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UV Reflective Finish Needed on Aluminum

August 19, 2008

Hi,

My name is Jon Marson and my company manufactures UV light sources. We are always trying to find a better way to get the UV light to the work surface. We have some custom manufactured components that would be a lot better if they were reflective. I'm wondering if there is a way to add a finish to a piece of Aluminum or a piece of PVC that is highly reflective in the UVA band of radiation.

Our machinist polishes the Aluminum parts but we're wondering if there is an existing technology out there that will get the reflectance into the high 90% area.

Jon Marson
Product Designer - Hillsboro, OR, USA

Hi, Jon. I don't know about the UVA band specifically, but electropolished (and subsequently anodized) aluminum, especially of the purer grades, offers very good reflectivity. ASM Metals Handbook, Vol. 5 has a good chapter on this.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
August 20, 2008

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