Quick answer
Choose the UV enhanced aluminum flat mirror if you need high reflectivity in the 250–450 nm range; pick the uncoated substrate if you plan to apply your own coating or need a lower-cost starting point.
Why coating matters for laser mirrors
A mirror's coating directly determines how much light it reflects at your operating wavelength. Uncoated substrates reflect only a small fraction of incident light (typically 4–5% per surface from Fresnel reflection), while a UV enhanced aluminum coating boosts average reflectivity above 90% across 250–450 nm. For most laser applications, that difference is the difference between a usable mirror and a useless one.
Surface quality is identical
Both the uncoated and the UV enhanced aluminum mirrors from Esco Optics start from the same Borofloat-33 substrate, polished to 1/10 wave surface accuracy with a 40/20 scratch-dig specification over 85% aperture. Your choice of coating does not change the flatness or surface finish — only the reflectivity and environmental durability.
Trade-offs at a glance
- Reflectivity: UV enhanced aluminum delivers Ravg > 90% in the UV-blue band. Uncoated substrates reflect < 5% from each surface — unusable as a laser mirror without a coating.
- Cost: The UV enhanced aluminum mirror is priced at USD 48.42 (compared to USD 68.20). The uncoated substrate costs USD 27.03 (compared to USD 42.90). The uncoated option saves about 44% before coating costs. Factor in the cost of a future coating service if you buy uncoated.
- Lead time & convenience: UV enhanced aluminum mirrors are ready to mount and use. Uncoated substrates require a separate coating step, adding time and complexity to your project. If you need a mirror today, choose the coated version.
Product facts
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Precision Quality Flat Mirrors, UV Enhanced Aluminum: UV Enhanced Aluminum coating provides Ravg > 90% from 250–450 nm on a Borofloat-33 substrate polished to 1/10 wave. This gives you a ready-to-use mirror for UV and near-UV laser lines without needing a separate coating run.
Precision Quality Flat Mirrors, UV Enhanced Aluminum
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Precision Quality Flat Mirrors, Uncoated: Uncoated Borofloat-33 substrate polished to 1/10 wave with 40/20 scratch-dig; no reflective coating applied. You save on initial cost and can apply a custom coating (e.g., dielectric or metallic) tailored to your exact wavelength.
Precision Quality Flat Mirrors, Uncoated
Which one should you pick?
Best for
- Laser setups operating between 250–450 nm that need high reflectivity out of the box
- Prototyping or production runs where coating lead time is a constraint
Not ideal for
- Wavelengths outside 250–450 nm (consider dielectric coatings for those bands)
- Projects where you need a specific custom coating not available as standard inventory
