Haze and Transmittance Measurement: A One-Stop Solution for Optical Property Evaluation of Transparent and Translucent Materials Using LISUN HM-700

Abstract
Transparent and translucent materials such as plastic sheets, films, glass, LCD panels, and touch screens play a critical role in industries ranging from electronics to packaging. Their optical properties, including color, haze, spectral transmittance, and total transmittance, directly determine product quality and performance. Traditional measurement methods often require multiple instruments, leading to inefficiencies and inconsistencies. This paper introduces a comprehensive one-stop solution for haze and transmittance measurement using the LISUN HM-700 Haze Meter and Spectrophotometer (Transmittance). It details the instrument’s capabilities in integrating color, haze, spectral transmittance, and total transmittance measurements, highlights its compliance with international standards, and demonstrates its applications across various materials. The HM-700’s technical specifications, operational advantages, and real-world utility are analyzed to illustrate its role in streamlining optical property evaluation.

1. Introduction
In modern manufacturing, the optical performance of transparent and translucent materials is a key quality indicator. For example, plastic films used in food packaging require precise haze control to ensure clarity; glass for automotive windshields demands high total transmittance for safety; LCD panels and touch screens rely on consistent color parameters to guarantee display accuracy. Haze and transmittance measurement, along with color analysis, are therefore essential steps in quality control.

Haze refers to the percentage of transmitted light that is scattered by more than 2.5° from the incident beam, affecting a material’s clarity. Transmittance, including total transmittance and spectral transmittance, measures the proportion of light passing through a material, critical for applications like optical lenses and display technologies. Color parameters (e.g., Lab, yellowness index) further define visual appearance, especially for consumer-facing products.

Traditional approaches often separate these measurements: using a haze meter for haze and total transmittance, a spectrophotometer for spectral transmittance and color, and additional tools for specific indices (e.g., yellowness). This fragmentation increases operational complexity, raises costs, and introduces errors from inconsistent sample handling. A unified solution for haze and transmittance measurement, combined with color analysis, is thus necessary to enhance efficiency and data reliability. The LISUN HM-700 addresses this need by integrating all key measurements into a single instrument.

2. The LISUN HM-700: A Comprehensive Measurement Platform

The LISUN HM-700 Haze Meter and Spectrophotometer is specifically designed for transparent and translucent materials, offering a one-stop solution for color, haze, spectral transmittance, and total transmittance measurement. Its design prioritizes versatility, accuracy, and compliance with global standards, making it suitable for diverse industrial applications.

2.1 Core Functions and Measured Parameters

The HM-700 excels in measuring a wide range of optical parameters, eliminating the need for multiple devices. Its core capabilities include:
• Haze and Transmittance Measurement: It accurately measures haze (HAZE) and total transmittance (T) across a range of 0-100%, with a resolution of 0.01 unit. Spectral transmittance is measured over a wavelength range of 400-700nm (10nm interval), aligning with the visible light spectrum critical for human perception.
• Comprehensive Color Parameters: The instrument quantifies dozens of color indices, including:
• Color spaces: CIE Lab, LCh, Luv, XYZ, Yxy, Hunter Lab, CMYK;
• Whiteness indices: WI (CIE, Ganz, Hunter, Taube, Berger, AATCC, ASTM E313-73);
• Yellowness indices: YI (ASTM D1925, ASTM E313-00/73);
• Other indices: Gardner, Pt-Co/APHA/Hazen colors, tint (CIE, E313, Ganz), and color differences (ΔEab, ΔE00, etc.).

This breadth ensures that users can evaluate both functional (e.g., transmittance) and aesthetic (e.g., color consistency) properties in one measurement cycle.

2.2 Compliance with International Standards

Reliable haze and transmittance measurement requires adherence to globally recognized standards to ensure data comparability across industries and regions. The HM-700 complies with a comprehensive set of standards, including:
• ASTM: D1003 (haze and luminous transmittance), D1044 (abrasion resistance), E1164 (spectrometric data for color), E313 (whiteness/yellowness indices), D1925 (plastic yellowness);
• ISO: 13468 (total luminous transmittance), 14782 (haze), 7724-1 (colorimetry);
• JIS: K7105, K7361, K7163 (plastic optical properties), Z8722 (color measurement conditions);
• Others: GB/T 2410-08 (Chinese standard for haze), CIE No.15 (colorimetry), DIN 5033-7 (object color measurement).

This compliance ensures that measurements from the HM-700 are accepted globally, facilitating international trade and quality benchmarking.

