What balance must materials like PVC-based film in inflatable lanterns achieve?
Answer
Flexibility with light diffusion and UV resistance
The materials chosen for the inflatable solar lanterns, often using heat-sealable film like PVC-based compounds, must successfully navigate several engineering trade-offs inherent in their design. The film must be flexible enough to allow the lantern to be deflated, folded, and inflated repeatedly over hundreds of uses. Simultaneously, the material must provide adequate diffusion so that the internal light source illuminates effectively, and it must possess resistance to UV radiation to ensure the lantern maintains its operational life even when deployed outdoors in harsh conditions.
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