In the automotive lighting industry, the main considerations for selecting lens materials are light transmittance, high temperature resistance and aging resistance, life cycle, etc. Optical-grade plastic lenses for automotive lighting generally use optical-grade PMMA, optical-grade PC and other materials. The advantages of optical-grade plastics are: simple technology and low production cost. The disadvantage is that the high temperature resistance and aging resistance are relatively weak, the temperature resistance of PMMA is generally not more than 90 °C (thermal deformation temperature 105 °C), and the temperature resistance of PC is not more than 120 °C (thermal deformation temperature 135 °C).

The properties of glass lenses are opposite to those of plastic lenses. The glass lens has high light transmittance and good high temperature resistance, but the density is high, which will increase the weight of the lamp lens module, which is inconsistent with the lightweight goal of the automotive industry. Due to the special state of the glass body after the glass is softened, it is not easy to achieve large-scale production. In addition, the cost of the mold is high, the processing cycle is long, the precision is difficult to control, and it is brittle, especially for lenses with large thickness changes, unexpected bursts are unpredictable. with resolved. With the improvement process that can be achieved now, the strength of the glass can only be improved by coating or tempering treatment, but after these treatments, the light transmittance of the glass lens will be reduced, and the cost will also increase.

Silicone lenses combine the advantages of the above-mentioned lenses. Compared with traditional glass lenses and plastic lenses, silicone lenses show excellent performance in terms of light transmittance, molding difficulty, and aging resistance.

Silicone lens advantages:
1. Temperature resistance range: -40~250℃, and resistant to sudden cooling and thermal shock.
2. Flexible texture, not easy to burst, excellent explosion-proof performance.
3. Non-toxic, low density, stable performance, light transmittance up to 92%, excellent weather resistance.
4. There is almost no residual stress and good stretchability, which ensures the stability of optical properties.

Disadvantages of silicone lenses:
1. The cost of raw materials is high, and the cost is 1.5 to 3 times that of traditional PC lenses.
2. The immaturity of the existing lens injection molding technology further increases the cost of the silicone lens.

Therefore, the market positioning of silicone lenses is mainly:
1. Aerospace lighting fixture lens.
2. Miner's lamp or special lamps and lanterns under flammable, explosive and harsh conditions.
3. Automobile, outdoor lighting.
4. Conventional LED indoor lighting fixtures.