2.3 Technical Advantages Enhancing Measurement Accuracy

The HM-700 incorporates several design features to optimize haze and transmittance measurement accuracy and user experience:
• Multi-Source Illumination: It offers flexible light source selection, including A (incandescent), C (average daylight), and D65 (daylight) for haze and transmittance, plus 24 light sources for color measurement (e.g., F1-F12, D50, D55). This accommodates different application requirements—for example, D65 simulates natural daylight, critical for evaluating display materials.
• Compensation Measurement: The instrument supports transmittance compensation measurement, minimizing errors from environmental factors (e.g., ambient light) or sample thickness variations, ensuring precise results even for non-uniform materials.
• User-Friendly Interface: Equipped with a 7-inch Android touch screen, the HM-700 simplifies parameter setup, measurement initiation, and data review. Its software allows customizing displayed parameters (e.g., adding Lab, removing dE*ab) and generating reports via PC-connected Haze QC software, streamlining data analysis and documentation.
• Flexible Sample Handling: The open measurement area accommodates samples of varying sizes, with horizontal or vertical measurement options. This versatility suits materials from thin films to thick glass sheets, eliminating the need for custom fixtures in most cases (optional fixtures are available for specialized samples).

3. Technical Specifications of LISUN HM-700

Parameter	Specification
Model	HM-700
Measuring Range (Haze/Transmittance)	0-100%
Wavelength Range	400-700nm
Wavelength Interval	10nm
Spectral Response	CIE Y/V(λ) spectrum function
Geometry	0/d (illumination at 0°, detection at diffuse angle)
Illumination Area/Aperture	16.5mm/21mm
Resolution	0.01 unit
Repeatability	Haze <10%: ≤0.05; Haze ≥10%: ≤0.1%; Transmittance: ≤0.1%
Light Sources	A, C, D65 (haze/transmittance); 24 sources (color measurement, e.g., D50, F2)
Compliance	ASTM D1003/D1044, ISO13468/14782, JIS K7105, GB/T 2410-08, etc.
Data Storage	20,000 values
Interface	USB-A, USB-B
Operating Temperature	0~45℃ (relative humidity ≤80% at 35℃, no condensation)
Dimensions	598mm × 247mm × 366mm (length × width × height)
Standard Accessories	PC management software (Color QC)
Optional Accessories	Measuring fixtures, haze/transmittance standards, 5mm/7mm/10mm apertures, 40×10mm glass cell

Table 1: Key Specifications of LISUN HM-700 for Haze and Transmittance Measurement

4. Applications in Industrial Quality Control

The HM-700’s versatility makes it indispensable across industries relying on transparent and translucent materials. Below are its primary applications:

4.1 Plastic Sheets and Films

Plastic materials (e.g., PET, PP) require strict haze control—low haze for clear packaging (e.g., beverage bottles) and controlled haze for matte films. The HM-700 measures haze, total transmittance, and yellowness index (YI) to ensure consistency. For example, ASTM D1925-compliant YI measurements prevent excessive yellowing in food-grade plastics, while haze measurements ensure packaging clarity meets brand standards.

4.2 Glass and Optical Components

Automotive and architectural glass demand high total transmittance (e.g., ≥70% for windshields) and low haze. The HM-700’s spectral transmittance analysis identifies wavelength-specific absorption, critical for UV-blocking glass (e.g., measuring UV transmittance at 400nm). Its compliance with ISO 13468 ensures data aligns with global automotive safety regulations.

4.3 LCD Panels and Touch Screens

Display technologies require precise color consistency and transmittance. The HM-700’s Lab and ΔE*00 measurements ensure uniform color across LCD panels, while spectral transmittance analysis optimizes backlight efficiency. For touch screens, haze measurements prevent glare, enhancing user experience. The instrument’s D65 light source simulates viewing under daylight, ensuring display accuracy in real-world conditions.

5. Discussion: Advantages Over Traditional Methods
Compared to fragmented measurement systems, the HM-700 offers three key benefits:
• Efficiency: Integrating haze and transmittance measurement with color analysis reduces measurement time by 50-70% (eliminating sample transfers between instruments). For high-volume production lines, this translates to faster quality checks and increased throughput.
• Accuracy: Compensation measurement and compliance with international standards minimize errors. Repeatability ≤0.1% for transmittance and ≤0.05% for low haze ensures consistent results, critical for applications like medical device packaging (where haze affects sterility visibility).
• Cost-Effectiveness: A single HM-700 replaces multiple instruments (haze meter, spectrophotometer, colorimeter), reducing capital expenditure and maintenance costs. The included Haze QC software further lowers operational costs by automating report generation.

6. Conclusion
Haze and transmittance measurement, combined with color analysis, are foundational to ensuring the quality of transparent and translucent materials. The LISUN HM-700 Haze Meter and Spectrophotometer provides a comprehensive one-stop solution, integrating these measurements into a single, user-friendly platform. Its compliance with global standards, versatile parameter coverage, and adaptability to diverse materials (plastics, glass, LCD panels, etc.) make it an invaluable tool for industrial quality control.

By streamlining workflows, enhancing accuracy, and reducing costs, the HM-700 addresses the limitations of traditional methods, supporting innovation in manufacturing and ensuring product consistency. As demand for high-performance transparent materials grows, integrated solutions like the HM-700 will play an increasingly critical role in driving efficiency and quality across industries.

Tags：HM-700