What Are Neon Signs Made Of? Exploring Their Composition and Materials
Neon signs have captivated viewers for decades with their glowing, colorful displays. Traditional neon signs mainly consist of glass tubes filled with noble gasses, designed to emit a vibrant glow when electrified.
In this guide, we delve into the materials and production techniques behind these vibrant and enduring signs. Read on to learn what neon signs are made of.
Key Takeaways
- Neon signs are manufactured with glass tubes, electrodes, a transformer, and a noble gas inside the tubing to give off the light.
- While neon gas is commonly used in these devices, other gasses like argon can add variety to the colors.
- It takes a high degree of skill to craft neon signs by hand, as the glass tubes must be meticulously heated and bent into the right shape.
- We supply high-quality custom LED neon signs for a modern alternative that uses flexible acrylic and LED strips to replicate the neon sign aesthetic.
Table of contents
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What Are Neon Signs Made Of and How Do They Work?
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Are Neon Signs Actually Made of Neon?
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What Are the Key Materials Used in Neon Signs?
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What Chemicals Are Used Inside Neon Signs?
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What Are the Differences Between Traditional and Modern Neon Signs?
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Are All Neon Signs Made with Glass or Plastic?
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What Are LED Neon Signs Made Of?
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How Are Different Colors in Neon Signs Achieved?
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How Are Neon Signs Manufactured?
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What is Neon Gas?
What Are Neon Signs Made Of and How Do They Work?
Neon signs are created using glass tubes that the manufacturer fills with a gas, like neon or argon, which glows when electrified. Neon lights require a high voltage current that flows through electrons at either end of the tube, exciting the gas molecules and thus causing them to emit light.
While neon gas emits a distinct red glow, manufacturers can use other gasses or add phosphorescent coatings on the inside of the tubes to create colors from blue to green. Traditional neon signs are usually made by hand, with skilled artisans bending glass tubes under heat to get the necessary shape.
Modern LED neon lights mimic the aesthetic with acrylic tubing and embedded LED strips for a simpler way to customize.
Are Neon Signs Actually Made of Neon?
Not all neon signs actually use neon gas. As a custom neon sign maker, we can confirm that true neon signs offer a red glow due to neon gas, but other noble gasses can produce different colors. For example:
- Argon: Combined with mercury vapor, this creates a soft blue.
- Helium: This can create pink.
The term ‘neon sign’ is generally used to describe the iconic illuminated tube style, but it frequently uses other gasses. The choice of gas determines the color emitted, and argon is a common alternative for blue and green tones. Phosphor coatings are also frequently added to further expand the color palette available to designers, or you could choose a modern LED sign instead.
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What Are the Key Materials Used in Neon Signs?
There are various essential materials that contribute to the iconic appearance and glow of neon signs. The glass tubing and electrodes are absolutely fundamental to the physical makeup of the neon signs, as well as how they work. But the gasses, other electrical components, and optional things like phosphorescent powder must also be considered.
The materials used in neon signs are harnessed to maximize durability, but maintenance and careful handling are important. These are products created with techniques and technology from the early 20th century, which is why many people choose modern LED signs if they want a high-tech and reliable piece of equipment.
Glass Tubing
Glass tubes form the foundation of neon signs. The glass is heated carefully by skilled craftspeople who then bend the tubing to create lettering, images, and other custom designs. These tubes are available in different thicknesses and lengths to fit various applications. They are fragile, but neon signs are often built to maximize durability where possible.
The glass must be purified to ensure maximum performance of the gas inside. It is a complex and skilled process, and the neon sign maker must also know how to wire neon signs. This is why these products are often expensive. LED neon signs are far easier to customize and they are more durable by nature, as well as being more energy efficient and affordable.
Electrodes
Electrodes are installed at each end of the glass tubing to send the electrical current into the gas, initiating the glow by exciting the atoms in the gas within. This is the basic mechanism by which neon signs emit their characteristic glow, and the electrodes are key to this.
It is important to use high-quality electrodes for this purpose. They must emit a consistent current to maintain a steady glow in the neon sign, and they must be suitable for conducting a high voltage without being damaged.
The current that flows into the electrodes is regulated by the transformer, which ensures a sufficiently high voltage to get the desired effect from the neon sign.
Phosphorescent Powder
Many neon signs add phosphorescent powder to the inside of the tube. The reason is that this reacts with the light emitted by the electrified gasses to create different colors without sacrificing any of the vibrancy of the neon sign.
This is an enigmatic technique to increase the color spectrum of traditional neon signs which, ultimately, is a little limited. Even with this approach, the available colors are still fairly narrow, but it does offer a degree of extra choice for users.
If you want maximum flexibility in terms of colors choice for a neon sign, explore our custom LED options and see the colors we have to offer. In our design wizard, you will see that we have 18 color choices, and you can even combine multiple colors.
What Chemicals Are Used Inside Neon Signs?
The gasses inside these signs have been a bone of contention in scientific circles as there have been challenges to move the positioning of helium and neon on the periodic table. This is because of debates around their stability and reactiveness, but this doesn’t really affect the signs themselves.
The distinctive colors of neon signs are a result of electrifying the gas inside the tubes, sometimes in combination with a coating on the glass.
- Neon gas: This produces the iconic red glow.
- Argon: Combined with mercury vapor, this emits a blue light.
- Helium: This gives off a soft pink tone.
Phosphorescent coatings can enhance the color further, deepening the options for customization. The gas selection influences the color intensity and longevity, and the glass must be purified before the gas is inserted.
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Make Your Custom Neon SignsWhat Are the Differences Between Traditional and Modern Neon Signs?
