Effects of silicone lens aging on degradation kinetics of light-emitting diode package in various accelerated testing

Abstract

Silicone is commonly used in light-emitting diode (LED) package as lens and/or encapsulation owing to its high light transmittance, large refractive index, and good thermal stability. However, the effect of silicone lens aging on the lumen decay and color shift of LED package is a considerable concern for package level reliability. This study empirically investigates the effects of silicone lens aging on lumen decay and color shift of LED package under three accelerated tests, namely, the constant stress-accelerated degradation test, step-up stress-accelerated degradation test, and step-down stress-accelerated degradation test (SDSADT). Results reveal that silicone lens aging substantially contributed to lumen decay and color shift of LEDs and considerably influenced the degradation kinetics of LED package. The color coordinates of LED package covered with aged silicone specimen in three testing methods exhibit a steady yellowing shift law at the same 45-degree direction. Silicone lens aging primarily reduces its transmittance to blue light as accumulated thermal oxidation and hydrolysis reaction, and its effect on the blue peak intensity of LED is independent of the stress-loaded order of step stress-accelerated degradation testing (SSADT). In addition, the effect law of silicone lens aging on LED lumen and color shift could be presented with the exponential and power function models, respectively. Lumen decay and color shift are mostly independent of the historical stress and loaded order in SSADT. The SDSADT testing manner more effectively distinguishes the color shift effect of thermal stress level compared with other accelerated tests. These findings are assumed to benefit the design and reliability assessment of LED products.