What is Mirror Polystyrene and where is it used?

Mirror Effect PVC

Mirror polyvinyl chloride (aka PVC or PVC) is another modern polymer material that is highly demanded in the field of construction production and interior decoration.

As in the case of polystyrene, the material consists of a polyvinyl chloride base, a reflective layer that acts as a work surface, and a protective film.

Important technical characteristics of mirror PVC include the following indicators:

• low hygroscopicity. The material does not absorb moisture, does not deform upon prolonged contact with water and can be used in conditions of high humidity;
• resistance to chemically active substances, including acids, alkalis, household and construction chemicals;
• the material does not support combustion;
• polyvinyl chloride has high strength;
• can be processed with any hand and electric tool without restrictions (drills, saws, milling machines, fasteners, and so on);
• the material is very elastic, bends well and takes the shape of the surface on which it is attached;
• the connection of various parts made of mirror plastic can be done both with the help of adhesives and by welding. Mirror PVC plastic on a self-adhesive base is widespread;
• the polymer material complies with modern environmental standards, does not contain heavy metals and does not have a negative effect on the body;
• high density and absence of pores determine good hygienic properties, not susceptibility to fungal attack and the development of microorganisms;
• mirror PVC plastic is very easy to use and not demanding in maintenance. Most chlorine-free chemical detergents can be used to clean the material.

Depending on the thickness, the material can be produced in the form of wall and ceiling panels, self-adhesive tiles, rolls and films. The most famous producing countries of PVC mirror plastic are Italy, Germany, Austria, China and Russia.

Application area

Polystyrene mirror tiles look pretty impressive. It is not surprising that it is loved by designers, builders and creative personalities who prefer to decorate the interior on their own. Such material is often used for interior decoration of rooms: floor and ceiling.

However, it should be borne in mind that reflective polystyrene tiles also have a minus - the reflection in the mirror surface is not always ideal, it is slightly distorted. This is because the ceiling is rarely even, often there are some bends and irregularities on it, which is what the tile conveys with its shape along with the mirror. Therefore, it is advisable to level the ceiling before installing the tiles.

Material with a reflective effect is widely used in the manufacture of advertising products, decor, interior signs and other products and items of an informational nature. Given the low thickness and good flexibility of the mirror material, it can be used to finish curved surfaces.

As an example, we can note the use of material in kindergartens, schools, as well as when decorating large areas with mirrors.

As already mentioned, delamination of the material must not be allowed, therefore the ends of the sheets must be protected from moisture. It is for this reason that experts do not recommend using mirror polystyrene for outdoor work.

The video below explains how to properly cut mirrored polystyrene.

Mirror effect pvc panels

Mirror plastic based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is today one of the most widely used polymeric materials used in interior decoration, the manufacture of plates, signage. Due to the perfectly smooth surface, a mirror film is applied to the PVC sheet, which is the working surface. A layer of protective varnish is applied on top.

The features of such plastic include the following qualities:

• impact resistance and moisture resistance. It practically does not absorb water and moisture from the air. It is able to withstand even direct contact with water, does not swell, does not deform, which makes it possible to use PVC-based mirror plastic in bathrooms and kitchens.
• PVC plastics are resistant to a large number of chemicals, to solutions of acids and alkalis, to household chemicals. They have increased fire safety.
• The material lends itself well to processing with ordinary tools. It can be drilled, sawn, bent, milled, and screwed in.
• PVC-based plastics have high elasticity, which makes it possible to make products of complex shapes from them.
• They are well glued with solvents and special compounds, welded in a heated state using handheld hair dryers or butt-welded on special machines.
• PVC plastic does not contain heavy metals, is environmentally friendly and does not have a harmful effect on the human body and the environment. The absence of pores on the surface of the panels does not allow the accumulation of pathogens.
• They are easy to clean with chlorine-free detergents.

