Hot Mirrors & Dichroic Reflectors

Hot mirrors are quartz plates that have a special Dichroic coating applied to them. These Dichroic coatings reduce infrared (IR) by 10% and are typically found on quartz plates and reflectors. Customers with heat sensitive substrates utilize these Dichroic items to reduce the amount of IR from reaching their thermally delicate substrates. Over time, the effects of constant UV exposure will cause the hot mirrors and dichroic reflectors in your UV equipment to break down. Devitrification will make them brittle and cloudy, reducing their effectiveness and the efficiency of your UV system. As such, they should be replaced regularly. The “3 to 1” rule is a good way to remember: every third time you replace your UV bulbs, you should replace your hot mirrors and reflectors.