The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

VERY high reflectance stainless

We are doing a project where we want to use thin panels that are very durable, with good structural performance and VERY reflective (90% ideally). The application is to bounce direct sunlight around the interior of a top lighted dome. Stainless satisfies the first 2 criteria but can we get it in a very high reflectance finish? Would titanium be better?

Davidson Norris
architect - NY, New York
2004

---

You'll never get stainless steel to be highly reflective, regardless of how polished, because of the high absorbance nature of the material. Bright-dipped and anodized aluminum is the standard for reflector construction and can reach up to 85 percent reflectance for high purity alloys. Electropolished and anodized aluminum would approach or reach 90 percent. The stainless steel could be rhodium plated for tremendous durability and reflectivity, but the cost might be higher than you'd like. Electroless nickel plating of the stainless would be durable and could get you, say, 80 percent reflectivity.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2004