Glazing panel

• US 6,340,529 B1
• Filed: 12/20/1999
• Issued: 01/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited (AGC, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited (AGC, Inc.)
• Inventors: Decroupet, Daniel, Aomine, Nobutaka, Takeda, Satoshi, Noda, Kazuyoshi, Ebisawa, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Deborah
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCNEIL, JENNIFER C
• Application Number:
  US09/466,785
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 428/432, 428/433, 428/434, 428/469, 428/698, 428/426, 428/472, 428/701, 359/359, 359/585
• US Class Current: 428/432
• 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 17/3626 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 17/3647 in combination with other metals, silver being more than 50%
• 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

Abstract

A glazing panel carrying a solar control coating stack comprising in sequence at least:

a glass substrate;

a base antireflective layer comprises at least one layer comprising a nitride of aluminum

an infra-red reflecting layer; and

a top antireflective layer.

The nitride of aluminum confers, inter alia, good thermal stability on the coating, particularly during heat treatment.

Claims

1. A glazing panel, comprising in sequence at least:

a glass substrate,

a base antireflective layer comprising at least one layer comprising aluminum nitride,

an infra-red reflecting layer, and

a top antireflective layer,

wherein a heat treatment of said glazing panel causes an increase of the value of T_L of the glazing panel of at least 2.5%.

2. The panel in accordance with claim 1 comprising in sequence at least:

said glass substrate,

said base antireflective layer,

said infra-red reflecting layer,

a central antireflective layer,

said infra-red reflecting layer; and

said top antireflective layer.

3. The panel in accordance with claim 1, in which the at least one layer comprising a nitride of aluminum has a geometrical thickness greater than 40 Å

.

4. The panel in accordance with claim 1, in which the at least one layer comprising a nitride of aluminum has a geometrical thickness less than 195 Å

.

5. The panel in accordance with claim 1, in which the base antireflective layer and the top antireflective layer each comprises at least one layer comprising a nitride of aluminum.

6. The panel in accordance with claim 1, in which each antireflective layer comprises at least one layer comprising a nitride of aluminum.

7. The panel in accordance with claim 1, in which the base antireflective layer comprises a first layer adjacent to the substrate comprising a nitride of aluminum and an overlying layer comprising a metal oxide.

8. The panel in accordance with claim 7, in which the layer of a metal oxide is a layer of a mixed oxide of zinc and aluminum.

9. The panel in accordance with claim 8, in which the mixed oxide of zinc and aluminum has an atomic ratio Al/Zn of greater than or equal to 0.05 and less than or equal to 0.25.

10. The panel in accordance with claim 1, in which the top antireflective layer comprises a first layer of a metal oxide and an overlying layer comprising a nitride of aluminum.

11. A method of manufacturing a glazing panel having a haze of less than about 0.5 comprising the step of subjecting the glazing panel as claimed in claim 1 to a heat treatment process of at least 570°

C.

12. The panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat treatment causes an increase of the value of T_L of the glazing panel of at least 5%.

13. The panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aluminum nitride is substantially pure AlN.

14. The panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aluminum nitride contains about 97% AlN by weight.

15. A glazing panel, comprising in sequence at least:

a glass substrate,

a base antireflective layer,

an infra-red reflecting layer, and

a top antireflective layer,

characterized in that the top antireflective layer comprises at least one layer comprising a nitride of aluminum having a geometrical thickness of less than 100 Å

;

and wherein a heat treatment of said glazing panel causes an increase of the value of T_L of the glazing panel of at least 5%.

16. The panel as claimed in claim 15, wherein said nitride of aluminum is substantially pure AlN.

17. The panel as claimed in claim 15, wherein said nitride of aluminum contains about 97% AlN by weight.

18. The panel as claimed in claim 15, wherein said base antireflective layer comprises at least one layer comprising aluminum nitride.

