multi-Purpose Use
35 & 85 Microns
Waterproof Available
20-30 Year Glow

Our standard powder is anything, but ordinary. Strontium Aluminate doped with Europium & Dysprosium with glow times up to 50 times longer than conventional glow products.

Shop Standard Glow

ULTRA GLOW

Best on the Market
Unique Colors
Up to 26-Hour Glow
Multi-Purpose Use
50 Microns Average
Waterproof Available
30+ Year Glow

This exceptional product has become the new benchmark for glow-in-the-dark powder, being extensively utilized by theme parks, theaters, governments, aviation and aerospace, green developments, and manufacturers.

You won't regret investing your time and resources in this superior-quality product. When it comes to glowing powders, the Ultra Glow PRO-Series is the brighter and better option.

Shop Ultra Glow

SPECIALTY GLOW

Airbrush & Print Pigment
Anti-Slip & Flooring Sand
High Heat Glass & Ceramics
Zinc Sulfide for Limited Novelty & Makeup
Invisible Red & Orange
Yttrium Oxide
Red Calcium Sulfide

Our aim is to provide you with limitless possibilities for using glow powder. Therefore, we offer a wide range of particle sizes, from ultra-fine 15 microns to larger 0.5-millimeter diameter particles suitable for almost any application. Discover unique and rare phosphorescent powders.

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Shop All Glow in the Dark Powder

Documentation

Mixing Instructions

Techno Glow primarily utilizes acrylic latex paint medium for our glow-in-the-dark paint. The following instructions focus on acrylic latex paint medium unless otherwise indicated.

Choose the color and granularity of the glow-in-the-dark powder appropriate to your project. Larger particle sizes generally glow longer, but the resulting paint will not have as smooth a finish as finer particles or smaller micron sizes. Protect the powder from moisture by storing it in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Clumping or yellowing can indicate the pigment powder's exposure to moisture. Avoid exposure to moisture until the powder is mixed with the paint medium.
Obtain the needed primer, clear medium, and a possibly clear top coat. Please have your local hardware store contact us with any technical questions. We also carry various paints and other mediums that work well with our products.
- Primer – Choose the primer made for the substrate you will be painting. A white primer will facilitate the highest glow, while a dark primer will reduce or absorb the luminosity.
- Paint Medium – Paint should be clear so that color pigment particles do not interfere with the glow. Clear acrylic latex paints, polyurethane, solvents, and resins are some of the best mediums, though other paint mediums may be used successfully. Remember that more viscous mediums better hold the pigment in suspension without an anti-settling agent.
- Top Coat – The purpose is to seal and protect the luminous paint layer, although not necessary most of the time. Top coats (polyurethane or acrylic) can be mainly clear to preserve the finish without interfering with the glow. Avoid paint with high UV filters so light can penetrate through to charge and discharge the powder. A lot of paint mediums that do include UV filters work just fine.
Prepare the surface you are going to paint. Be sure that the surface is clean and dry. Apply the primer to the surface and allow the primer adequate time to cure before painting entirely. Plan for the amount of glow-in-the-dark powder and paint medium you use. You should only mix as much as you plan to use immediately because if left sitting, the medium can settle or set up, making using the paint difficult. It is essential not to leave the paint open for long periods of time to avoid drying up.
We recommend mixing ratios between 15% to 33% powder to paint. In general, ratios with more than 33% powder to the mix don't gain enough brighter glow to justify the cost of more glow powder.
- Examples:
- 20% = 1:5 = 1 oz. Powder to 5 oz. Medium
- 25% = 1:4 = 1 oz. Powder to 4 oz. Medium
- 33% = 1:3 = 1 oz. Powder to 3 oz. Medium
- 33% = 1:3 = 42 oz. Powder to 1 gallon (128 fl. oz.) Medium
- Generally, the higher the ratio of glow-in-the-dark powder to medium, the brighter the glow and potentially a longer glow. Testing different ratio's recommended for commercial and manufacturing purposes. Multiple layers always enhance the glow. We suggest using plastic, ceramic, or glass mixing containers and utensils.
- For resin and epoxy, the 20% ratio works well. The pigment will settle to the bottom, leaving you with a nice clear top that can be sanded and buffed to your liking.
Carefully mix the glow-in-the-dark powder with the paint or resin medium.
You can add the powder to the paint or paint to the powder. If you place the powder in the mixing container first and then add paint until you achieve the glow and consistency you need, you will have greater control. Starting with the paint in the mixing container and adding your estimate of the required pigment also works fine. For small quantities, stir the pigment and the medium with a wood or plastic stir stick (coffee stir stick, chopstick, skewer, or the end of an artist's paintbrush). Use a power drill and a paint mixer available from a local hardware store for larger quantities. The power drill will allow for thorough mixing/stirring at higher speeds. Mixing two colored pigments does not usually get the desired result or work out well. Be careful not to grind the glow powder as it will cause the glow to be reduced and may lead to the pigment deteriorating and not taking charge. If the paint becomes too thick to apply, you can add a small amount of water or a flow extender, which is available from us or at a local building store.
Apply multiple thin coats of paint (3-4 mil). Many folks have had success applying 3-5 coats. Stir and shake the paint thoroughly before using. Paint can be applied with a brush, roller, or paint sponge. Paint can be applied with a paint sprayer, providing it is less dense or has been thinned with an extender product. You can reduce the time between coat applications for small areas by using a hair dryer on the first couple of coats. After that, you should allow the paint coats to cure naturally. If you have some paint remaining, you can use the container lid or cover the container with clear plastic wrap from your kitchen. Labeling the cup with a marker is also good because, in the light, there is little color difference between several pigments.