Mirror PVC plastic is produced in the form of:

• ceiling panels made of PVC, painted silver or gold and varnished. On the reverse side, a sticky layer has already been applied under the protective film. If there is no self-adhesive layer, then a PVA-based composition is used for installation. When installing a ceiling made of PVC panels, it should be borne in mind that high-power lighting lamps cannot be used, since it is not recommended to heat the plastic too much;
• self-adhesive PVC panels. It is a roll material with a pre-applied layer of glue. Can be used on any prepared surface;
• PVC mirror film for stretch ceilings. Mirror stretch ceilings based on this film have excellent performance characteristics: high moisture resistance, fire resistance, dust repellency. Caring for mirrored plastic ceilings is reduced to a regular periodic washing with a glass cleaner or soap solution.

Currently, the most widely represented on the domestic market are mirror plastics from the following manufacturers: Plexiglas Mirror (Germany), AULEN (China), Saispecchi S.r.l. (Italy), Gebau (Russia), Metzler (Germany) and Zuroplast, Sibu (Austria), E-Plast (Russia).

Polystyrene as a base for mirror plastic

High-impact polystyrene serves as one of the most popular materials as a basis for creating sheet mirror plastic. This is a composite material - a copolymer of polystyrene with rubber. The presence of rubber reduces the likelihood of microcracking under shock loading, which significantly increases the strength of the material.

The mirror coating on the plastic is an aluminum-coated polyester mirror film that is glued to the polystyrene sheet. Polystyrene does not have a sufficient degree of transparency, therefore a mirror film is applied to one side of an opaque sheet, most often black or white. This outer side is the working side - mirror

It is covered with a special protective film, but when working with such material, you need to be careful.

Mirror panels made of polystyrene have high impact resistance, notch resistance.The material is durable, flexible, perfectly imitates a mirror surface, and is highly resistant to chemicals. It can be used up to + 70 ° С without loss of physical properties.

Mirror polystyrene is quite easy to process. However, it must be borne in mind that the place of contact between the sheet and the mirror film is the most vulnerable. In order to avoid delamination, some rules should be observed during processing:

• cutting and drilling is best done with special high-speed tools, from the side of the mirror coating. In the event that cutting is carried out with laser equipment, then this must be done from the back side;
• before starting sawing, it is better to remove the protective film from the cutting site;
• it is not recommended to use a milling tool;
• The non-reflective side of the polystyrene sheet can be glued to other cleaned surfaces using a special polystyrene adhesive (neoprene-based or water-soluble adhesives). Double-sided tape is not suitable for this material;
• the mirror side is suitable for printing with two-component ink, suitable for printing on polyester;
• molding of mirrored polystyrene sheets is not recommended.

To avoid delamination, the ends of the sheets must be protected from water ingress. Therefore, it is recommended to use it for interior decoration.

You can take care of the mirror surface with an acrylic antistatic glass cleaner. The product should be applied to the sponge, not to the coating itself.

It is used to create a wide range of advertising products, for interior decoration, theater decorations, plaques, signage.

Polystyrene mirror sheets are generally available in thicknesses from 1.0 to 3.0 mm. With greater thickness, polystyrene sheets will be stiffer, lose flexibility, and become more brittle.

Mirror plastic: approximate price per sheet

Prices for mirror acrylic plastics are indicated per sheet. The average price of acrylic glass depends on the manufacturer, size and thickness of the sheet:

• 2050x3050x2mm 12000-14000 rubles.
• 2050x3050x3mm 14000-16000 rubles.
• 1220х2440х2 mm 5000 rubles.
• 1220х2440х3mm 6000 rubles.

Mirror polystyrene price range:

• 1000x2000x1 1500-1700 rubles.
• 1000x2000x2 2500-2800 rubles.
• 1220х2440х1.5 about 2500 rubles.
• 1220x2440x2 about 3000 rubles.
• 1220x3000x2 about 6000 rubles.
• 1220x3000x3 about 8000 rubles.

The correct choice of sheet mirror plastic, depending on its technical characteristics, will help to embody any idea in the trends of modern design.

