Effects of stress, defects, and layer composition on the development of corrosion features on protected silver mirrors

The long-term environmental durability of protected silver mirror coatings is influenced by numerous factors. Here, accelerated environmental exposure testing of model silver mirror coatings illuminated the effects of stress, defects, and layer composition on the extent and mechanisms of corrosion and degradation. Experiments to reduce stress in the highest-stress layers of the mirror coatings revealed that, while stress may affect the extent of corrosion, coating defects and the composition of the mirror layers have the largest influence on corrosion feature development and growth.