How does it glow so bright for so long?
Slumberlights uses high density photoluminescent materials in a plastic matrix. The melting point of the plastic is 365 degrees Fahrenheit making it perfect for hot mugs. Boiling water is about 212 degrees Fahrenheit at sea level. But how does it glow so bright for so long?
Most glow-in-the-dark objects are ONLY photoluminescent alkaline earth metal aluminate oxides in plastic. No matter the type of plastic, they all work the same way. Light penetrates a small distance into the product and the photons are absorbed as electrons into the oxides. Over time, the oxides release the “extra” electrons as photons in all directions.
Sometimes the released photons are emitted, causing the product to glow. Sometimes the released photons are released and re-absorbed to be released again later.
What we do capitalizes on the nature of these materials by attaching them to a high-gloss PVC material. That way, when photons are emitted in any way but where we want, they are reflected back into the material.
This allows Slumberlights products to glow very intensely for about 15 minutes and continue to glow for over 10 hours.
Other glow-in-the-dark products simply glow in all scattered directions.
