Duralux Water Based: New line of Fenzi mirror-backing paints offers quality, ecology and durability

The most recent frontier in terms of mirror-backing paints is the new line of latest-generation Fenzi products capable of contributing to the production of high-quality, eco-friendly mirrors with outstanding reflective, safety and chemical resistance properties.

Using a water base, the Fenzi Group labs developed Duralux Water Based, a complete range of lead-free, glass-silvering mirror-backing paints with extremely low VOC emissions ‒ chemical agents potentially harmful to health and the environment. This is a major innovation for mirror manufacturers, processors, end users and the environment.

Since 1941, Fenzi has pioneered new solutions in mirror manufacturing, keeping pace with and often anticipating changes in the industry. It happened at the outset of this glass industry business adventure, when mirrors were made with a single or double-layer of silver/copper backing paint; and, in the 1960s when the first aluminum-based mirrors appeared and Fenzi developed new mirror-backing paints to lend superior properties to this new type of mirror. In the 1970s Fenzi developed new paints based on thermosetting resin technology, which brought a significant improvement in mirror durability.

The breakthroughs continued in the 1990s with copper-free technology and development of painting systems that were compatible with this new substrate, a technique that then proved useful in removing lead from the paint, making mirrors much more eco-friendly. By specifically focusing on reducing the environmental impact of mirrors and the products used in their production, in the 2000s Fenzi achieved a leadership role in developing mirror-backing paints with ever-lower levels of VOCs and, they were formaldehyde-free.

The company then launched formulations with extremely low VOC content and extraordinarily good chemical and mechanical properties – the best the market has to offer. Still today, Fenzi enjoys this leadership position, with first-rate manufacturing plants in Italy, Belgium and China and an R&D team and state-of-the-art laboratories for advanced research in the field of mirror products. In fact, Duralux Water Based was developed at the mirror business unit’s expertise center.

Compared to the other commercially available mirror-backing paints, the special Duralux Water Based formulation makes unique performance possible ‒ including a VOC level five-times lower than the market standard, the use of solvents with reduced environmental impact, extraordinary chemical resistance and greater product durability. This is a one-coat, user-friendly painting system, convenient for curtain or spray application, completely lead-free, perfect for use on copper-free mirrors, and it can be applied on most existing mirror lines that use traditional solventbased paints.

The Duralux line ensures a tried and true, high-performance product, one that is always updated. In 80 years of business, the Group has become a global leader in glass-processing chemicals, offering a complete range of products and setting the standard for the entire glass industry. Thanks to its considerable innovative prowess, based on know-how acquired in so many years in this market and on research and development activities consistently focused on customer needs, the Group has created a complete, always cutting-edge product range, positioning itself as the preferred partner for mirror manufacturers around the world.