Low-E coated articles and methods of making same

• US 20080226925A1
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guardian Glass LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Guardian Industries Corporation (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blacker, Richard, Boyce, Brent
• Granted Patent: US 7,655,313 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/428
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/36 at least one coating being a metal
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3607 Coatings of the type glass/inorganic compound/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 17/3626 one layer at least containing a nitride, oxynitride, boronitride or carbonitride
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3644 the metal being silver
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3655 the multilayer coating containing at least one conducting layer
• 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: Y10T 428/24975 No layer or component greater than 5 mils thick
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/265 1 mil or less

Abstract

In certain example embodiments, low-E coated articles may be designed so as to realize a combination of good visible transmission (T_vis) and an excellent solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), thereby realizing an improved (i.e., higher) T_vis/SHGC ratio. In certain example embodiments of this invention, if heat treated (HT), the low-E coated articles may have approximately the same color characteristics as viewed by the naked eye both before and after heat treatment (i.e., a low ΔE* value) in certain example instances. Such coated articles may be used in insulating glass (IG) units, windows, and/or other suitable applications.

Claims

1. An insulating glass (IG) window unit comprising:

first and second glass substrates coupled to each other proximate their respective edges so as to form an insulating space therebetween;

a layer system supported by one of the glass substrates proximate the insulating space, said layer system comprising an infrared (IR) reflecting layer comprising silver located between at least first and second dielectric layers, wherein said layer system includes only one IR reflecting layer comprising silver; and

wherein the IG window unit has a visible transmission (T_vis) of 47-60%, a SHGC of no greater than 0.36, and a T_vis/SHGC ratio of at least 140.

2. The IG window unit of claim 1, wherein the IG window unit has a T_vis/SHGC ratio of at least 145.

3. The IG window unit of claim 1, wherein the IG window unit has a T_vis/SHGC ratio of at least 150.

4. The IG window unit of claim 1, wherein the IG window unit has a T_vis/SHGC ratio of at least 153.

5. The IG window unit of claim 1, wherein the IG window unit has a visible transmission (T_vis) of 49-56%.

6. The IG window unit of claim 1, wherein the IG window unit has an SHGC of no greater than 0.35.

7. The IG window unit of claim 1, wherein the IG window unit has an SHGC of no greater than 0.34.

8. The IG window unit of claim 1, wherein the glass substrate with the layer system thereon is heat treated, and the heat treated glass substrate and layer system have a Δ

E* value (glass side reflective) of no greater than 3.0 after or due to heat treatment of the glass substrate with the layer system thereon.

9. The IG window unit of claim 1, wherein the glass substrate with the layer system thereon is heat treated, and the heat treated glass substrate and layer system have a Δ

E* value (glass side reflective) of no greater than 2.5 after or due to heat treatment of the glass substrate with the layer system thereon.

10. The IG window unit of claim 1, wherein the glass substrate with the layer system thereon is heat treated, and the heat treated glass substrate and layer system have a Δ

E* value (glass side reflective) of no greater than 2.0 after or due to heat treatment of the glass substrate with the layer system thereon.

11. The IG window unit of claim 1, wherein said layer system further includes a first layer comprising Ni and/or NiCr located between said IR reflecting layer and said first dielectric layer, and a second layer comprising Ni and/or NiCr located between said IR reflecting layer and said second dielectric layer.

12. The IG window unit of claim 1, wherein said layer system has a sheet resistance value R_s no greater than 7 ohms/square.

13. The IG window unit of claim 1, wherein said layer system has a sheet resistance value R_s no greater than 5 ohms/square.

14. The IG window unit of claim 1, wherein said first and/or second dielectric layer(s) comprise silicon nitride.

15. The IG window unit of claim 11, wherein each of said first and second layers comprising Ni and/or NiCr is substantially metallic and is at least about 15 angstroms (Å

) thick.

16. The IG window unit of claim 1, wherein the IR reflecting layer comprising silver is from about 125-180 angstroms thick.

17. The IG window unit of claim 1, wherein the IR reflecting layer comprising silver is from about 135-170 angstroms thick.

18. The coated article of claim 1, wherein said layer system comprises the following recited layers at the following thicknesses, where the first silicon nitride inclusive layer is located between the glass substrate and the first Ni and/or NiCr inclusive layer:

first silicon nitride inclusive layer;

230-320 {acute over (Å

)} thick

first Ni and/or NiCr inclusive layer;

10-40 {acute over (Å

)} thick

silver layer;

125-180 {acute over (Å

)} thick

second Ni and/or NiCr inclusive layer;

10-40 {acute over (Å

)} thick

second silicon nitride inclusive layer;

450-560 {acute over (Å

)} thick.

19. A coated article comprising:

a coating supported by a glass substrate, said coating comprising an infrared (IR) reflecting layer comprising silver located between at least first and second dielectric layers, wherein said coating includes only one IR reflecting layer comprising silver; and

wherein the coated article measured monolithically has a visible transmission (T_vis) of 50-65%, a SHGC of no greater than 0.41, and a T_vis/SHGC ratio of at least 140.

20. The coated article of claim 19, wherein the coated article has a monolithic T_vis/SHGC ratio of at least 145.

21. The coated article of claim 19, wherein the coated article has a monolithic T_vis/SHGC ratio of at least 148.

22. The coated article of claim 19, wherein the coated article has a monolithic visible transmission (T_vis) of 53-61%.

23. The coated article of claim 19, wherein the coated article has an SHGC of no greater than 0.39.

24. The coated article of claim 19, wherein the coated article has a Δ

E* value (glass side reflective) of no greater than 3.0 after or due to heat treatment.

25. The coated article of claim 19, wherein the coated article has a Δ

E* value (glass side reflective) of no greater than 2.5 after or due to heat treatment.

26. The coated article of claim 19, wherein said coating further includes a first layer comprising Ni and/or NiCr located between said IR reflecting layer and said first dielectric layer, and a second layer comprising Ni and/or NiCr located between said IR reflecting layer and said second dielectric layer.

27. The coated article of claim 19, wherein said first and/or second dielectric layer(s) comprise silicon nitride.

28. An IG window unit including at least the coated article of claim 19.