Glowing paving tiles
On the building materials market recently appeared a luminous paving slabs. Noteworthy position, despite the fact that its scope is limited and should be seen as a fashion element of landscape design. Albeit a really interesting element.
Glowing paving tiles has nothing to do with trying to organize a night illumination that have been made in the past. Remember semi-circular lamps-ceiling lamps, which are mounted on squares, parks and suburban areas? They were placed into the coating or into the ground, flip the dome is fastened by bolts to provide access to the light source. Surroundings such lamps are lit quite dimly expressionless in the moonlight, the view was strange, like on top of a small «flying saucers» from the comics, and people were afraid of accidentally to step on them and crush. The success they had and quietly disappeared from the market. And here is a new luminous product. Interesting to find out what it is and what I can do.
Acquaintance with samples ↑
Familiarity with the samples showed that today the market offers two main types of paving slabs, which includes a fluorescent substance, a phosphor and which is impregnated with the upper part of the material, and paving with the built in it with LEDs. This type in turn is divided into product with led solar batteries and LEDs, need outside energy source is 12V or 24V. However, if you think about the Sun, too, external source… However, more powerful.
There is still a mysterious material «The moon», which is made from molded polymer crumb. The secret of its composition, the manufacturer does not disclose, and its partners sell the finished polymer crumb for the organization of production on the ground. On the website of the company said that it is the only producer of chips in Russia and in the world. From the scant information on the website, it becomes clear that baby during the day accumulates light, evening and night «gives» it as a white-green glow. For manufacturing sand and cement are not required. In this case we can say that of polymer crumb, which includes, apparently, one of the phosphors, it is proposed to make actually fluorescent lamps in the form of tiles.
The production of tiles with the phosphor ↑
Once the conversation turned to the tile «The moon», glow in the dark, let’s start with material, which includes a fluorescent substance, a phosphor. There are inorganic phosphors (basically, they belong to the crystal) and organic. First used in fluorescent lamps and cathode ray tubes, the second has found application in the production of bright fluorescent colors. Kinds of phosphors, there are several, including fotoluminofore. So they have the ability to preserve the stored energy, giving it in the subsequent light emission in the visible to the human eye range.
This concludes the excursion into the nature of the phosphors and talk about the production of luminous paving tiles. It is made by the method of vibrolit’ya. Technology does not differ from conventional production technology. The only difference is added to the concrete mixture of the plasticizer and fluorescent substances in solution. The solution prepared from the rate of 800 g per 3 liters of hot water. The mixture in the mixer is mixed to a homogeneous state and poured into forms. In order to save the rather expensive fluorescent substances it is recommended that half of the mold to complete the usual concrete mix, and the other half with a mixture of phosphor. All the same except for shrews and worms that glowing beauty underneath no one will appreciate.
In the process of mixing in a concrete mixer fluorescent substance permeates the entire mixture completely. Rainfall can wash the phosphor of the composition of the product, and it will not lose the ability to emit light for a very long time. Not afraid and abrasion.
After hardening of luminous paving tiles with luminescent substance little different from the usual. In daylight the glow is virtually invisible, it becomes visible after sunset. In the dark at maximum brightness, the glow lasts approximately one hour, and then its intensity gradually decreases. Just glow with different intensity lasts for about 8 hours. Interestingly, accumulating in the atmosphere, static electricity is able to prolong the time of continuous illumination of the phosphor.
Manufacturers claim that the phosphor retains its properties up to 200 years. So (in theory I in practice did not check) the tile will light the way even our great-grandchildren.
The laying is carried out on a sandy base with a rubber mallet. Phosphor impregnated the entire top layer, so can mallet to act boldly. The plate is not required – the amount of work small. First, the tiles are laid out in accordance with the design project, in the dark check correctness of layout, highlighting if necessary, and then finally placed.
The thickness of the produced material from 40 to 80 mm. the Base color is green. Produced tiles with red, orange, yellow, pink and blue glow. The intensity and duration of luminescence of each color is different, it depends on the properties of the phosphor. Produced a variety of colors gives you the opportunity to create an original lighting design.
Led tile ↑
Glowing paving tiles and glowing stones represent the led lights in the shape of building material. They are made of impact-resistant glass or composite materials (resins), have high strength, approaching in strength to the concrete M700. Lamps are installed inside the led Board. Case color transparent or opaque. Some varieties of lights can work in temperatures ranging from -25°C to +75°C. the Number of LEDs can be different – from one to four. The difference between these two types of led luminous paving is the power source. One is produced solar powered, the other with external power supply DC 12 or 24 V. the lamps are available Mainly the size of 5×5 cm and 10×10 cm.
Some types of tiles produced from individual glowing stones of different colors. In glowing stones «Chameleon» embedded Board with RGB LEDs, the luminescence intensity of which can be changed via the controller. The controller is capable of changing the hue of the LEDs to create different lighting effects.
Tile has a lightly textured surface resists dirt and corrosive substances easily cleaned with any detergents. In daylight it is difficult to distinguish from normal.
Solar panels provide charging the internal battery from any light source. The advantage of such a luminous paving – no need to lay wires and install in a secure location with a power source and controller. To the relative disadvantage is lower power.
Tiles on the LEDs fit in the usual way on a sandy pillow. To ensure that a possible replacement in the future, gartsovka (a mixture of sand and cement) clearances after laying to fall asleep should not be.
Glowing paving tiles is used for lower lighting plants and elements of landscape design, lighting, walkways, grounds, Parking places. Using led tiles can create an original lighting design and different lighting effects. You can even repeat the experience of Dubai and place it on the lawn «a map of the world». Soon the Arabs had built artificial Islands, and you will set the continents led tiles.