Multi-layer reflectors

A multi-layer coated reflector, having three or four layers, comprising a substrate capable of withstanding a vacuum deposition operation and a vacuum-deposited light-reflective metal layer, said reflector also including

• (1) a resin layer consisting essentially of a silicone resin interposed between said substrate and said metal layer,
• (2) a layer overcoated on said metal layer selected from the group consisting of a resin layer consisting essentially of silicone resin and an inorganic compound layer amorphous after deposition, with the proviso that where said inorganic compound layer is present, said reflector also includes a resin layer consisting essentially of a silicone resin interposed between said substrate and said metal layer, or
• (3) a resin layer interposed between said substrate and said metal layer and a resin layer overcoated on said metal layer, at least one of said resin layers being flex resistant and consisting essentially of a thermosett silicone resin, where in each of (1), (2) and (3), said silicone resin is a high aryl-content silicone resin containing an aryl radical/(aryl radical+alkyl radical) mole percent of 65% to 100% wherein said silicone resin is obtained by curing condensing and polymerizing a polyaralkylsiloxane represented by the formula:
• ##STR2## wherein R is a lower (carbon) alkyl radical;
• Ar is an aryl radical;
• Z represents a functional group which will condense to form a polymer and wherein in said polyaralkylsiloxane (1) the mole fraction of aryl radicals to the sum of the aryl and alkyl radicals is 0.65 to 1.00, the polymerizable functionality of 2 to 3 and the ratio of the number of carbon atoms to the number of silicone atoms is 4.25 to 16.