19. The panel as claimed in claim 15, wherein said top antireflective layer comprises a first layer of a metal oxide and an overlying layer comprising aluminum nitride.

20. The panel as claimed in claim 19, wherein said layer of a metal oxide is a layer of a mixed oxide of zinc and aluminum.

21. The panel as claimed in claim 20, wherein said layer of a metal oxide comprises an atomic ratio of Al/Zn of greater than or equal to 0.05 and less than or equal to 0.25.

22. A method of manufacturing a glazing panel having a haze of less than about 0.5 comprising the step of subjecting the glazing panel as claimed in claim 15 to a heat treatment process of at least 570°

C.

23. A glazing panel comprising in sequence at least:

a glass substrate,

a base antireflective layer,

an infra-red reflecting layer, and

a top antireflective layer,

characterized in that the top antireflective layer comprises at least one layer comprising a nitride of aluminum having a geometrical thickness of less than 100 Å

;

and wherein a heat treatment of said glazing panel causes an increase of the value of T_L of the glazing panel of at least 2.5%.

24. The panel as claimed in claim 23, wherein said base antireflective layer comprises at least one layer comprising aluminum nitride.

25. The panel as claimed in claim 23, wherein said top antireflective layer comprises a first layer of a metal oxide and an overlying layer comprising aluminum nitride.

26. The panel as claimed in claim 25, wherein said layer of a metal oxide is a layer of a mixed oxide of zinc and aluminum.

27. The panel as claimed in claim 26, wherein said layer of a metal oxide comprises an atomic ratio of Al/Zn of greater than or equal to 0.05 and less than or equal to 0.25.

28. The panel as claimed in claim 23, wherein said nitride of aluminum is substantially pure AlN.

29. The panel as claimed in claim 23, wherein said nitride of aluminum contains about 97% AlN by weight.

30. A method of manufacturing a glazing panel having a haze of less than about 0.5 comprising the step of subjecting the glazing panel as claimed in claim 23 to a heat treatment process of at least 570°

C.

31. A substantially haze free heat treated glazing panel, comprising in sequence at least:

a glass substrate,

a base antireflective layer comprising at least one layer comprising aluminum nitride,

an infra-red reflecting layer, and

a top antireflective layer,

wherein said heat treated glazing panel is formed by heat treating a heat treatable glazing panel and wherein the heat treating causes an increase of the value of T_L of the heat treatable glazing panel of at least 2.5%.

32. The panel in accordance with claim 31, comprising in sequence at least:

said glass substrate,

said base antireflective layer,

said infra-red reflecting layer,

a central antireflective layer,

said infra-red reflecting layer; and

a top antireflective layer.

33. The panel in accordance with claim 31, in which the at least one layer comprising a nitride of aluminum has a geometrical thickness greater than 40 Å

.

34. The panel in accordance with claim 31, in which the at least one layer comprising a nitride of aluminum has a geometrical thickness less than 195 Å

.

35. The panel in accordance with claim 31, in which the base antireflective layer and the top antireflective layer each comprises at least one layer comprising a nitride of aluminum.

36. The panel in accordance with claim 31, in which each antireflective layer comprises at least one layer comprising a nitride of aluminum.

37. The panel in accordance with claim 31, in which the base antireflective layer comprises a first layer adjacent to the substrate comprising a nitride of aluminum and an overlying layer comprising a metal oxide.

38. The panel in accordance with claim 37, in which the layer of a metal oxide is a layer of a mixed oxide of zinc and aluminum.

39. The panel in accordance with claim 38, in which the mixed oxide of zinc and aluminum has an atomic ratio Al/Zn of greater than or equal to 0.05 and less than or equal to 0.25.

40. The panel in accordance with claim 31, in which the top antireflective layer comprises a first layer of a metal oxide and an overlying layer comprising a nitride of aluminum.

41. A method of manufacturing the panel as claimed in claim 31, said panel having a haze of less than about 0.5, comprising subjecting the heat treatable glazing panel to a heat treatment process of at least 570°

C.

