Silvering of Glass by Spray Process
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Silvering of Glass by Spray Process Materials required Float glass, Chemois leather, distilled water, Sulphuric acid, Formaldehyde solution, Silver nitrate, Liquor Ammonia, Sodium Hydroxide, Dextrose, Spray gun (Connected to a pressurized air tank), Mirror backing paint. Tank for housing glass. Preparing the glass: – Take sheets of float glass of required sizes. – Clean the surface of the glass of dust, finger grease or any oily substances – Wash the glass with distilled water. – Clean the glass with chemois leather & dry. – Keep the glass in slightly slant vertical position on wooden frames across an empty tank (To collect excess & drained silvering solution) Preparation of silvering solutions Solution A – Add 250gm of Silver Nitrate in 500ml of distilled water. – To this add slowly 250ml of Liquor Ammonia. Watch for the solution to take a light grey color and then turns out clear. (Care must be taken to while adding Liquor Ammonia) – Stop adding Liquor Ammonia when the solution turns clear. – Prepare a solution of sodium hydroxide of about 125 gm in 750ml distilled water. – Both these solutions are to be mixed in 20 litres of distilled water & to be store in a plastic or glass container. Solution B – Dissolve Dextrose 125 gm in 500 ml water. Add 5ml of formaldehyde solution and 5ml of sulphuric acid. (Take ample care while adding Sulphuric acid) – Dilute to 20 litres with distilled water & to be store in a plastic or glass container. Solution C – Dissolve 5 ml of tin chloride in 10 litres of distilled water & to be store in a plastic or glass container. These solutions can cover up to 400 square feet. Keep both the jars separately & away from each other. Procedure – Spray tin chloride solution on the glass. – Draw a tube from solutions A, solution B & connect them to a double nozzle spray gun (connected to a pressurized air tank). Apply spraying from the bottom of the glass from side to side till you reach the top. – Allow all the excess solutions to drip into the tank Wait for few minutes allowing the solutions to react & form a thin later of silver on the glass. – Use dry chemois leather to dab excess solution from the surface of the glass. – Apply a thin coat of mirror backing paint using a spray gun. Sn2+ (aq) + 2 Ag+ → Sn4+ (aq) + 2 Ag (s).