Method of producing a wavelength-converting casting composition

1. A method of producing a wavelength-converting casting composition for application on an ultraviolet, blue or green light emitting body, the wavelength-converting casting composition containing luminous substance pigments having grain sizes ≦20 μm and a mean grain diameter d 50 ≦5 μm, the method which comprises:

providing a base of transparent epoxy casting resin;

providing the luminous substance pigments from a phosphorus group having the general formula A 3 B 5 X 12 :M, where A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Gd, Lu, Sc. and La; B is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al and Ga; X is oxygen; and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ce, Eu, Cr, Nd, Er, and Tb; and

mixing the luminous substance pigments with the base.

2. The method according to claim 1 , which comprises, prior to the mixing step, slurrying the luminous substance pigments in a high-boiling alcohol and subsequently drying the luminous substance pigments.

3. The method according to claim 1 , which comprises, prior to the mixing step, adding hydrophobic silicone wax to the luminous substance pigments.

4. The method according to claim 1 , which comprises surface-modifying the luminous substance pigments at elevated temperatures with alcohols, glycol ethers and silicones.

5. A method of producing a wavelength-converting casting composition for application on an ultraviolet, blue or green light emitting body, the wavelength-converting casting composition containing luminous substance pigments having grain sizes ≦20 μm and a mean grain diameter d 50 ≦5 μm, the method which comprises:

providing a base of transparent epoxy casting resin;

providing the luminous substance pigments selected from the group consisting of Ce-doped phosphors; garnets doped with rare earths; thiogallates doped with rare earths;

aluminates doped with rare earths; and orthosilicates doped with rare earths;

mixing the luminous substance pigments with the base; and

prior to the mixing step, adding hydrophobic silicone wax to the luminous substance pigments.

6. A method of producing a wavelength-converting casting composition for application on an ultraviolet, blue or green light emitting body, the wavelength-converting casting containing luminous substance pigments having grain sizes ≦20 μm and a mean grain diameter d 50 ≦5 μm, the method comprising:

providing a base of transparent epoxy casting resin;

providing the luminous substance pigments selected from the group consisting of Ce-doped phosphors; garnets doped with rare earths; thiogallates doped with rare earths; aluminates doped with rare earths; and orthosilicates doped with rare earths;

mixing the luminous substance pigments with the base; and

surface-modifying the luminous substance pigments at elevated temperatures with alcohols, glycol ethers and silicones.

7. A method of producing a wavelength-converting casting composition for application on an ultraviolet, blue or green light emitting body component, the wavelength-converting casting composition containing luminous substance pigments having grain sizes ≦20 μm and a mean grain diameter d 50 ≦5 μm, the method comprising:

providing a base of transparent epoxy casting resin;

providing the luminous substance pigments selected from the group consisting of Ce-doped phosphors; garnets doped with rare earths; thiogallates doped with rare earths; aluminates doped with rare earths; and orthosilicates doped with rare earths; and

mixing the luminous substance pigments with the base,

wherein the mean grain diameter d 50 of the luminous substance pigments is between one and two micrometers.

8. A method of producing a wavelength-converting casting composition for application on an ultraviolet, blue or green light emitting body, the wavelength-converting casting composition containing luminous substance pigments having grain sizes ≦20 μm and a mean grain diameter d 50 ≦5 μm, the method comprising:

providing a base of transparent epoxy casting resin;

providing the luminous substance pigments selected from the group consisting of Ce-doped phosphors; garnets doped with rare earths; thiogallates doped with rare earths; aluminates doped with rare earths; and orthosilicates doped with rare earths;

mixing the luminous substance pigments with the base; and

adding light-scattering particles to the casting composition.

9. A method of producing a wavelength-converting casting composition for application on an ultraviolet, blue or green light emitting body, the wavelength-converting casting composition containing luminous substance pigments having grain sizes ≦20 μm and a mean grain diameter d 50 ≦5 μm, the method comprising:

providing a base of transparent epoxy casting resin;

providing the luminous substance pigments selected from the group consisting of Ce-doped phosphors; garnets doped with rare earths; thiogallates doped with rare earths; aluminates doped with rare earths; and orthosilicates doped with rare earths; and

mixing the luminous substance pigments with the base,

wherein the casting composition comprises a content of iron ≦20 ppm.

10. A method of producing a wavelength-converting casting composition containing luminous substance pigments having grain sizes ≦20 μm and a mean grain diameter d 50 ≦5 μm for a white light emitting semiconductor component having an electroluminescing semiconductor body emitting blue light, the method comprising:

providing a base of transparent epoxy casting resin,

providing the luminous substance pigments selected from the group consisting of garnets doped with rare earths; thiogallates doped with rare earths; aluminates dopes with rare earths; and orthosilicates doped with rare earths: which pigments shift some of the blue light emitted by the semiconductor body into the green and red spectral range;

mixing the luminous substance pigments with the base; and

prior to the mixing step, slurrying the luminous substance pigments in a high-boiling alcohol and subsequently drying the luminous substance pigments.

11. A method of producing a wavelength-converting casting composition containing luminous substance pigments having grain sizes ≦20 μm and a mean grain diameter d 50 ≦5 μm for a white light emitting semiconductor component having an electroluminescing semiconductor body emitting blue light, the method comprising:

providing a base of transparent epoxy casting resin,

providing the luminous substance pigments selected from the group consisting of garnets doped with rare earths; thiogallates doped with rare earths; aluminates dopes with rare earths; and orthosilicates doped with rare earths: which pigments shift some of the blue light emitted by the semiconductor body into the green and red spectral range;

mixing the luminous substance pigments with the base; and

surface-modifying the luminous substance pigments at elevated temperatures with alcohols, glycol ethers and silicones.

12. A method of producing a wavelength-converting casting composition containing luminous substance pigments having grain sizes ≦20 μm and a mean grain diameter d 50 ≦5 μm for a white light emitting semiconductor component having an electroluminescing semiconductor body emitting blue light, the method comprising:

providing a base of transparent epoxy casting resin,

providing the luminous substance pigments selected from the group consisting of garnets doped with rare earths; thiogallates doped with rare earths; aluminates dopes with rare earths; and orthosilicates doped with rare earths: which pigments shift some of the blue light emitted by the semiconductor body into the green and red spectral range;

mixing the luminous substance pigments with the base; and

prior to the mixing step, adding hydrophobic silicone wax to the luminous substance pigments.

13. A method of producing a wavelength converting casting composition containing luminous substance pigments having grain sizes ≦20 μm and a mean grain diameter d 50 ≦5 μm for a white light emitting semiconductor component having an electroluminescing semiconductor body emitting blue light, the method comprising:

providing a base of transparent epoxy casting resin,

providing the luminous substance pigments selected from the group consisting of garnets doped with rare earths; thiogallates doped with rare earths; aluminates dopes with rare earths; and orthosilicates doped with rare earths: which pigments shift some of the blue light emitted by the semiconductor body into the green and red spectral range; and

mixing the luminous substance pigments with the base; and

wherein the casting composition comprises a content of iron ≦20 ppm.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mean grain diameter d 50 of the luminous substance pigments is between one and two micrometers.

15. The method according to claim 1 , which comprises adding light-scattering particles to the casting composition.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the casting composition comprises a content of iron ≦20 ppm.

17. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises, prior to the mixing step, tempering the luminous substance pigments at a temperature of ≧200° C.