42. The panel as claimed in claim 31, comprising a haze of less than about 0.5.

43. The panel as claimed in claim 31, wherein said heat treating causes an increase of the value of T_L of the heat treatable glazing panel of at least 5%.

44. The panel as claimed in claim 31, wherein said heat treating is carried out at a temperature of at least 570°

C.

45. The panel as claimed in claim 31, wherein said aluminum nitride is substantially pure AlN.

46. The panel as claimed in claim 31, wherein said aluminum nitride contains about 97% AlN by weight.

47. A substantially haze free heat treated glazing panel, comprising in sequence at least:

a glass substrate,

a base antireflective layer,

an infra-red reflecting layer, and

a top antireflective layer,

characterized in that the top antireflective layer comprises at least one layer comprising a nitride of aluminum having a geometrical thickness of less than 100 Å

;

and wherein said substantially haze free heat treated panel is produced by heat treating a heat treatable glazing panel, and wherein the heat treating causes an increase of the value of T_L of the heat treatable glazing panel of at least 5%.

48. The panel as claimed in claim 47, comprising a haze of less than about 0.5.

49. The panel as claimed in claim 47, wherein said heat treating is carried out at a temperature of at least 570°

C.

50. The panel as claimed in claim 47, wherein said base antireflective layer comprises at least one layer comprising aluminum nitride.

51. The panel as claimed in claim 47, wherein said top antireflective layer comprises a first layer of a metal oxide and an overlying layer comprising aluminum nitride.

52. The panel as claimed in claim 51, wherein said layer of a metal oxide is a layer of a mixed oxide of zinc and aluminum.

53. The panel as claimed in claim 52, wherein said layer of a metal oxide comprises an atomic ratio of Al/Zn of greater than or equal to 0.05 and less than or equal to 0.25.

54. The panel as claimed in claim 47, wherein said nitride of aluminum is substantially pure AlN.

55. The panel as claimed in claim 47, wherein said nitride of aluminum contains about 97% AlN by weight.

56. A method of manufacturing the panel as claimed in claim 47, said panel having a haze of less than about 0.5, comprising subjecting the heat treatable glazing panel to a heat treatment process of at least 570°

C.

57. A substantially haze free heat treated glazing panel comprising in sequence at least:

a glass substrate,

a base antireflective layer,

an infra-red reflecting layer, and

a top antireflective layer,

characterized in that the top antireflective layer comprises at least one layer comprising a nitride of aluminum having a geometrical thickness of less than 100 Å

;

wherein said substantially haze free heat treated glazing panel is produced by heat treating a heat treatable glazing panel, and wherein the heat treating causes an increase of the value of T_L of the heat treatable glazing panel of at least 2.5%.

58. The panel as claimed in claim 57, comprising a haze of less than about 0.5.

59. The panel as claimed in claim 57, wherein said heat treating is carried out at a temperature of at least 570°

C.

60. The panel as claimed in claim 57, wherein said base antireflective layer comprises at least one layer comprising aluminum nitride.

61. The panel as claimed in claim 57, wherein said top antireflective layer comprises a first layer of a metal oxide and an overlying layer comprising aluminum nitride.

62. The panel as claimed in claim 61, wherein said layer of a metal oxide is a layer of a mixed oxide of zinc and aluminum.

63. The panel as claimed in claim 62, wherein said layer of a metal oxide comprises an atomic ratio of Al/Zn of greater than or equal to 0.05 and less than or equal to 0.25.

64. The panel as claimed in claim 57, wherein said nitride of aluminum is substantially pure AlN.

65. The panel as claimed in claim 57, wherein said nitride of aluminum contains about 97% AlN by weight.

66. A method of manufacturing the panel as claimed in claim 57, said panel having a haze of less than about 0.5, comprising subjecting the heat treatable glazing panel to a heat treatment process of at least 570°

C.