Polaris Neon Signs Water-proof Test
What is Silicone Rubber?
Is silicone rubber or plastic? Silicone, scientifically known as polysiloxane, lies in the gray area, but is generally regarded as rubber. A man-made elastomer (a polymer with flexible structures) with both plastic and rubber components. Silicone can be used to make liquids, solids, and rubber products, but since elastomers are commonly called rubbers, they are also referred to as rubber. Silicone is also easily confused with silicon, although it is a different material. Silicon is a substance, while silicone is a polymer (a large molecule with repeating units).
Silicone Rubber Properties
The strongest rubber mechanical properties are resistant to heat and fluctuations. Its strength is between 200 and 1500 PSI, and its length is 700%, which is well suited for rubber. In addition, it is compact and well compressed, heat-resistant and binds well with metal. Silicone rubber works best in extreme conditions, due to its UV, ozone, and general weather resistance.
It is also resistant to hypoallergenic water while being constantly pervious with gases, making it known to medical systems. As chemicals are more resistant to most plastics, non-abrasive, and non-polluting, can be obtained from consumers as well as from the food and beverage industry. With its sponge method, silicone rubber is not easy while reducing vibration and noise, so it is also used for shipping.
However, this item has some drawbacks. Silicone rubber is not oil resistant for a long time, and it can swell after prolonged contact with oil or petroleum, although there are many types that can withstand oil. It is also not abrasive or tear-resistant, and can end up hardening at high temperatures. Mostly, however, due to its special features of silicone rubber it is one of the most expensive rubber types, and is often replaced by a cheaper item when larger prices are required.
Silicone Rubber using in Neon Sign
As silicone rubber is perfect to be used as the materials of LED neon signs, Polaris decided to use silicone rubber instead of the flammable PVC materials as stated in the last article and the fire-proof video. Besides, silicone rubber is also water-proof to a certain extent. When we handicraft the LED neon signs, the flexible silicone rubber allows us to bend them to form the necessary shapes, yet there must be joints to link different sessions to create complicated images, words and figures.
Although Polaris is very experienced in creating LED neon signs, handcrafting products cannot be 100% perfect- joints may have tiny little gaps for water to get inside. However, Master Yin, the neon sign master, found a solution for it. Our team can specially made water-proof LED neon signs that resist to 99% of the scenario resisting water to get inside the tubes. Here we have done a water-proof test to experiment the quality of a Polaris water-proof LED neon sign and a standard Polaris LED neon sign.
Water-proof Test for Polaris LED Neon Sign
We tried three different scenarios by using air-pressure water sprayer, bucket of water and soaking.
Through the video of water-proof test, you can find out the Polaris water-proof LED neon sign is not affected in any of the three situations while the standard Polaris LED neon sign is not.
Water spraying
Both the Polaris water-proof neon sign and the standard neon sign are not at all affected by the spraying of water.
Water Splash
The standard Polaris neon sign, while experiencing the water splash from the bucket, affected a little bit of the color. The standard one’s color turned a little darker. Yet, the Polaris water-proof neon sign is not affected at all.
Soak in the Water
We have put both signs soaking in the water for at least 3 minutes. As expected, the Polaris water-proof neon sign is not affected at all even soaking in the water for minutes. On the other hand, the standard Polaris neon sign has got problems. As you can see in the picture below, water goes in the silicone rubber tubes (circled). If we keep on letting the sign soaking in the water for longer time, the light will definitely goes off or worse broken and out of order.
* Due to the chance of destroying the portable battery and other electrical components, we stopped the the test after 3 minutes.
Conclusion
Polaris is very confident in our quality of production and the handicraft technique. Still, we highly appreciate transparency. That’s why we showed different tests for you to consider what quality and level of protection you want for your own LED Neon Sign. You can also choose to have the water-proof option if you wish. Just let us know when you place the order. For more knowledge about LED Neon Sign products, subscribe our channel or visit our page anytime.
Watch the water-proof test video here:
Video Script
Hi everyone, today we are going to look into the quality of the Polaris Silicone Neon Signs. The purple one, on the top, is treated with water-proof technique while the orange one at the bottom isn’t.
Here, we will use the air pressure water sprayer and a bucket of water to try on those signs.
Lights on...Here we go!!!
OK...they seem to be fine....Now, the bucket!!!
By pouring a bucket of water, you can see that the orange one is only a bit off the color.
So does it mean it is not necessary to order a water-proof neon sign? Well...only if your sign is not going to be exposed in the water for minutes because...
After being in the water for some time, the orange one’s color has turned and if it keeps on swimming, the light will definitely go off as the water will destroy the chips inside.
So, when you are going to purchase or custom make your neon sign, remember you have the option of water-proof depending on your usage and habits.
Stay with Polaris and you will learn more about the Neon Sign products.