How to Make Glow in the Dark Plastic?

Our photoluminescent pigment can be mixed into various resins or rubber for molding. Nevertheless, photoluminescent pigment is made from hard crystals, which might cause the vessel's internal surface to abrase when resins are added. These actions would cause a decrease in light emission performance or discoloration of the resins when the scraped metal particles combine with the luminous powder. For this reason, we recommend that ceramic, glass, and resin vessels be used. For rubber, synthetic silicon rubber is recommended.

Application In Plastic
Master Batch Manufacturing
Extrusion Molding
Injection Molding
General Precautions
Notes
Use Flow Chart
Disclaimer

Application In Plastic

This new type of luminous powder is compatible with acrylic, polyester, epoxy, PVC, polypropylene, and polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE, etc.) polymers.
Material can be cast, dipped, coated, extruded, or molded.
Preferably use masterbatches or compounds for incorporating luminous powder into plastics.
As luminous material is a tricky substance and the particles have a needle-like shape, it is challenging to incorporate it into plastic resins directly.
Using an extruding temperature as low as possible is recommended.
Masterbatches containing luminous material must be thoroughly dried up before usage.
Plan on using less than classical phosphorescent pigment loading.

Master Batch Manufacturing

Preferably use masterbatches or compounds for incorporating photoluminescent pigment into plastics. As the pigment is a tough substance and the microparticles are sharp-edged, it is challenging to integrate them directly into plastic resins ( they can be classified as glass or ceramic ).
Before starting manufacturing a masterbatch, the interior of the extruder should be thoroughly cleaned of contamination.
The processing temp should be 10 degrees higher than the regular run of plastic. The extruder should be cleaned again by running clear resin through until clear resin can be seen coming out of the machine.
The recommended machine configuration has a distributive screw design and twin hoppers. Use the first to feed the resin and additives and the second to dose the pigment into the polymer melt. This will decrease the abrasion on the extruder surfaces.
If the above method is not possible, keep the pigment and resin mixing time as short as possible.
Stirring for an extended period may cause the resin/pigment to darken; this is not good!
The resin and pigment should be kept dry before the extruding process is started!
Using carrier resins in powder form minimizes darkening.
Masterbatches containing up to 50% glow pigment can be manufactured.

Extrusion Molding

A small bore machine would be preferable for extrusions to minimize residence time. Extruders with large inside wall areas or equipped with complicated screw geometry tend to cause darkening of the end product.
Using an extruding temp is recommended as low as possible (only experimentation will give the correct temp level).\
The optimum back pressure should be determined by experimentation.
The pellets' color should be observed; they should be the same color as the pigment itself.
The best temperature level inside the barrel is closely related to screw geometry and back pressure; repeated experiments should determine these.

