Why do my silicone neon lights develop yellow?

When you notice silicone neon lights develop yellow, the first step is to determine whether the discoloration is in the jacket or the LED itself. You can easily troubleshoot this by cutting the darks piece of the jacket and lighting the LED strip; if the light is clear but the jacket is stained, the issue is the material. If the yellowing appears as specific spots concentrated around the installation points where you applied acidic or alkaline glue, it is highly likely a chemical reaction by glue.

This phenomenon, silicone neon lights develop yellow, we call “Glue-Induced Discoloration.” Through our extensive production experience, we’ve found that silicone is a chemically active material that is extremely sensitive to the pH levels of adhesives:

• The Chemical Reaction: Most common construction glues are acidic or alkaline. Because silicone has high molecular permeability, these chemicals penetrate the surface and react with internal cross-linking agents or catalysts.
• Rapid Damage: This reaction can occur as quickly as within 24 hours, causing permanent, “burn-like” stains (yellow, red, or even black) exactly where the glue was smeared or applied.
• The PVC Advantage: Our OneZero PVC Neon Covers are made from chemically inert materials. Their dense and polar molecular structure provides excellent resistance to the vast majority of common construction and advertising glues. Even if a non-neutral glue is used accidentally, PVC does not react or absorb the chemicals in the same way silicone does.