Reflector coatings/surfaces

[cat]

What are the various light reflector coatings/surfaces?

electroless nickel
(I read somewhere that there's a significant loss of light with it.)

polished aluminium
(Greater loss of light than electroless nickel?)

What is commonly used on our flashlights - on the aluminium reflectors?
What about "plastic chrome" (whatever the correct name is?) (That would be what the plastic reflectors are done with.)

:thinking:

 

[65535]

I believe it's a mirrorized PVD aluminum coating.

 

[cat]

Thanks. Plenty to sift through on google. Found this - silver with silica coating - sounds good):

A reflector lamp has a generally parabolic shaped housing (12) with an interior surface coated with a layer (14) of silver having a protective layer (16) of a stable protective material, such as silica, disposed thereon.

 

[Nereus]

Cat, I guess that you may find this thread interesting.

-N

 

[saabluster]

Thanks. Plenty to sift through on google. Found this - silver with silica coating - sounds good):

I just sent off three of my reflectors to be recoated in 99.999% pure AL with an overcoat of SiO2. Should give me a good boost in output.:twothumbs I took readings of two of my lights before I sent it off so I could compare it after I get it back. I'll try to remember to post the results.

 

[vetkaw63]

I just sent off three of my reflectors to be recoated in 99.999% pure AL with an overcoat of SiO2. Should give me a good boost in output.:twothumbs I took readings of two of my lights before I sent it off so I could compare it after I get it back. I'll try to remember to post the results.

Please do. I have been waiting since your first post about this. Can you give us a price estimate yet?
Thanks,
Mike

 

[saabluster]

Please do. I have been waiting since your first post about this. Can you give us a price estimate yet?
Thanks,
Mike

He gave me a really good price and I don't know if he wants me telling everyone. The reason for the good price is he has never coated flashlight reflectors before and I'm somewhat of a guinea pig on this. He normally coats telescope reflectors so I'm sure his workmanship will be good. To be honest the prices he quotes for his telescope coating is not bad at all. But I can't tell you what kind of prices he will give us on a regular basis.

 

[cat]

Cat, I guess that you may find this thread interesting.

Thank you, Nereus! :thumbsup:

 

[jason9987]

saabluster, could you give us the website or some contact info for the place you are getting reflectors coated? I have an HDS that I destroyed the reflector trying to clean it and you cant get replacements anymore.

 

[saabluster]

saabluster, could you give us the website or some contact info for the place you are getting reflectors coated? I have an HDS that I destroyed the reflector trying to clean it and you cant get replacements anymore.

Don't you want to wait and see if it will even work? This is this guys first time to coat flashlight reflectors.

 

[vetkaw63]

When do you expect to get your reflectors back?
Mike

 

[will]

Don't you want to wait and see if it will even work? This is this guys first time to coat flashlight reflectors.

I would think if he is doing telescopes reflectors, a flashlight reflector is going to be easier. You don't really have to be concerned with image quality, like on a telescope.

 

[Nubo]

I would think if he is doing telescopes reflectors, a flashlight reflector is going to be easier. You don't really have to be concerned with image quality, like on a telescope.

Exactly. Telescope mirrors are rated to an accuracy of a fraction of a wavelength of light. A flashlight reflector could be much worse and you wouldn't know the difference. I would also think that this means the coating could be made quite a bit thicker.

 

[saabluster]

You don't really have to be concerned with image quality, like on a telescope.

True. But he normally deals with coating very shallow curved glass. I gave him deeply curved plastic and metal. It may be easier I don't know. He didn't tell me.
As far as when I get it back. I don't know. I e-mailed him yesterday and I'm still waiting on a response.

 

[cat]

hey, it is different, ok? Different material, different shape, different size. So maybe different temperature, different position in tank, different voltage, etc. It is not like electro-plating.

 

[will]

I believe the process used is vacuum deposition, which is not like electro plating or chemical plating.

 

[saabluster]

Well I just talked with him and he is having issues with the plastic off gassing and messing up the finish. He is going to try again tonight.

 

[buschpounder]

Have the reflectors been finished? Curious of the results. Thanks

 

[saabluster]

Have the reflectors been finished? Curious of the results. Thanks

I should be getting them back this week.

 

[vetkaw63]

So, the reflectors turned out ok? You just need to see if the improvement was worth the time and money spent?
Mike