Mirrors are a necessary part of our daily lives, aiding in tasks such as checking our appearance, applying makeup, and decorating our homes. While they may seem similar to the average person, the reflective and protective layers that determine the quality of a mirror can vary greatly. If you're looking to decorate a new home or update your bathroom, we suggest opting for copper-free mirrors. Wondering why? Keep reading to find out.

Copper-Free Mirrors: What Are They?

To make copper free mirrors easier to understand, let us first explain how mirrors are structured.

Mirrors consist of float glass and a reflective coating, created through a chemical deposition method. Both conventional silver mirrors and copper-free mirrors use silver as their reflective layer.

The product features a traditional workmanship technique, as well as an additional copper layer and two paint layers for chemical and physical protection. One paint layer, designed to prevent mirror corrosion, contains a hazardous element, lead.

However, 

The copper layer in traditional mirrors has been replaced with a more environmentally-friendly metal palladium layer. Additionally, the chemical protection layer is now made with materials that contain less lead and no copper. This results in a copper-free silver mirror.

Introducing a new type of silver mirror: the copper-free mirror. By utilizing the latest technology, this mirror replaces the traditional copper layer with a metal palladium layer for enhanced reflection. Plus, it's coated with lead-free paint for eco-friendly protection against corrosion.

Comparison

A comparison between a copper-free mirror and a normal silver mirror

The reflection rate of copper-free silver mirrors can reach 93% - 95%, compared to traditional silver mirrors which only have a rate of around 90%.

The copper layer is susceptible to corrosion, leading to the appearance of black spots along the mirror's edge and potentially spreading to other areas. This is typically caused by moisture or harsh cleaning products, resulting in a relatively short lifespan of 12 to 24 months for traditional silver mirrors.

Copper Free Mirror vs Aluminum Mirror

The reflective layer of aluminum mirrors is made of aluminum, rather than silver, which is used in copper-free mirrors.

Aluminum mirrors have a shorter lifespan than traditional silver mirrors, and even less than copper free mirrors, due to aluminum being a more active element.

Copper-free mirrors have several advantages

Copper free mirrors are in high demand for both commercial and residential spaces due to their advanced manufacturing technology.

• Corrosion resistance:Extend the lifespan of copper-free mirrors by three times compared to traditional silver mirrors by replacing the easily corroded copper layer with palladium metal.
• Environmentally friendly: The old method of making silver mirrors produces harmful copper sulfate and lead, but the use of copper-free technology in newer mirrors completely eliminates this issue.

Applications

Copper-free can be applied to all types of mirrors, whether for commercial or residential purposes.

Perfect for a variety of spaces including bathrooms, living rooms, closets, hotels, restaurants, and more. Create a welcoming and comfortable environment for guests in lobbies, guestrooms, and health care workstations. Enhance the atmosphere in dressing rooms, makeup counters, team rooms, and patient rooms. Also suitable for offices and other spaces.

Maintaining a Copper-Free Mirror

To prevent black spots and edges on your mirrors, keep them dry. This is the most efficient method according to experts.

To clean, use water or a soft glass cleaner, but avoid spraying the cleaner directly onto the mirror as the chemical liquid can seep into the silver layer on the mirror edges.

Copper-free mirrors are used by bathroomledmirror Company

The company, bathroomledmirror, is a top manufacturer of bathroom mirrors and mirrored medicine cabinets. They use raw materials that are free from harmful elements, and apply copper free mirrors for their numerous benefits. These mirrors have three times better corrosion resistance than older types, and are also environmentally-friendly.

Need engineering support? Contact us today!