Mirror

Abstract

A mirror with no copper layer comprises a glass substrate; a silver coating layer provided at a surface of the glass substrate; at least one material selected from the group consisting of Pd, Ni, Eu, Pt, Ru, Na, Zr, Y and Rh, provided at a surface of the silver coating layer which is adjacent to a paint layer; and at least one paint layer covering the silver coating layer.

1 . A process for manufacturing a mirror, wherein the minor has no copper layer, comprising:
 providing a glass substrate;   contacting the glass substrate with a first solution so as to form a silver coating;   contacting the silver coating formed on the glass substrate with a second solution comprising ions of at least one material selected from the group consisting of Pd, La, Eu, Zn, Pt, Ru, Na, Zr, Y, Rh and Ce; and   applying at least one paint layer over the silver coating on the substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the second solution comprises ions of palladium. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 contacting the glass substrate with a third solution comprising ions of Sn; and   contacting the glass substrate with a fourth solution comprising ions of at least one material selected from the group consisting of Bi, Cr, Au, In, Ni, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ru, Ti, V and Zn.   
     
     
         4 . A process for manufacturing a minor, wherein the mirror has no copper layer, consisting essentially of:
 providing a substrate in the form of a glass sheet, the glass sheet having a surface;   contacting the surface of the glass sheet with a solution comprising ions of tin;   contacting the surface of the glass sheet with a solution comprising ions of palladium;   contacting the surface of the glass sheet with a silvering solution so as to form a silver coating;   contacting the silver coating formed on the glass sheet with a solution comprising ions of palladium; and   applying at least one paint layer over the silver coating on the glass sheet, with optional intervening rinsing or washing steps.   
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the second solution further comprises ions of at least one material selected from the group consisting of Sn, Cr, V, Ti, Fe, In, Cu and Al. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 5 , wherein the second solution comprises ions of palladium and ions of tin. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the contacting the silver coating with at least one material consists essentially of contacting the silver coating with a liquid comprising the material in solution. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the contacting the silver coating with at least one material provides islets of the material at the surface of the silver coating adjacent to the paint layer. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein the second solution is an aqueous solution of palladium chloride which has a concentration of 5 to 130 mg/l. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein the pH of the second solution is from 3 to 5. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 contacting the silver coating formed on the glass sheet with 0.5 to 5 mg PdCl 2  per square metre.   
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 treating the silvered substrate with a solution comprising silane before applying the at least one paint layer over the silver coating on the substrate.   
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the first solution is a silvering solution and the second solution is a passivating solution. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 3 , wherein the third solution is a sensitizing solution and the fourth solution is an activating solution.