Mirrors having a glass substrate, a silver coating layer on a surface of the glass substrate and an exposed epoxy paint layer overlaying the silver coating layer. The mirrors show a scratch resistance determined by the Clemen test showing scratches of less than 10 .mu.m when applying a weight of 1500 g; a hardness determined by the Persoz pendulum of at least 250 s; and a commercially acceptable resistance to at least three glues amongst oxime, alcoxy, MS polymer and rubber.

A method is provided for making mirrors having enhanced reflective layer resistance to corrosion. The reflective layer of the mirror, typically silver, is contacted, preferably simultaneously, with a first solution containing a specific cation and a second solution containing a specific anion, or alkaline material which forms hydroxyl ions, the specific cation and specific anion or hydroxyl ion reacting to form a water insoluble precipitate on the silver surface. The mirror may then be painted to provide additional corrosion resistance to the mirror. The method eliminates the need for a copper layer on the silver surface and the method may be incorporated into existing mirror production lines as a replacement for the copper layering step. Also provided are an apparatus for making the mirrors and the mirrors made using the method and apparatus of the invention. A preferred cation containing solution contains tin (e.g., SnCl.sub.2) and a preferred anion containing solution contains hydroxyl ions (e.g., NaOH).

An apparatus is provided for making mirrors having enhanced reflective layer resistance to corrosion. The reflective layer of the mirror, typically silver, is contacted, preferably simultaneously, with a first solution containing a specific cation and a second solution containing a specific anion, or alkaline material which forms hydroxyl ions, the specific cation and specific anion or hydroxyl ion reacting to form a water insoluble precipitate on the silver surface. The mirror may then be painted to provide additional corrosion resistance to the mirror. The apparatus device for forming the precipitate eliminates the need for a device to form a copper layer on the silver surface and the device may be incorporated into existing mirror production lines as a replacement for the copper layering device. Also provided are mirrors made using the apparatus of the invention. A preferred cation containing solution contains tin (e.g., SnCl.sub.2) and a preferred anion containing solution contains hydroxyl ions (e.g, NaOH).

A method is provided for making mirrors having enhanced reflective layer resistance to corrosion. The reflective layer of the mirror, typically silver, is contacted, preferably simultaneously, with a first solution containing a specific cation and a second solution containing a specific anion, or alkaline material which forms hydroxyl ions, the specific cation and specific anion or hydroxyl ion reacting to form a water insoluble precipitate on the silver surface. The mirror may then be painted to provide additional corrosion resistance to the mirror. The method eliminates the need for a copper layer on the silver surface and the method may be incorporated into existing mirror production lines as a replacement for the copper layering step. Also provided are an apparatus for making the mirrors and the mirrors made using the method and apparatus of the invention. A preferred cation containing solution contains tin (e.g., SnCl.sub.2) and a preferred anion containing solution contains hydroxyl ions (e.g., NaOH).

In a process for forming a mirror which includes sensitizing and activating a vitreous substrate, subsequently silvering the vitreous substrate to provide a silver coating thereon, and applying paint to the silver coating, the improvement including activating the vitreous substrate by contacting the vitreous substrate with a solution comprised of at least one ion selected from the group consisting essentially of bismuth (III), chromium (II), gold (III), indium (III), nickel (II), palladium (II), platinum (II), rhodium (III), ruthenium (III), titanium (III), vanadium (III) and zinc (II); and silvering the vitreous substrate by spraying a silvering solution onto a surface of the sensitized and activated vitreous substrate to form a silver coating on the surface, so that a mirror is formed which has no copper layer.