Acrylic mirror

Mirror acrylic, reflective plexiglass, is made by analogy with its prototype - glass, when an amalgam layer is applied to the surface of transparent plastic. However, the resulting material has a number of mechanical and technological advantages and properties in comparison with a classic mirror: the weight is 2-3 times less than that of ordinary glass, and the impact resistance of the acrylic surface is almost 10 times higher

Convenience of mechanical processing of plexiglass, when the material is easily cut with a laser and milled, is an important technological property.

In the photo, the product is made of mirrored acrylic glass

It is difficult to break the acrylic sheet, and the shards have no sharp edges and will not cause harm, so it can be installed in preschool and secondary schools.

However, an acrylic mirror, like any other material, has disadvantages, for example: sensitivity to surface damage and the possible appearance of microcracks. The manufacturer monitors this and usually covers the surface of the canvas with a protective layer. Plexiglas can burn (the ignition temperature is 260 ° C), but it is not dangerous when burning, because does not emit toxic substances.

The main areas of application of this material in advertising: design of expositions, exhibitions, shop windows and points of sale.This material is often used for the manufacture of volumetric mirror letters and logos. Acrylic can be used to make decorations of the most intricate shapes. They can be mounted on thin partitions without worrying about whether the structure can support the weight of a large mirror. Aluminstroy sells Plexiglas XT Mirror acrylic

Pros:

• the most transparent in comparison with other materials,
• not afraid of moisture,
• easy to handle,
• a light weight,
• ease of installation

Minuses:

• vulnerability to superficial damage,
• high price

Mirror Coated Aluminum Composite Panel

Aluminum composite panels are used where there are no special requirements for the quality of the reflective surface, but it is required to cover a large area, or flexibility, strength, and rigidity of the structure are required.

Advertising Application of Mirror Surface Aluminum Composite Panel

Mirror panels - for interior design: for wall cladding or ceilings. Composite panels are the main material for outdoor advertising, decoration of exhibition stands, racks, entrance groups. The panels can be used to create whole advertising structures in combination with other mirror plastics, they bend at right angles and keep their shape well. The composite is resistant to high and low temperatures and is often used for outdoor campaign and promotion products.

Aluminum composite panels with a mirror surface can imitate gilding, silver and gloss, or have a matte or "scratched" surface. Such surfaces do not give a deep mirror reflection, but outwardly increase the space, and in addition to an interesting expressive effect, they also give insensitivity to fingerprints and scratches. Mirror composite panels are presented in the catalog of advertising materials Aluminstroy.

Pros:

• durable
• flexible,
• frost and heat resistant,
• easy to machine

Cons: poor mirror surface quality

Description

High-impact mirror polystyrene is a sheet material that belongs to the group of polymer mirrors. Composite synthetic rubber is used as a raw material for the mirror sheet. The rubber raw material plays an important role in this material: it prevents the appearance of cracks on the surface, due to its properties, the strength increases, and reliable operation is possible.

The reflective layer is a mirrored polyester film with an aluminum coating and glued to a polystyrene surface.

The reflective side will be the base, which is why a protective film is needed here to avoid damage to the coating.

The advantages of mirror polystyrene are obvious: it is durable, flexible, frost-resistant, and also slightly susceptible to damage. Of the minuses, the flammability of the material can be noted.

There are other properties of polystyrene mirrors:

• resistance to aggressive chemical influences, not destroyed;
• shock resistance;
• difficult to cut and scratch;
• the rubber in the composition does not allow the formation of microcracks;
• maximum operating temperature - +70 degrees;
• perfect imitation of a mirror;
• ease of processing;
• polystyrene mirror sheets have a sheet thickness of 1 to 3 mm (thicker specimens will become stiff and brittle).

