Gold Mirror - Au
Gold (Au) is a noble metal renowned for its exceptional reflectivity, chemical stability, and thermal conductivity, making it an essential material for infrared optics, mirrors, and coatings.
It provides over 95% reflectance across the infrared spectrum (0.7–20 µm) and maintains stable optical properties even under extreme environmental conditions.
Gold’s high reflectivity and low emissivity make it ideal for thermal imaging, spectroscopy, and high-power laser systems where efficient heat management and energy reflection are critical.
Unlike materials that oxidize or degrade over time, Gold is chemically inert and non-tarnishing, ensuring long-term optical performance in space, defense, and industrial environments.
Although relatively soft mechanically, when applied as a thin-film coating on substrates such as fused silica, germanium, or aluminum, it forms highly durable infrared mirrors, beam splitters, and reflective filters.
At Global Optics UK, we supply precision gold-coated mirrors, windows, and optical components manufactured to exacting optical and dimensional standards.
Coatings are available with protective over-layers (such as SiO₂ or ZnS) to enhance durability while maintaining excellent IR performance — ideal for laser optics, spectroscopy, aerospace, and high-temperature thermal imaging applications.
Explore Related Optical Materials and Substrates:
Fused Silica (SiO2)
Zinc Selenide (ZnSe)
Gemanium (Ge)
FAQ
FAQ
Q: What are Gold mirrors used for?
A: Gold (Au) mirrors are widely used in infrared (IR), laser, and thermal imaging systems due to their high reflectivity across 0.7–20 µm. They are ideal for beam steering, collimation, spectroscopy, and heat management in industrial, aerospace, and defense applications. Gold coatings are also commonly used on substrates such as fused silica, germanium, and aluminum for high-efficiency IR optics.
Q: Why is Gold used for infrared mirrors?
A: Gold is one of the most reflective materials in the infrared spectrum, maintaining >95% reflectance from 0.7 µm to over 20 µm. It also has low emissivity and excellent thermal and chemical stability, making it ideal for high-power laser optics and thermal control systems where minimal absorption and heat buildup are critical.
Q: How durable are Gold coatings?
A: While pure Gold is soft, optical mirrors typically include a thin protective overcoat (e.g., SiO₂, ZnS, or MgF₂) to prevent scratching or tarnishing. These protected gold mirrors combine excellent durability with long-term reflectivity, even in humid or outdoor environments.
Q: Can Gold mirrors be used with visible light?
A: Gold strongly absorbs visible wavelengths, giving it its characteristic yellow color. It is not suitable for broadband visible applications, but performs exceptionally well in the infrared. For visible mirrors, silver or aluminum coatings are generally preferred.
Q: What substrates can Gold be coated on?
A: Gold coatings can be applied to a wide range of optical materials, including fused silica, BK7, germanium, aluminum, and silicon. The substrate is chosen based on thermal, mechanical, and wavelength requirements — for example, fused silica for broadband reflectors, or germanium for IR beam splitters.
Q: Where can I download the datasheet?
A: You can download the Gold (Au) Mirror Technical Datasheet here