Injection Molding

The use of an injection mold machine equipped with a small chamber is recommended. For instance, for injection molding a piece of 50 grams per shot with a duration time of 3 minutes, please do not use a machine with a barrel capacity of 5 kg; it is enough for 100 shots. This may darken the end product. An adequate-sized chamber would be one where the resin stays in at most 30 minutes.
A test run with a virgin resin is recommended before injection molding is started.
Masterbatches or pellets containing luminescent pigment must be thoroughly dried before use!
Temperature should be determined by experimenting.

It is difficult to inject mold resins containing a stabilizer, hygroscopic resins, or water.

General Precautions

Do not grind or mill the pigment; breaking the pigment structure will destroy the afterglow properties!
Avoid exposing the pigment to strong acids or mixing it with resins containing heavy metal properties.
Keep out of reach from children; this substance is non-toxic but not intended for human ingestion.
Keep pigment as dry as possible.
The photoluminescent pigment is a rigid material, which may cause abrasion to the extruding machines. To avoid this problem, use specially hardened barrels and screw fixtures or wax to wet the pigment before extruding, or use a device with two entry ports.
Avoid moisture and aqueous systems. Once the pigment is incorporated into a solvent-based resin, moisture does not affect it.

We have tested our pigments thoroughly, but the afterglow properties depend on the pigment quantity and manufacturing processes. The efficiency of phosphorescent pigment-containing articles can only be observed when appropriately installed and excited under correct lighting conditions as required by the proper authorities. Therefore, we can not guarantee that the end product containing our pigment will conform to your company's expectations.

Notes

Molded parts, extruded strips, and products made thereof are manufactured with various base plastic compounds added to which luminous material.
For the processing of photoluminescent plastic compounds, it is best to use machinery such as plunger-type injection molding machines or single-screw extruders, which ensure the delicate handling of the luminous material. Consult extruding machine manufacturers' specifications for processing temperatures and injection speed.
Suggest using paraffin to cling to the surface of basic plastic; it is molding.
In the plastic industry: Primarily used in toys, telecom, and electronic products.

Disclaimer
This document is intended to aid the use of the photoluminescent pigment and be used for general information. Techno Glow will not be responsible for the damage to machines, loss of products, or labor due to the misuse of the photoluminescent pigment.

General Information

Introduction

Photoluminescent glow powder (pigment) strontium aluminate is a new type of environmentally friendly alkaline earth aluminate. It is non-toxic and non-radioactive. Pigment particles are charged (excited) by almost any visible light or instantaneously by ultraviolet light. Photo luminescent pigment then releases energy through visible light (glowing in the dark) for as long as 24 hours, depending on the color. Photo luminescent pigments provide a duty-cycle operation with a very high ratio of glow time to charging time required. The glow intensity (luminosity) and after-glow time are over 30 times greater than traditional ZnS (zinc sulfide) or commonly sold retail store products.

The Techno Glow series includes photoluminescent pigment and paint. We have the best-performing luminous powder and paint lines in the United States and worldwide. Techno Glow can supply pigments in a wide range of colors and specifications. Our rigorous quality control system ensures our products have highly stable characteristics and quality. We welcome customized orders manufactured to client specifications.

Characteristics

Safe for normal use as it contains no radioactive or toxic materials.
Long glow time. Compared with previous photo storage materials, it has up to 50 times longer emission (glow) time.
High initial brilliance. Initial luminance of up to 40,000 mcd/m2.
High durability. Long shelf life if the crystalline structure is not damaged.
Outdoor usage. Suitable for outdoor usage as it does not suffer luminance reduction even when placed under a 300-watt high-pressure mercury lamp for 1000 hours.
Stable Chemical Reaction. The not-encapsulated powder is stable as it is resistant to most organic and inorganic anhydrous chemicals. However, it will decompose into metal oxide and lose its luminance when brought into contact with water. The waterproof powder should be used for high water content mediums such as kids' water paint. Most resin, epoxy, silicone, and acrylic paints can be used with our not-encapsulated pigment and brighter pigment.
Temperature Resistance. The performance and brilliance remain stable at nearly 600℃ for the natural glow powders that are white or off-white in daylight and even higher temperatures for larger micron pigments. There was no decrease in performance even when tested at temperatures of as low as -20℃ for most natural green glow pigments.
Techno Glow products meet various photoluminescent standards and requirements. Techno Glow powders are non-hazardous under United States OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200. Techno Glow powder meets and exceeds compliance (2008-9 testing) with ASTM F963-03 (Standard Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety), Section 4.3.5 for heavy metals content, and EN71: Part 3: 1994, amendment A1 2000 for toxic elements content.

