Luminescence in plastics

THE luminescence of organic molecules dissolved in a variety of plastics has been examined during the course of a search for new organic optical maser materials. Most plastics are compatible with organic compounds, are optically homogeneous even at liquid nitrogen temperature, have high dielectric strength, and can, of course, be fabricated in a wide variety of forms. In some cases, notably the polycarbonates, they are hard and can be fabricated to optical flatness. Of particular interest is our finding that many aromatic hydrocarbons and dyes dissolved in most plastics exhibit phosphorescence at room temperature.