Advanced ultraviolet-resistant silver mirrors for use in solar reflectors

1. A silver mirror construction that maintains a high percentage of hemispherical reflectance throughout the UV and visible spectrum when used in solar reflectors, comprising:

a) a pressure sensitive adhesive layer positioned beneath a silver overlay;

b) a polymer film disposed on said silver overlay;

c) an adhesive layer positioned on said polymer film; and

d) a UV-screening acrylic film disposed on said adhesive layer positioned on said polymer film, wherein said UV-screening acrylic film has a thickness 2 mil or greater.

2. The silver mirror construction of claim 1 , wherein a copper layer is interposed below said silver overlay and above said pressure sensitive adhesive layer.

3. The silver mirror of claim 2 , wherein said polymer film is polyethylene terephthalate.

4. The silver mirror construction of claim 3 wherein said UV screening acrylic film has a thickness of 2-8 mil.

5. The silver mirror construction of claim 4 , wherein said high percentage of hemispherical reflectance is in excess of 90% for a period beyond about 2 years.

6. The silver mirror construction of claim 5 , wherein said high percentage of hemispherical reflectance is in excess of 90% for a period in excess of about 9 years.

7. The silver mirror construction of claim 1 , wherein said polymer film is polyethylene terephthalate.

8. The silver mirror construction of claim 7 wherein said UV screening acrylic film has a thickness of 2-8 mil.

9. The silver mirror construction of claim 8 , wherein said high percentage of hemispherical reflectance is in excess of 90% for a period beyond 2 years.

10. The silver mirror construction of claim 9 , wherein said high percentage of hemispherical reflectance is in excess of 90% for a period in excess of about 9 years.

11. The silver mirror construction of claim 1 , wherein said polymer film is a polyester.

12. A silver mirror construction that maintains a high percentage of hemispherical reflectance throughout the UV and visible spectrum when used in solar reflectors, comprising:

a) a pressure sensitive adhesive layer positioned beneath a silver overlay;

b) a polymer film disposed on said silver overlay;

c) an adhesive layer positioned on said polymer film; and

d) a UV-screening acrylic film disposed on said adhesive layer positioned on said polymer film;

wherein said silver mirror construction does not include acrylic coating layers and the UV-screening film is thicker than 0.4 mil.