General Electric

ALGLAS' Reflector Finish

Today's high quality optical systems, utilizing precise control of high intensity discharge
sources require the best in reflector design and construction to insure optimum per{ormance.

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(H.l.D.) light

A combination of many character;stics is necessary for ideal performance and the durability required in
the varied applications of general industrial use. No one type of reflector in general use a few years ago
truly fulfilled this need. Prismatic glass, Alzak* aluminum and porcelain enamel steel each had certain
lim itatio ns.

General Electric engineers devoted an intense research and development effort to the need for a better
reflector design for ;ndustr:al use. The result of this research was the development of the ALGLAS reflectcr finish, which is used exclusively on General Electric's patenled, faceted aluminum reflector desiqns.

A LG t AS

ilnished rellecrors hrve the

fol owlns basic

1.

fea tu r es:

Chemical Stability

Chernic!llv

inert with hiah resislance on !l

s!rfacs, both nsido and outslde.
to co rrosi'/e nvironments.

2. Thermal Stability: High

resis

tance on all surfaces, both lnsicle

and o!rside, to hat:nd;ging

Dirt Resistance:

Vlicroscopical y

smooth surfaces minlmi,e dirt

adherence, b6ked
4.

on oil film

Durability and Safety: Strong yet

ligh twelght and impact reslstant

due to the unbreokable,

hiqhly

elastic ALGLAS coat'ng.

The ALGLAS f inish is a thin, transparent, flexible coating of very high quality glass which is chemically
cured and bonded to the aluminum surfaces of the reflector. The reflector is accurately formed into the
desired shape for precise optical performance. Then, it is completely immersed in a silicate solution, dried
and heat-treated to complete the chemical curing and bonding. The unique ALGLAS coating consists of
more than 95% Silica (SiOz ). The finished product combines the smoothness of glass with the ref lectivity
of alum inu m and eliminates the weight of conventional glass reflectors.

Proprietary term of the Aluminum Company of A.nerica

GEilERAT.

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GENERAL ELECTRIC ALGLAS@ REFLECTOR

FINISH SPECI FICATION CHECK
1. CHE[4ICAL COMPOSITION
Ouartz

like ALGLAS is 95%

Si ica

whlle commercial

glasses, such as soda lime and borosilicate are only 60-809/"

Silica. The qreater purity of ALGLAS increases its

elasticity and light transrnission.

2. SU

FACE SMOOTHN ESS

SLrrfaces of ALGLAS, Alzak and Prismatic glass were

compared using a profilometer to measure surface smooth_

ness. The traces of Alzak and Prismatlc g ass revealed

significantly more ight scattering, rippling and roLlghness
than did the ALGLAS trace (see photo). Electron microscope observations conflrmed this finding (see photo

SUR FACE SMOOTHNESS

Reftector S!.faces

opposite paragraph 6 below).

CH

3. R

ESISTANCE TO CH E M ICAL ATTACK

ALGLAS was {ound to be superior to Alzak and

com-

parable to borosilicate g ass in resislance to chemica

attack (see chart for partial list of reagents tested).

Alzak

Nitric
HVdrofluoric
Bases:

Salts:

COATING CONTlN UITY

ALGLAS coating is continuous and pinhole free. Com
plete immersion of the reflector in the silicate solution
insLrres unlform coating of all surfaces.

EMICAL R EAGENTS
Hydrochloric
Sulfuric
Sodii.rm Hydroxide

tlydroxylar.ine

AVS

Sodium Chloride
Soe

AS

NO:

AS

AVS
Attacks Vigorously
AS

Alglas
NN
NN
NN
AV
AS
NN
NN
NN
NN

Borosil;cate

Atracks Slowly

ESISTANCE TO COR ROSIVE ENVIRONIVIENTS

ALGLAS samp es have Terna ned bright and specular

after 2500 hours in salt fog while Alzak sar.ples lost
most of their specu arity a{ter the standard 500 l'rour
ASTIVI test {see photo). ALGLAS a so showed superior
seacoast weathering character lstics oveT a seven year
per

iod.

OPTICAL

PE R FO

J\,IANCE

OLrtstandlng smoothness oJ ALGLAS (see photo) resu ts

in optimum reflector specu arity and the hlgh light

of the unique coating results in maximum

transmission

reflector efflciency. ALGLAS'coated reflectors can be

uniforrnlV produced on precision tooling ln contrast to
the production of pressed !l ass ref ectors where tool
deqradation, with time, causes imperfections in the
prismatic glass surf
7.

RESISTANCE TO CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENTS

aces-

CLEANABILITY
ALGLAS flnish ls smoother than pressed glass and readily
lends itse { to a tho[ough clean]ng with a standard detergent and water.
D U RABILITY AND SAFETY
ALGLAS coating is unbreakable, highly elastic and with
stands bending up to 170"on a radius of 1/8". Re{lectors
coated with ALGLAS are ightweilht afd impact resist

ant, as opposed to heavy conver'1;.r..! prisrriatic

glass

ref ectors that are breakable.

35,000

OPTICAL

GENEBAL ELECTR IC COMPANY

Lighting Systems Business Department, Hendersonville, N. C.
4/76 (20N4)

GilrrRAr.

AV
AS

Altacks Very Slowly

No Effect

RESISTANCE TO CHEMICAL ATTACK

5.

Gtass

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