High infrared reflection coatings, thin film coating deposition methods and associated technologies

• US 10,442,728 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardinal CG Company (Cardinal Glass Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cardinal CG Company (Cardinal Glass Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hartig, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Lawrence D
• Application Number:
  US15/581,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20170226005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 428212, 428220
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/36 at least one coating being a metal
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3613 Coatings of type glass/inorganic compound/metal/inorganic compound/metal/other
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3626 one layer at least containing a nitride, oxynitride, boronitride or carbonitride
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3639 Multilayers containing at least two functional metal layers
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3642 the multilayer coating containing a metal layer
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3644 the metal being silver
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3652 the coating stack containing at least one sacrificial layer to protect the metal from oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/366 Low-emissivity or solar control coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3681 the multilayer coating being used in glazing, e.g. windows or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/211 SnO2
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/216 ZnO
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/78 Coatings specially designed to be durable, e.g. scratch-resistant
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2218/153 by plasma-enhanced cvd
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2218/154 by sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2218/156 by magnetron sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/086 of zinc, germanium, cadmium, indium, tin, thallium or bismuth
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/185 by cathodic sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/35 by application of a magnetic field, e.g. magnetron sputtering C23C14/3457 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/568 Transferring the substrates through a series of coating stations C23C14/562 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2417 Light path control; means to control reflection
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6715 : specially adapted for increased thermal insulation or for controlled passage of light E06B3/66323 takes precedence; coating of glass pains C03C17/00; devices or arrangements for controlling the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 : Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/208 : for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/26 : Reflecting filters G02B5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 80/22 : Glazing, e.g. vaccum glazing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 : Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 : including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2495 : Thickness [relative or absolute]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24975 : No layer or component greater than 5 mils thick
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 : Composite [nonstructural laminate]

Abstract

The invention provides low-emissivity coatings that are highly reflective of infrared radiation. The coating includes three infrared-reflection film regions, which may each comprise silver.

Claims

1. A first pane having opposed first and second major surfaces, the first pane being part of a multiple-pane insulating glazing unit that includes a second pane, wherein the multiple-pane insulating glazing unit has at least one between-pane space, wherein at least one of the first and second panes has a coated interior surface that is exposed to one of the at least one between-pane space of the multiple-pane insulating glazing unit, said coated interior surface bearing a low-emissivity coating that includes, from said interior surface outward:

a) a first transparent dielectric film region;

b) a first infrared-reflection film region;

c) a first blocker film region directly over and contiguous to the first infrared-reflection film region;

d) a second transparent dielectric film region;

e) a second infrared-reflection film region;

f) a second blocker film region directly over and contiguous to the second infrared-reflection film region;

g) a third transparent dielectric film region;

h) a third infrared-reflection film region;

i) a third blocker film region directly over and contiguous to the third infrared-reflection film region; and

j) a fourth transparent dielectric film region;

wherein the first, second, and third infrared-reflection film regions each comprise silver and have a thickness of between 50 angstroms and 300 angstroms, wherein the second infrared-reflection film region is thicker than the first infrared-reflection film region, wherein the second and third infrared-reflection film regions have a combined thickness of at least 325 angstroms, and wherein the first, second, and third blocker film regions each have a thickness in a range of 3 angstroms to 25 angstroms.

2. The first pane of claim 1 wherein the first, second, and third infrared-reflection film regions have a combined thickness of greater than 425 angstroms.

3. The first pane of claim 2 wherein the combined thickness of the first, second, and third infrared-reflection film regions is greater than 450 angstroms.

4. The first pane of claim 3 wherein the combined thickness of the first, second, and third infrared-reflection film regions is greater than 460 angstroms.

5. The first pane of claim 4 wherein the combined thickness of the first, second, and third infrared-reflection film regions is greater than 470 angstroms.

6. The first pane of claim 1 wherein each of the first, second, and third infrared-reflection film regions comprises silver, and wherein the thickness of each of the first, second, and third infrared-reflection film regions is between 100 angstroms and 250 angstroms.

7. The first pane of claim 1 wherein the thickness of at least one of the first, second, and third infrared-reflection film regions is greater than 175 angstroms.

8. The first pane of claim 1 wherein the combined thickness of the second infrared-reflection film region and the third infrared-reflection film region is at least 340 angstroms.

9. The first pane of claim 8 wherein the combined thickness of the second infrared-reflection film region and the third infrared-reflection film region is at least 355 angstroms.

10. The first pane of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth transparent dielectric film regions comprises a film comprising zinc oxide.

11. The first pane of claim 10 wherein the film comprising zinc oxide comprises a mixture of zinc oxide and tin oxide.

12. The first pane of claim 1 wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth transparent dielectric film regions comprises a film comprising zinc oxide.

13. The first pane of claim 12 wherein the film comprising zinc oxide comprises a mixture of zinc oxide and tin oxide.