FRITS FOR USE IN VACUUM INSULATING GLASS (VIG) UNITS, AND/OR ASSOCIATED METHODS
First Claim
1. A kit comprising first and second frit materials for use in forming an edge seal for a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) window unit, wherein:
- the first frit material comprises at least 65% bismuth oxide, by weight, the first frit material being fusable to glass when the glass reaches a first temperature of 550 degrees C. or higher, andthe second frit material comprises vanadium oxide, barium oxide, and zinc oxide, in amounts that total at least 65% by weight, the second frit being structured to form a bond with the first frit material in making the edge seal for the VIG window unit and being meltable when the glass reaches at a second temperature of no more than 400 degrees C., the first frit material being wettable at the second temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units having improved seals made using two different frit-based edge seal materials, and/or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, a first frit material is applied around peripheral edges of first and second glass substrates. The first frit material, which may be bismuth-based in certain example embodiments, is fired with a heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering) process. A second frit material, which may be VBZ-based in certain example embodiments, is applied and at least partially overlaps with the fired first frit material. The first frit material acts as a primer, and the second frit material helps seal together the VIG unit. The second frit material is fired at a significantly lower temperature that enables the glass to retain the temper or other strength imparted by the heat treatment.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A kit comprising first and second frit materials for use in forming an edge seal for a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) window unit, wherein:
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the first frit material comprises at least 65% bismuth oxide, by weight, the first frit material being fusable to glass when the glass reaches a first temperature of 550 degrees C. or higher, and the second frit material comprises vanadium oxide, barium oxide, and zinc oxide, in amounts that total at least 65% by weight, the second frit being structured to form a bond with the first frit material in making the edge seal for the VIG window unit and being meltable when the glass reaches at a second temperature of no more than 400 degrees C., the first frit material being wettable at the second temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 21)
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12. The kit of claim 12, wherein the first frit material and second frit materials are also usable in forming a seal between a pump-out tube of a VIG unit and an inner surface of a hole formed in a substrate of the VIG unit in which the pump-out tube is located.
- 14. A frit material for use in forming both an edge seal and a pump-out port seal for a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) window unit, wherein the frit material comprises at least 65% bismuth oxide and at least 2% zinc oxide, by weight, the frit material being designed to fuse to glass when the glass reaches a first temperature of 550 degrees C. or higher, and being designed to wet when the glass reaches a second temperature that is at least 150 degrees C. lower than the first temperature.
Specification