Method of making IG window unit and forming silicon oxide based hydrophilic coating using chlorosilane vapor deposition

• US 20080128071A1
• Filed: 12/05/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guardian Glass LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Guardian Industries Corporation (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Murphy, Nestor P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,632,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/109
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/245 by deposition from the vapour phase
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/36 at least one coating being a metal
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3618 Coatings of type glass/inorganic compound/other inorganic layers, at least one layer being metallic
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3644 the metal being silver
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/366 Low-emissivity or solar control coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/75 Hydrophilic and oleophilic coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2218/365 Coating different sides of a glass substrate

Abstract

A method of making an insulating glass (IG) window unit is provided. The IG window unit includes at least two spaced apart substrates that are separated from one another by at least one seal and/or spacer, wherein a first one of the substrates supports a hydrophilic coating (e.g., silicon oxide) on the surface facing the building exterior and either of the substrates supports a solar management coating (e.g., a low-emissivity coating) for blocking infrared radiation.

Claims

1. A method of making a window unit, the method comprising:

a) depositing a solar management coating on at least one of a first glass substrate and/or a second glass substrate, the solar management coating comprising at least one layer for blocking at least some IR radiation;

b) coupling the first substrate and the second substrate to one another so that the solar management coating is on a surface facing a gap provided between the first and second glass substrates; and

c) depositing via vapor deposition a layer comprising silicon oxide on an exterior surface of the first substrate, wherein the vapor deposition comprises a process of converting silicon tetrachloride into silicon oxide in the presence of H₂O, wherein the layer comprising silicon oxide forms a hydrophilic surface having a contact angle θ

less than or equal to about 20 degrees, and wherein the layer comprising silicon oxide has a refractive index (n) of from about 1.4 to 1.6.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact angle θ

is less than or equal to 15 degrees.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact angle θ

is less than or equal to 10 degrees.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein steps a) and b) further comprise:

a) depositing a solar management coating on the first substrate and depositing a UV blocking coating for blocking at least some ultraviolet radiation on the second substrate; and

b) coupling the first substrate and the second substrate to one another so that the solar management coating is on a surface facing a gap provided between the first and second substrates and the UV blocking coating is on a surface facing the gap provided between the first and second substrates.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said depositing comprises forming the layer comprising silicon oxide on the first substrate at a thickness of from about 500 to 1,000 Å

and so as to have a surface roughness of about 4.0 nm or less.

5. A method of making a window unit, the method comprising:

a) depositing a solar management coating on a first surface of a first glass substrate, the solar management coating comprising at least one layer for blocking at least some IR radiation;

b) depositing via vapor deposition a layer comprising silicon oxide on a second surface of the first glass substrate, wherein the vapor deposition comprises a process of converting silicon tetrachloride into silicon oxide in the presence of water, wherein the layer comprising of silicon oxide forms a hydrophilic surface having at least an initial contact angle θ

of less than or equal to about 20 degrees; and

c) coupling the first glass substrate and a second substrate to one another so that the solar management coating is on a surface facing a gap provided between the first and second substrates and the layer comprising silicon oxide is on an exterior surface of the window unit.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the contact angle θ

is less than or equal to 15 degrees.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the contact angle θ

is less than or equal to 10 degrees.

8. The method of claim 5, the method further comprising:

prior to coupling the first and second substrate, depositing a UV blocking coating for blocking at least some ultraviolet radiation on the second substrate; and

coupling the first substrate and the second substrate to one another so that the solar management coating is on the surface facing the gap provided between the first and second substrates and the UV blocking coating is on a surface facing the gap provided between the first and second substrates.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the layer comprising silicon oxide comprises SiO₂.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the layer comprising silicon oxide has a refractive index of from about 1.4-1.6.

16. The method of claim 5, wherein the layer comprising silicon oxide has a thickness of from about 500 to 1,000 Å

and/or a surface roughness of about 4.0 nm or less.

11. A method of making a window unit, the method comprising:

a) depositing a solar management coating on either a first substrate or a second substrate, the solar management coating comprising at least one layer for blocking at least some IR radiation;

b) coupling the first substrate and the second substrate to one another so that the solar management coating is on a surface facing a gap provided between the first and second substrates; and

c) depositing via vapor deposition a hydrophilic coating on an exterior surface of the first substrate, wherein the hydrophilic surface forms a contact angle θ

less than or equal to about 20 degrees.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the contact angle θ

is less than or equal to 15 degrees.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the contact angle θ

is less than or equal to 10 degrees.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the hydrophilic coating comprises silicon oxide.