A mirror composed of a vitreous substrate having a silver coating formed on a surface thereof produced by a process including the steps of sensitizing the vitreous substrate; activating the vitreous substrate by contacting the vitreous substrate with a solution comprised of at least one ion selected from the group consisting of bismuth (III), chromium (II), gold (III), indium (III), nickel (II), palladium (II), platinum (II), rhodium (III), titanium (III), vanadium (III) and zinc (II); contacting the vitreous substrate with a silvering solution so as to form the silver coating; and applying at least one layer of paint over the silvered substrate. Preferably, the silver coating is not covered with a protective layer of copper.
This application is a Division of Ser. No. 08/907970 filed Aug. 11, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,482 which is a Continuation of Ser. No. 08/435,721 filed May 5, 1995 now ABN.
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 high reflectance mirror having a high reflectance in a visible-light region, being excellent in durability such as a moisture resistance, a saltwater resistance, etc. and having small dependence on incident angle (i.e., the fluctuation of the reflectance depending on an incident angle of light is little) is provided.The high reflectance mirror comprises a substrate and a silver film, a low refractive index film and a high refractive index film laminated on the substrate in this order wherein an adhesion improving film is formed on the silver film surface on the opposite side of the substrate, the extinction coefficient of the low refractive index film is at most 0.01, the extinction coefficient of the high refractive index film is at most 0.01, the adhesion improving film is an oxide film and the extinction coefficient of the adhesion improving film is at most 0.1.
An environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is provided which incorporates a reflective element with variable reflectance. In one embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of cadmium (Cd). In another embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of lead (Pb). In yet another embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of mercury (Hg). In a further embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC). In yet a further embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of halogen producing chemicals such as bromine (Br).
Environmentally improved rearview mirror assemblies are provided which incorporate a reflective element with variable reflectance. In one embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of cadmium (Cd). In another embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of lead (Pb). In yet another embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of mercury (Hg). In a further embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC). In yet a further embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of halogen producing chemicals such as bromine (Br).
An environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is provided which incorporates a reflective element with variable reflectance. In one embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of cadmium (Cd). In another embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of lead (Pb). In yet another embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of mercury (Hg). In a further embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC). In yet a further embodiment, the environmentally improved rearview mirror assembly is substantially free of halogen producing chemicals such as bromine (Br).
