Painted White Reflectors Versus MIRO
Recognize the real difference in the performance and longevity between Anolux Miro® reflectors and white painted aluminum or steel reflectors.
Painted White Reflectors
Often specified
for aesthetic reasons in retail environments, painted white reflectors, such
as Whitelite® 90, are a good choice for the price conscience buyer. The best
total reflectivity of continuous coil pre-painted white reflectors is approximately
90%. (New technologies provide for some pre and post paint lines producing
material with an average total reflectivity of over 90%.) However, the total
reflectivity of a reflective substrate cannot solely determine a luminaire's
optical or performance efficiency.
Painted white reflectors function as an excellent diffusing substrate. The light experiences multiple reflections where there can be a 10% to 15% light absorption by the substrate with each multiple reflection.
MIRO Optics
The practical effect of using Anolux Miro specular aluminum is two fold. First, the specular reflector directs the light exactly where the design and shape of the reflector dictates. The second effect is subtler, in a fixture with a multi-faceted specular reflector; there is a minimum scatter of light at each bounce. Most of the light leaves the fixture cleanly in the intended direction. The ultimate result is a 25% to 40% increase in the performance of the MIRO optics compared to white optics.
The
reason for such a difference in light output is that with most white reflectors
a great deal of the light will experience multiple absorptions with each reflection.
In a typical VDT louver application, the white fixture absorbs 25% more light
than the MIRO equivalent. More light output from a MIRO reflector provides
better long-term performance, the need for fewer fixtures resulting in increased
savings for the end user.
It important to know that all organic coatings, like paint, yellow with time regardless of advertised, "UV stabilized" or "UV inhibitors" - these are additives that slow the rate of yellowing. Painted polymer products build up a static load that also attracts airborne dust. Eventually, this can result in yellowing or brown areas on the white reflector at both ends near the sockets resulting in poor performance and increased maintenance.
Another performance benefit of Anolux MIRO® is that it is inorganic, inert
and therefore unaffected by UV light, unlike paint. In addition, MIRO is non-static
and will not attract dust & dirt, resulting in less maintenance, a further
cost savings.