Mediums

Mix glow-in-the-dark powder with clear or transparent mediums such as resin, epoxy, paint, plastic, glass, ink, nail polish, clay, rubber, cement, silicone, glue, powder coating, spray paint, or road paint.

Applications

Glow-in-the-dark powder and paint can be used for sidewalks, street numbers, coffee tables, countertops, floors, fishing lures, watch dialers, gun sights, costumes, paintings, pools, jewelry, nails, tape, paper, toys, screen printing, ink, and much more!

Locations

Our pigments and paints have been used at hospitals, shops, schools and universities, stadiums, mines, hotels, harbors, ships, amusement parks, movie sets, Broadway shows, parks, highways, airports, restaurants, retirement homes, night clubs, farms, warehouses, and factories. Make your school or workplace safe! Apply a photoluminescent safety exit strategy. The international building code has already adopted the idea, and such measurements by code are now being accepted as law in many countries.

Events

Use our pigment to set the mood for special events such as holiday parties, raves, hunting, hiking, weddings, and more! Techno Glow pigments and paints can create an ambient environment where direct lights cannot. Make a memorable impression on guests by giving them an experience they won't soon forget!

Techno Glow powder can be charged and discharged indefinitely, making it very economical. They are the basic ingredient for most glow-in-the-dark products. They are used by consumers, businesses, education, and government agencies for products, art, scientific purposes, safety, and green applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Photoluminescence?
Photoluminescent materials (commonly called "glow-in-the-dark") can absorb and store direct light energy (sunlight, fluorescent, incandescent, etc.) and emit that light energy when there is no longer a direct light source. When ambient darkness occurs, it becomes highly visible, lasting from a few hours to several days, depending on the quality and color.

The stored light is gradually released after removing the light source. The brightest glow is produced during the first 30 minutes of darkness, the most critical period following a power failure or other emergency. It then fades over a period until it reintroduces a direct light source so that it may store energy again. This means the photoluminescence process is "circulatory"

The bases of most photoluminescent products are photoluminescent pigments that can be incorporated into powder coat, paint, ink, fabric, ceramic glaze or porcelain enamel, glass, and flexible and rigid molded plastics. Typical products include self-adhesive elastic vinyl tapes, rigid PVC marker strips, and silk-screened signage. Photoluminescent fabric, enamel-coated sheet metal, and ceramic tiles are also available.

How bright are these glow products?
Many manufacturers refer to their products' extinction time, which is the time required for the afterglow to diminish to one masb (0.032 mcd/m2, or about 100 times the limit of human perception). In practice, this is only possible to see if your eyes are fully dark-adapted and you are in a completely dark environment.

For practical purposes, a luminance of one to two millicandela per square meter is the more appropriate limit for life safety applications, and even this assumes a smoke-free environment. Thus, zinc sulfide products are helpful for perhaps only 30 to 45 minutes after their excitation source has been extinguished. On the other hand, the afterglow of strontium aluminate products can be visible for several days, sometimes more.

All Techno Glow powders are strontium aluminate-based unless otherwise specified. Strontium aluminate products can provide surprising amounts of initial afterglow. For example, a four-inch square of excited material held a few inches away from a magazine page can provide enough light to read by for the first minute or so of afterglow. Micro-prismatic retro reflectors and other brightness-enhancing techniques can increase the material's luminance several times.

Can Photoluminescent products replace traditional emergency lighting?
Light lead photoluminescent materials were initially designed to complement existing emergency lighting systems. Still, continuous improvements in luminance performance mean that in certain circumstances, such as a power outage, high-quality photoluminescent products may replace emergency lighting. They can be sited at the waist or skirting level, so they can still function if the ceiling lights become obscured by smoke. Similarly, lifesaving appliances and firefighting equipment become more visible and are easily located in an emergency. Some emergency lighting can take up to 15 seconds to activate. In these instances, photoluminescent products will light up immediately.