Benefits of Mirror Plastic

• High reflectivity of the material with high gloss surface of mirror plastic.
• UV resistance - high. The material does not turn yellow and does not become brittle even after prolonged exposure to the environment, inorganic substances, acids, alkalis, salts and their solutions.
• Water resistance, frost resistance. Resistant to bacteria and microorganisms, therefore it can be used for glazing yachts, production of aquariums
• MirrorPlast is much lighter than glass - more than 2.5 times. The structure does not require additional supports, which creates the feeling of an open space.
• Easy to process - cutting, drilling, edging, engraving, laser processing, material flexibility, drawing, pasting.
• Environmentally friendly material - does not emit any poisonous gases during combustion.
• A wide scope of application - decoration, repair, construction, advertising, road facilities, production of various products and structures, and many other creative solutions. Elements of interior, exterior and decor, in the production of furniture, in the production of indoor and outdoor advertising elements, items of commercial equipment and points of sale. Manufacturing of highly reflective products, signs, road warning signs, exhibition displays, elements of building facades, mirrored walls, ceilings, racks, etc.
• Safe use - much more resistant to impact and shattering in comparison with ordinary glass, more than 5 times the density of 1.19 g / cm3.

Mirror polystyrene

High impact polystyrene sheet is another common type of polymer mirrors. As a rule, a composite of polystyrene with synthetic rubber is used as a starting material for applying a mirror coating. The presence of the latter reduces the likelihood of microscopic cracks appearing on the surface of the material, increases the strength and reliability of operation.

As a reflective element, an aluminum-coated mirrored polyester film is glued onto the polystyrene sheet.

Unlike acrylic, polystyrene is not transparent, so a mirror coating is applied from the working side of the material that acts as a base. To avoid damage to the coating, an additional protective film is applied on top of it.

Mirror polystyrene sheets are characterized by a high degree of flexibility and strength. The upper temperature limit at which polystyrene retains its technical characteristics is +70 degrees. The material resists shock, scratches and cuts well. Does not collapse from contact with chemically aggressive media.

Processing of mirror polystyrene is not difficult, but when cutting and drilling, it must be borne in mind that the most vulnerable point of the composite is the surface of the connection between the polymer base and the reflective film.

In order to avoid disruption of contact between layers when working with material, you should adhere to the following rules:

• use high-speed drilling equipment to make holes, and drill from the side of the mirror film;
• cutting with a laser tool from the side of uncoated polystyrene;
• when cutting with a mechanical tool, clean the line of the planned cut from the protective coating;
• the material can be glued to various surfaces. For this, special adhesives on a neoprene basis are used;
• It is not recommended to bend sheets of mirror polystyrene using local heating, as this can lead to peeling of the polyester film.

When using the material, it is necessary to ensure that moisture and water do not get on the unprotected ends of the sheets. The surface of the composite polystyrene is maintained using a sponge moistened with acrylic glass cleaner.

Mirror polystyrene has found wide application for the manufacture of decorations, interior decoration elements, advertising and informational structures. Due to its small thickness and good flexibility, polystyrene is used for surface finishing with curvature.

Self-adhesive mirror films

Self-adhesive film is a soft and elastic material made of polyvinyl chloride, on the front side it has a metallized coating with a mirror effect, on the back side there is an adhesive layer based on polyacrylate.

Self-adhesive film is a type of mirror plastic

The main purpose of the self-adhesive film is to create a mirror effect at a low cost. The film is unlikely to be suitable as a replacement for a traditional mirror, because even when glued on a flat surface, bubbles, micro-dents may appear, which will result in image distortion.

Decorative self-adhesive film is the material of advertisers. It is cut with ordinary scissors or a stationery knife, although a cutting plotter is used for this in advertising agencies. You can glue it on an uneven surface: wood, metal, plastic, glass. Orafol films are suitable for offset, screen and laser printing. In addition, it is safe and non-toxic.

The disadvantage of vinyl films is that they become brittle and brittle at a temperature of -15C. This limits outdoor adhesion, but does not interfere with the use of self-adhesive films indoors.

In the catalog of materials for advertising from Aluminstroy, buy a metallized ORACAL 352 film with a mirror effect

Pros:

• acceptable price
• can be pasted over any surface

Minuses:

• distortion of reflection,
• on the street will not last very long