Combustion Characteristics of Polymer Materials of LED Diffuser Plates

Approximately a decade has passed since LED lighting became popular, and numerous studies have been conducted on the fires and their causes related to LED lighting. However, research on the combustion characteristics and the risk of combustion expansion according to the material of the external diffuser plate (PC, PMMA, PS) remains insufficient. This study collected 22 types of commercially available diffuser plate samples and conducted re-experiments, TG-DTA, EGA, and FT-IR analysis to investigate the combustion characteristics and the risk of combustion spread to the floor combustibles by the materials. The diffuser plates made of PS, which have the highest risk of combustion expansion, are commonly found in square or rectangular shapes, suggesting they are the most widely distributed in the market. It is noted that if the diffuser plate is made of flame-retardant material like PC, the combustion would be limited to the LED light itself. However, in the case of non-flame-retardant materials like PS, the fire could spread through the floor combustibles and potentially the entire room, which could lead to misjudgment of the fire’s cause. Therefore, it is crucial to strive for the distribution of flame-retardant material diffuser plates.