MIRROR WITH EPOXY PAINT LAYER HAVING GOOD RESISTANCE TO HANDLING

• US 20090220685A1
• Filed: 05/08/2009
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AGC Flat Glass (AGC, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AGC Flat Glass (AGC, Inc.)
• Inventors: TOURNAY, Muriel, PILLOY, Georges, POELS, Jean-Pierre
• Application Number:
  US12/437,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20090220685A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/165
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3663 specially adapted for use as mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/38 at least one coating being a coating of an organic material
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 18/165 Multilayered product layered product B32B
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 18/1889 with use of metal first
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0808 having a single reflecting layer G02B5/0883, G02B5/0891 take precedence

Abstract

Mirrors having a glass substrate, a silver coating layer on a surface of the glass substrate and an exposed epoxy paint layer overlaying the silver coating layer. The mirrors show a scratch resistance determined by the Clemen test showing scratches of less than 10 μm when applying a weight of 1500 g; a hardness determined by the Persoz pendulum of at least 250 s; and a commercially acceptable resistance to at least three glues amongst oxime, alcoxy, MS polymer and rubber.

Claims

1. A process for manufacturing a mirror with no copper layer, comprising:

sensitizing a glass substrate by contacting said glass substrate with a solution comprising tin ions to sensitize said glass substrate;

activating said glass substrate by contacting said glass substrate with a solution comprising ions of at least one material selected from the group consisting of bismuth, chromium, gold, indium, nickel, palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, titanium, vanadium, tin, and zinc;

upon said sensitizing and said activating, silvering said substrate by contacting said glass substrate with a silvering solution to form a silvered substrate having a silver layer; and

applying at least one epoxy paint layer over the silvered substrate.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein said applying occurs by curtain coating a liquid epoxy paint having a solvent content in the range of 10% to 20% by weight on said silver substrate.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein said activating occurs by contacting said glass substrate with a solution comprising ions of palladium.

4. The process according to claim 1, further comprising contacting said silvered substrate with a solution comprising a tin salt.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein said sensitizing occurs prior to said activating and said activating occurs prior to said silvering.

6. The process according to claim 1, further comprising washing said substrate.

7. The process according to claim 1, further comprising drying said silvered substrate prior to said applying.

8. The process according to claim 2, wherein the liquid epoxy paint has a solvent content of from 13 to 17% by weight.

9. The process according to claim 2, wherein the liquid epoxy paint has a solvent content of about 15% by weight.

10. The process according to claim 2, wherein the liquid epoxy paint is substantially lead-free.

11. The process according to claim 10, wherein lead is present in the liquid epoxy paint in an amount of less than 500 mg/m².

12. The process according to claim 10, wherein lead is present in the liquid epoxy paint in an amount of less than 400 mg/m².

13. The process according to claim 10, wherein lead is present in the liquid epoxy paint in an amount of less than 300 mg/m².

14. The process according to claim 1, wherein silver is present in said silver layer in an amount of from 700 to 900 mg/m².

15. The process according to claim 1, wherein silver is present in said silver layer in an amount of from 800 to 850 mg/m².

16. The process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one epoxy paint layer has a thickness of from 25 to 55 μ

m.

17. The process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one epoxy paint layer has a thickness of from 35 to 45 μ

m.

18. The process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one epoxy paint layer has a thickness of from 35 to 40 μ

m.

19. The process according to claim 1, wherein said silver layer has a thickness of from 60 to 110 nm.

20. The process according to claim 1, wherein said silver layer has a thickness of from 70 to 100 nm.