Visible quality additive manufactured aluminum mirror finishing

Abstract

A mirrored apparatus includes a substrate having a surface and including an additive manufactured aluminum and about 2 to about 30 weight % (wt. %) silicon. The mirrored apparatus also includes a finish layer arranged directly on the surface of the substrate. The finish layer includes a polished surface opposite the substrate. The mirrored apparatus further includes a reflective layer arranged on the polished surface of the finish layer.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a mirrored apparatus, the method comprising:
 forming, using additive manufacturing, a substrate having a surface and comprising aluminum and about 2 to about 30% wt. % silicon;   depositing a binding layer on the surface of the substrate, wherein the binding layer is titanium, nickel, nickel chromium, chromium, gold, aluminum, molybdenum, germanium, zinc sulfide, or any combination thereof;   after depositing the binding layer, depositing a finish layer on the binding layer;   polishing a surface of the finish layer opposite the substrate; and   depositing a reflective layer on the surface of the finish layer.   
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the finish layer is silicon, chromium, nickel chromium, germanium, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, indium tin oxide, silicon monoxide, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, silicon oxide, titanium pentoxide, hafnium oxide, silicon aluminum oxide, or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the finish layer is radiation hardened and does not blister, peel, crack, or melt after being exposed to at least a 30 megarads total ionizing dose, at least a 1.43×10 13  neutrons/cm 2  (1 MeV equivalent) displacement damage dose, or a combination thereof 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the aluminum further comprises about 1.5 to about 15 wt. % of a ceramic material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the substrate further comprises an oxide, a nitride, a carbide material, or any combination thereof.