We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Technology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Cold Mirror?

Andrew Kirmayer
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,757
Share

A cold mirror is a dielectric glass filter that is used to remove heat content from light that hits the surface. It transmits infrared light and can also reflect non-infrared light spectral bands, helping to eliminate heat that is unwanted or that can damage equipment. Devices that include a cold mirror dichroic filter include film and photography equipment, various types of illumination systems, surgical lighting, dental office lights, projectors, and photocopiers.

Commercial and precision cold mirrors are common grades produced by manufacturers. They are commonly used with fiber optics because ultraviolet and infrared light can damage a fiber optical wire or other equipment used in association with it. Heat is also drawn away from wires and equipment that might be extremely sensitive to temperature variations. The potentially harmful light is captured by the cold mirror and reflected away from anything that can be negatively affected by light radiation at certain wavelengths.

A cold mirror is available in various forms and can be designed by manufacturers to accommodate individual applications specified by customers. Different angled mirrors can be ordered. A cold dielectric mirror is often designed with an operating angle of 45° and is capable of reflecting more than 95% of light while transmitting 85% or more of the infrared heat that it is exposed to. Manufacturers will often allow customers to directly order cold mirrors with custom angles that suit their requirements.

It is possible to order a cold mirror that can reflect most of the ultraviolet light that hits it while transmitting as much as 90% of visible and other light radiation. Cold dielectric mirrors are also available as coatings that can tolerate extreme environmental conditions, in contrast to metallic coatings which are adversely affected by wide temperature variations and moisture. Combining different mirrors can increase reflecting capacity and allow use of a new light filtering system at different bandwidths than each product by itself is specified for.

A cold mirror can feature a durable design that is able to tolerate humidity as well as exposure to abrasive materials. Mirrors as strong as ones specified to military standards are available. Any specifications should be outlined by the manufacturer on a specifications sheet or on the company website. Knowing the requirements of the application and the capabilities of each mirror is important to obtain a cold mirror that performs exactly as it should when operating.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Andrew Kirmayer
By Andrew Kirmayer
Andrew Kirmayer, a freelance writer with his own online writing business, creates engaging content across various industries and disciplines. With a degree in Creative Writing, he is skilled at writing compelling articles, blogs, press releases, website content, web copy, and more, all with the goal of making the web a more informative and engaging place for all audiences.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Andrew Kirmayer
Andrew Kirmayer
Andrew Kirmayer, a freelance writer with his own online writing business, creates engaging content across various...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-cold-mirror.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.