Corrosion on silvered-glass solar reflectors exposed to accelerated aging tests with polluting gases: A microscopic study

Abstract Silvered-glass solar reflectors consist of a reflective layer (RL), composed of silver and copper thin-films, back-protected by paint layers on a glass plate. The RL is prone to corrosion, especially in industrial atmospheres with polluting gases. After applying accelerated aging tests with gaseous pollutants (SO2, H2S, NO2), SG-R samples are studied by SEM and EDS, including FIB preparation. As expected the copper thin-film is firstly corroded, followed by the silver corrosion. Deposits of different corrosion products were found on the reflector’s surface, depending on the polluting gas used. The rear protective paint layers also play an active role.