Looking For A Solid Material Light Diffuser - Terminology?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding a solid material that can effectively diffuse light, particularly in the context of creating a thin bar with a light source at one end. Participants explore terminology and material options suitable for light diffusion, with an emphasis on potential applications and methods for achieving controlled light exitance.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks a solid material that can diffuse light throughout its structure and expresses uncertainty about the correct terminology for such materials.
  • Another participant suggests translucent plastics, specifically polypropylene or polyurethane, as potential options for light diffusion.
  • There is a mention of the possibility of roughening the surfaces of clear plastics like acrylic to enhance diffusion.
  • A participant inquires about methods for achieving more quantitative control of light exitance, indicating a willingness to consider more complex and potentially expensive solutions.
  • One participant notes that illumination control falls under non-imaging optics and suggests that it may be more of an art than a science, requesting more details about the application to provide better guidance.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of familiarity with the topic and propose different materials and methods, indicating that multiple competing views remain regarding the best approach to light diffusion.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include a lack of specific application details from the original poster, which may affect the relevance of the suggestions provided. The discussion also highlights the complexity involved in achieving controlled light exitance.

golmschenk
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I'm looking for a solid material that will diffuse light throughout it. In particular I would need a thin bar with a light source at one end that will diffuse light to all sides of the bar, however, I don't specifically need a bar as long as the material can be machined. I'm trying to search for some type of material like this, but I guess I really don't know what kind of terminology to be using and I keep ending up finding only cinematography light filter films. If anyone has any idea of the material I'm looking for or just the proper terminology of what I should be searching for let me know. Thanks for your time!
 
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Do you mean translucent plastics? Polypropylene or polyurethane may work ok:

http://www.professionalplastics.com/

If you need quantitative control of the exitance, that's significantly more complex. Another good trick is to simply roughen the faces of a clear plastic like acrylic (with sandpaper or something).
 
Thanks, the translucent plastic *might* work. A more quantitative control would definitely be a plus. Even if that means it will be more complex/expensive. What would I want to look for if I were searching for this more complex method?
 
I know a little about non-imaging optics (of which illumination control is a topic), but all I know is that it's more an art than science.

It would be more helpful (here) if you gave some information about your application.
 

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