The appearance of a person has always influenced relations between people, and with the development of society, this has become increasingly important. At first, to better care for themselves, they used reflection in water, but with the development of civilization, they came up with a mirror.
The first mirrors were created with carefully polished metal, but after the industrial revolution they began to be made from glass coated with a reflective layer. Now in every house you can find at least one modern mirror, but many at the same time are not aware of the history of its creation, structure and production. Very often, when examining their reflection and assessing their appearance, people think, so how do they make a mirror?
Interesting fact: The first mirrors were made in the bronze era from polished tin, platinum and bronze. This is evidenced by the finds of primitive mirrors in the tombs and ruins of ancient cities. They were used by local nobles, kings and wealthy merchants to restore beauty and a neat appearance.
What is a mirror made of?
A modern mirror consists of two parts - smooth glass and a reflective layer. Sometimes, glass is delivered ready-made, but in most cases it is produced in a mirror factory. In the case of production, all components are brought to the factory separately. Raw materials are cleaned of chemical impurities, small and large foreign particles and sent to the melting stage.
Glass components for mirrors:
- Dolomite;
- Soda;
- Quartz sand;
- Feldspar;
- Coal;
- Broken glass;
To obtain the reflective surface of most household mirrors, silver is used. This metal in contact with oxygen has the property of oxidizing and darkening. But thanks to the features of the technology, it retains its original properties, resulting in a good reflective surface.
Mirror Production
A mirror is needed for the mirror, which consists of a flat sheet of glass. All the components necessary for its production are ground and thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous powder is obtained - a glass charge. On a conveyor belt it is moved to the furnace, where it melts, turning into a homogeneous liquid glass mass. It is baked at temperatures above 1500 ° C in order to be able to obtain a smooth surface. A web 3-4 meters wide with a thickness of about 4 mm comes out of the furnace and is sent to the cutting step. Chilled glass is cut and checked for defects. Suitable sheets are sent to the stage of metal deposition, and defective for recycling.
To obtain a reflective surface on a glass base, it is necessary to apply a chemical solution using special technology. The glass is polished with brushes and get a perfect smooth surface. It is washed from dust, dried and the chemical composition is applied using a spray gun. Within 20 seconds, the aldehydes are oxidized with an ammonia solution of silver oxide. As soon as the chemical reaction is complete and the solution dries, a mirror surface forms on the reverse side.
The OTC controller uses directional light to check each mirror for defects. To protect against accidental damage, a dark green paint is applied to the reflective layer. The dried cloth is finally checked for defects and minor damage, after which it is packaged and sent to the customer.
Interesting fact: The first timely mirror was designed and mass-produced in 1279. It was invented by the Italian Franciscan monk John Pecam, who conducted experiments with glass and metals. He covered a piece of transparent glass with a thin layer of liquid tin, resulting in a prototype of a modern mirror.
At all times, the mirror for man has been an assistant in establishing social relations. Previously, it was made of brushed metal, covered with tin or silver, and always sought to get the perfect reflection. The technology gradually developed, as a result of which, today you can buy a mirror with a 99% reflective surface, which was previously an impossible dream. But few people realize the secrets of their mirror, once again seeing in it their ideal reflection.