Traditional neon signs and modern LED-based ones vary in lots of ways, including what they are made of. As you look at LED neon vs glass neon lights, you will see that traditional neon relies on hand-blown glass tubes, electrified gasses, and phosphorescent coatings. Meanwhile, LED neon signs use flexible acrylic tubing and LED lights for greater durability and energy-efficiency.
Traditional neon provides that warm, vintage look, but LED neon is far more versatile, affordable, and easy to maintain. Thus, it is a popular choice for contemporary buyers.
Are All Neon Signs Made with Glass or Plastic?
Not all neon signs are made from glass. As mentioned, modern LED neon signs are made using plastic and acrylic materials instead. Traditional neon signs use glass to contain the neon gas and deliver the clarity needed for illumination.
LED neon signs have flexible tubing that can easily be bent and shaped to make intricate designs. It is a shatter-proof material that is undeniably safer and more durable than glass. Acrylic signs are also lighter and more cost-effective, so they are accessible to a broader range of applications.
If you want to avoid these glowing signs altogether, you could create a custom fabric banner and shine a light on it for illumination.
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What Are LED Neon Signs Made Of?
LED neon signs are generally made of a flexible acrylic tubing that is filled with LED strips. This replaces the traditional glass and gas, and disperses the LED light in such a way as to mimic the aesthetic of traditional neon signs.
With this construction, it is straightforward to customize color and brightness whilst ensuring superior energy efficiency and a lower heat output. Glass neon lights require highly specialized skills to shape, but LED neon signs can often be shaped by machines for a faster and more durable product.
The simpler construction of LED signs is one of the reasons they are so popular, and the materials are often recyclable to further enhance their environmental credentials.
What Are the Benefits of Acrylic LED Neon Signs?
Neon signs that are made of acrylic and LED technology provide several advantages over traditional neon. Here are the main ones to be aware of:
- They are energy efficient with cutting-edge LED technology.
- The acrylic flexi tubes are safer than breakable glass.
- You have a wider range of customization options including shapes and colors.
- Their acrylic construction makes them lightweight, shatterproof, and easy to install.
For businesses, LED neon is a cost-effective option with diverse color choices. Our custom acrylic LED signs are ideal for long-term use and can easily be tailored to your brand for a powerful addition to any business premises.
How Are Different Colors in Neon Signs Achieved?
Neon signs can achieve several colors through the choice of gas and the addition of phosphorescent coatings. Neon gas alone produces a bright red hue, while argon combined with mercury offers shades of blue.
You can use other gasses and add phosphor coatings to produce shades of:
- Green
- Pink
- Purple
It is the phosphor coatings that add the most variation to the colors that can be achieved, with no sacrifice in vibrancy. You will need to study about chemical reactions to fully understand how neon lights work, but remember that traditional neon lights are quite limited in the available colors.
Consider LED neon signs if you want a wider spectrum of color choices.
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Make Your Custom Neon SignsHow Are Neon Signs Manufactured?
Different types of illuminated signs use different production techniques. For instance, laser cutout backlit light boxes use precision laser tools and simple LED technology to create a custom aesthetic. Neon signs require hand crafting and a high level of skill.
- Glass tubes are heated then bent into shape by a glassblower.
- Electrodes are attached to each end of the tube.
- The glass is ‘bombarded’ to remove impurities so it is vacuum-tight.
- Once filled with gas, the tube is sealed.
- A high-voltage current is applied to energize the gas, creating the iconic glow.
It takes precision and skill to accomplish this craft for the best possible results. This is why traditional neon signs tend to be expensive.
How Are Real Neon Signs Made?
Real neon signs are crafted by hand. The artisan craftspeople who create them use precision techniques to heat and bend the glass tubing into the desired shape. These tubes must then be carefully filled with neon or another desired gas, depending on the color you need, and sealed with electrodes.
Precision is everything in this process, as imperfections in the crafting will have a negative impact on the final glow. It is a highly skilled job, so these products tend to have a high price tag. With these traditional production techniques, you get a long-lasting, iconic product recognized for its unique and vibrant light.
Are LED Neon Signs Manufactured Differently?
The production process for LED neon signs is considerably different to traditional ones. The manufacturing is a simpler, more automated process because of the materials involved. This enables a faster turnaround for production and a more durable end product.
LED lights are embedded in flexible, durable acrylic tubing rather than having to specially craft gas-filled tubes. This tubing can be easily manipulated into different shapes, and you can choose from a complete spectrum of LED colors.
The production process allows for intricate, safe, and affordable designs. This makes products like our custom LED signs an accessible and durable alternative that offers a similar aesthetic to traditional neon with less work and a considerably lower cost.
What is Neon Gas?
According to the Jefferson Laboratory, neon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe. However, it is only found in small amounts in the Earth’s atmosphere. It is a noble gas, and it is essential to the production of traditional neon signs.
It emits a distinct red-orange glow when electrified due to its unique atomic structure. As electrons jump between energy levels, they emit light. The discovery of neon gas, and its potential to glow in this way, helped revolutionize advertising and signage in the first half of the 20th century.
That vibrant, brilliant glow became synonymous with urban environments at night, and is still a popular aesthetic to this day, though it has been largely replaced by LED alternatives that are cheaper and easier to produce.
Frequently Asked Questions About What Are Neon Signs Made Of
Are Neon Signs Made with Neon Gas or Other gasses?
Traditional signs do use neon, but some also use other noble gasses like argon, helium, and krypton to give off different colors of light.
What Materials Are Used in LED Neon Signs?
LED neon signs use acrylic or flexible tubing with LED strips embedded for illumination. They are more durable and energy efficient, but their aesthetic resembles that of traditional neon signs.
