Heat treatable coated articles with metal nitride layer and methods of making same

• US 6,716,532 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Guardian Glass LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Guardian Industries Corporation (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wang, Hong, Neuman, George, Stachowiak, Grzegorz
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Deborah
• Assistant Examiner(s): Piziali, Andrew T
• Application Number:
  US10/318,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20030108779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 428/428, 428/432, 428/448, 428/689, 428/697, 428/698, 428/699, 428/701, 428/702, 428/704, 428/450, 428/666, 428/680
• US Class Current: 428/428
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3435 comprising a nitride, oxynitride, boronitride or carbonitride
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12847 Cr-base component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12944 Ni-base component

Abstract

A heat treatable coated article including a solar management layer for reflecting infrared (IR) or the like, is provided between a substrate and an overlying dielectric layer. An underlying dielectric layer between the substrate and solar management layer is optional. In certain embodiments, the solar management layer may include NiCrN_x while the dielectric layer(s) may include a nitride such as silicon nitride. By nitriding the solar management layer, it has been found that the resulting coated article is more color stable upon heat treatment (HT). For example, the coated article may have a ΔE* value (transmissive and/or glass side reflective) of no greater than 5.0, more preferably no greater than 4.0, and most preferably no greater than 3.0. Coated articles herein may be used in the context of insulating glass (IG) window units, vehicle windows, or the like.

Claims

1. A heat treated coated article comprising:

a layer system supported by a glass substrate, the layer system comprising a metal nitride inclusive layer comprising a nitride of Ni and/or Cr located between at least first and second dielectric layers, wherein the second dielectric layer is at least partially nitrided and positioned so that the metal nitride inclusive layer is between the second dielectric and the glass substrate; and

wherein said coated article has a transmissive Δ

E*_T value no greater than 4.0 after heat treatment.

2. The coated article of claim 1, wherein the coated article has a transmissive Δ

E*_T value no greater than 3.0 after heat treatment.

3. The coated article of claim 1, wherein the coated article has a transmissive Δ

a* value no greater than 1.1 after heat treatment.

4. The coated article of claim 1, wherein the coated article has a transmissive Δ

a* value no greater than 0.8 following heat treatment.

5. The coated article of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second dielectric layers comprise silicon nitride.

6. The coated article of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second dielectric layers are nitrided, and wherein said metal nitride inclusive layer contacts each of said first and second dielectric layers.

7. The coated article of claim 1, wherein said metal nitride inclusive layer comprises a nitride of Cr.

12. The coated article of claim 1, wherein said heat treatment is for at least about five minutes at a temperature of at least about 600 degrees C.

8. A heat treated coated article comprising:

a layer system supported by a glass substrate, said layer system comprising a metal nitride inclusive layer located between at least first and second dielectric layers, wherein the second dielectric layer is at least partially nitrided and positioned so that the metal nitride inclusive layer is between the second dielectric layer and the glass substrate; and

wherein said coated article has a glass side reflective Δ

E*_G value no greater than 4.0 after heat treatment.

9. The coated article of claim 8, wherein said coated article has a glass side reflective Δ

E*_G value no greater than 3.0 after heat treatment.

10. The coated article of claim 8, wherein each of said first and second dielectric layers comprises a nitride, and wherein said metal nitride inclusive layer is in contact with each of said first and second dielectric layers.

11. The coated article of claim 8, wherein said heat treatment comprises heating the coated article for at least about five minutes at a temperature of at least about 600 degrees C.

16. The coated article of claim 8, wherein the metal nitride inclusive layer comprises a nitride of Ni and/or Cr.

13. A coated article comprising:

a layer system supported by a glass substrate, said layer system comprising a metal nitride inclusive layer comprising a nitride of Ni and/or Cr located between at least first and second dielectric layers, wherein said second dielectric layer is at least partially nitrided and positioned so that the metal nitride inclusive layer is between the second dielectric layer and the glass substrate; and

means for enabling the coated article to have a transmissive Δ

E*_T value no greater than 5.0 if thermally tempered.

14. The coated article of claim 13, further comprising means for enabling the coated article to have a transmissive Δ

E*_T value no greater than 4.0 if thermally tempered.

15. The coated article of claim 13, further comprising means for enabling the coated article to have a transmissive Δ

E*_T value no greater than 3.0 if thermally tempered.