How do the materials work?
Techno Glow photoluminescent materials contain purpose-designed inorganic phosphor compounds energized in seconds by the ultraviolet and blue light wavelength energy in nearly all light sources. This high-energy source is converted into a lower-energy source of light. The lower energy light source is yellow-green, the color most readily perceived by the human eye and as specified by safety signs standards.

Techno Glow photoluminescent materials are non-radioactive, non-toxic, and provide a vital light source. They are also self-extinguishing, so they carry on working when they are most needed.

Photoluminescent materials differ from reflective materials, which amplify and increase relative brightness when light is applied. Fluorescent materials are different from photoluminescent materials. Fluorescent materials (such as the 3M fluorescent work zone film or a "hot pink" tag) borrow light energy in nearby wavelengths and concentrate the amount of light returning to the viewer in a particular wavelength (for example, day-glow orange). Fluorescent films are beneficial in dawn and dusk viewing times when they appear exceptionally bright. Photoluminescent materials require prior exposure to a light source to glow in the dark.

Is it environmentally friendly?
Photoluminescent materials are non-toxic, non-radioactive, and contain no phosphorus, lead, or other hazardous chemicals.

Safety Data Sheet

Powder Types & Attributes

Glow Color

The most difficult thing about glow powders is that they not all glow the same. Every color and micron size have its unique glow time and brightness. Green. aqua and blue are the strongest colors with purple and red being the hardest colors to satisfy some. Each powder description and specifications tab will explain the glow time.

Techno Glow also create custom colors for businesses small and large. Contact us for more information.

Natural Invisible

Natural glow powders are also called invisible by some. It is usually light of color or an off-white in normal daylight. It glows either green, aqua, blue, purple or white in the dark. If mixed at a low ratio it can appear invisible in transparent products. These glow longer and brighter than fluorescent glow powders that are tinted for a colorful look in daylight. Shop natural glow powders.

Daytime Fluorescent

Fluorescent daytime colors derived from natural glow powders that are tinted for a colorful look in daylight. Because these are tinted it does not glow as bright and as long as its natural powder counterpart. Shop daytime fluorescent powders.

Strontium Aluminate

Europium and dysprosium doped strontium aluminate is the latest generation of glow powders, It glow longer and brighter than previous types of glow powder such as the zinc sulfide. The most widely used glow powder today. Shop strontium aluminate glow powders.

Yttrium Oxide

Invisible red and orange glow powders that are white in daylight and glows a unique orange and firehouse red in the dark and under a uv black light. Shop yttrium oxide glow and uv powder.

Zinc Sulfide

The first generation of glow powders. Quick charge and short glow. The only kind that is FDA approved for limited cosmetic and novelty use. Shop zinc sulfide glow powder.

Calcium Sulfide

The deepest red glow in the dark powder available. But before you get to excited be aware, this powder is called the stinky red for a very good reason. Due to its chemical composition it has a very strong sulfur odor; that of rotten eggs! It charges quickly and the short glow is definitley worth the experience. Shop red calcium oxide glow in the dark powder.

Non-Encapsulated

Non-encapsulated glow powder is resistant to most strong solvents and is ideal for resin, epoxy, solvent-based coatings, or any medium that prevents moisture absorption. If exposed to water for several days, it may absorb moisture, crystallize, and become damaged. With high-water-content mediums, mix only what you can use within a few hours, as the mixture may thicken and dry out — especially with blue and invisible-pink pigments. Once fully cured in a water-based medium, most coatings will encapsulate the pigment and make it suitable for decades of indoor or outdoor use. For products requiring long shelf life in acrylic paints or permanent underwater applications, we recommend the waterproof version. Shop non-encapsulated glow powder.

Waterproof

Waterproof glow powders are intended for use in high water content mediums or in applications where moisture may reach the particles over time. These pigments are coated with a silica barrier, making them suitable for prolonged exposure to water. They’re commonly used by paint manufacturers for acrylic glow paints stored in liquid form. Available in 35, 50, and 85 micron sizes. Shop waterproof encapsulated glow powder.