With the development of technology and The Times, modern mirrors were born based on glass manufacturing technology and advanced coating processes. Mirrors can now reflect objects clearly, mainly relying on smooth surfaces and highly reflective metal coatings. The following is a detailed description of the mirror manufacturing process. From the selection of raw materials to the inspection of finished products, every step is crucial.
Selection of raw materials
The main materials used to make mirrors include glass, reflective metal (usually silver or aluminum), and a protective coating. The quality of the glass directly affects the optical properties of the mirror. Therefore, it is essential to choose a colorless, transparent, bubble-free and flawless float glass.
Glass cleaning and preparation
Before transforming the glass into a mirror, it needs to be thoroughly cleaned. Dust, oil, fingerprints and other impurities on the surface of the glass can affect the reflection effect. Therefore, professional equipment is needed for cleaning. For example, professional cleaning agents and ultrasonic cleaning technology to ensure that the glass surface is completely clean.
Glassmaking
The whole process starts with making the base, which is the glass plate. The glass must be clean in order to avoid image distortion. Ingredients such as quartz sand, soda or limestone are used to make glass. All ingredients are thoroughly mixed in the furnace, where the temperature is up to 1150 degrees. This melts the sand and other ingredients into a liquid state. The molten material slowly passes through the liquid tin tank to obtain the desired shape and thickness.
Silver plating process
Silver coated film is the most commonly used reflecting material in modern mirror manufacturing. Silver's high reflectivity allows mirrors to reflect light clearly and brightly. The silver plating process is usually achieved by chemical deposition. The detailed steps are as follows.
Preparation of silver ammonia solution: To prepare silver ammonia solution, dissolve silver nitrate in water. Ammonia water was added to adjust the chemical balance of the solution.
Chemical deposition: The cleaned glass is placed in the coating equipment and sprayed with silver ammonia solution. Through a chemical reaction, silver ions are reduced on the glass surface and deposited into a uniform silver film.
Rinsing and drying: Immediately after silver plating, rinse the glass surface with deionized water. Excess chemicals are removed, followed by a quick drying. Rapid drying is also in order to leave no water stains, while ensuring the clean mirror.
Protective coating
Although silver film has excellent reflection performance, it is easily affected by oxidation and corrosion. To protect the silver layer, it is usually coated with a protective coating. Common coating materials include copper and various synthetic resins. This stage prevents oxidation of the metal and protects it from mechanical damage.
Cutting and edging
The glass protected by coating and coating is cut into mirrors of different sizes. The cutting is usually done using a glass cutter. Cut according to customer's specifications or standard dimensions. The edge of the cut mirror will usually be very sharp, so further treatment is required:
Edging treatment: Use a grinding wheel or edging machine to polish the edge of the mirror. To remove sharp edges and reduce safety hazards. Edging can also make the edge of the mirror more smooth and beautiful.
Chamfering and polishing: In order to improve the beauty and safety of the mirror, some mirrors will be chamfered. The edge of the mirror is cut at a certain Angle and polished. This process makes the glass very smooth, making it more decorative.
Back paint
In order to protect the reflection layer of the mirror and increase the service life of the mirror. The back of the mirror is usually coated with protective paint. The paint is usually black or some other dark color. This enhances the reflection of the mirror. And there is a degree of protection against scratches or corrosion on the back.
Inspection and quality control
In the production process of mirrors, strict quality control and inspection are essential. At the end of production, the manufacturer usually carries out a sample inspection of each batch of mirrors.
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