When reconstructing historical mirrors, the challenge is to restore their original visual appearance while using modern, economical technologies, commercially available glass and non-toxic materials. Using a vacuum thin-film technology, magnetron sputtering, the Fraunhofer FEP is able to produce mercury-free tin mirrors that can be adapted in terms of reflection and color tone to the respective existing building. Mirrors produced using this process are already used in the Jewel Room of the historic Green Vault, in the Sibyl Cabinet in Altenburg Castle and as furniture mirrors in Moritzburg Castle.
Mirrors are produced in a vacuum continuous flow system, into which machine-cleaned glass is fed via a clean room and coated in successive process chambers. The coating system consists of a reflective layer of tin, which is stabilized on the back by bronze as an anti-corrosion layer and titanium as a hard metal layer that acts as a coating. Using a suitable mask technology, ornamental partial mirror coatings can also be applied to a glass pane. After removal from the vacuum, all mirrors are coated with a protective lacquer suitable for use. Non-mirrored glass surfaces remain unpainted and can be artistically processed.
