Mirrors are one of our daily necessities, helping us check our appearance, makeup, or home decoration. They look no different if you are not in the profession of the mirror industry, however, the reflective layers and other protective layers, which define mirror quality, behind the mirror can be pretty different. If you are planning to decorate a new house or upgrade your bathroom, we recommend copper-free mirrors. Why? Let’s dive into the article to explain more.
What Is a Copper Free Mirror?
In order to understand copper free mirrors easily, let us explain the structure of mirrors first.
Mirrors are made of float glass and a reflective layer, which is realized by a chemical deposition process. Both traditional silver mirrors and copper-free mirrors adopt silver reflective layers.
Traditional workmanship then applies another copper layer behind the silver layer and another 2 paint layers for chemical and physical protection. One paint layer to prevent mirror corrosion contains hazardous element lead.
However,
With the development of mirror manufacturing technology, the copper layer is replaced with a metal palladium layer, and the chemical protection layer also upgrades to more environment-friendly materials, which contain less lead and no copper This kind of silver mirror is copper free mirror.
So, a copper-free mirror is a new type of silver mirror that adopts the latest technology. It replaces the copper layer with a metal palladium layer to improve the reflection rate and uses lead-free corrosion protection paint for environmental considerations.
Comparison
Copper Free Mirror vs Normal Silver Mirror
Copper free silver mirrors’ reflection rate can be up to 93% – 95%, while traditional silver mirrors are around 90%.
The copper layer is prone to corrosion, which generates black spots from the mirror’s edge and spreads to other areas, because of moisture or harsh cleansing spray, so traditional silver mirrors have a life expectancy of only 12 to 24 months.
Copper Free Mirror vs Aluminum Mirror
Aluminum mirrors’ reflective layer is aluminum but not silver, which copper free mirrors use.
Aluminum is a more active element than silver, so aluminum mirrors have an even shorter lifespan than traditional silver mirrors, not mention copper free mirrors.
Advantages of Copper Free Mirror
Copper free mirrors, which are manufactured by the latest technology, are popular in commercial and residential venues, because the following reasons
- Corrosion resistance: By replacing the corrosion-susceptible copper layer with metal palladium, copper-free mirrors can have a threefold longer lifespan than traditional silver mirrors.
- Environmentally friendly: Old workmanship for silver mirrors generates copper sulphate and lead, which are harmful to the environment and people’s health; new technology on copper-free mirrors has solved this problem perfectly.
Applications
Copper-free can be used in every type of mirror, whether for commercial or residential projects.
Typical applications are bathrooms, living rooms, closets, hotels, restaurants, lobbies, guestrooms, health care workstations, dressing rooms, makeup counters, team rooms, changing rooms, patient rooms, offices, etc.
How to Maintain a Copper Free Mirror
You should keep the mirror dry; this is the most efficient way to prevent the happening of black spots and edges in mirrors.
Use water or soft glass cleaner to clean, but do not spray the cleaner directly onto the mirror since the chemical liquid may seep into the silver layer along the mirror edges.
Why Okaymirror Company Use Copper Free Mirror
Okaymirror applies copper free mirrors to bathroom mirrors and mirrored medicine cabinets for the advantages that copper free mirrors boast: 3 times corrosion resistance than old types and friendly to our environment. Being one of the leading bathroom mirror manufacturers, Okaymirror company is responsible for using raw materials without harmful elements.
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