Method of making matchable low-E I.G units and laminates
First Claim
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1. A method of making a matchable glass article having at least two glass substrates in light transmitting communication with each other, the method comprising:
- a) sequentially sputter coating onto a surface of at least one of said glass substrates a heat treatable layer system which comprises from the glass substrate on which it is coated outwardly;
a first layer of silicon nitride;
a second substantially metallic layer of nickel or nickel alloy having a nickel content of at least about 10% by weight Ni, said layer being substantially free of a nitride or oxide of said metal;
a third substantially metallic layer of silver;
a fourth substantially metallic layer of nickel or nickel alloy having a nickel content of at least about 10% by weight Ni, said layer being substantially free of a nitride or an oxide of said metal; and
a fifth layer of silicon nitride;
b) subjecting said substrate having said coating thereon to a heat treatment which increases the visible transmittance of said coated substrate by at least 4%; and
c) thereafter fabricating said glass substrates so as to be in light transmitting communication with each other thereby to form said matchable glass article, wherein the heat treated glass article has a Δ
E*ab value less than 2.0 and a Δ
a* value less than 0.7 due to said heat treatment.
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Abstract
A neutral blue-green heat treatable and matchable glass laminate or I.G. unit employs a layer system whose visible transmittance increases by at least 4% during heat treatment and whose ΔE*ab is less than about 3.0 and Δa* is less than about 0.7. The sputter coated layer system includes a silver layer sandwiched between nichrome layers and thereafter layers of Si3N4.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of making a matchable glass article having at least two glass substrates in light transmitting communication with each other, the method comprising:
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a) sequentially sputter coating onto a surface of at least one of said glass substrates a heat treatable layer system which comprises from the glass substrate on which it is coated outwardly;
a first layer of silicon nitride;
a second substantially metallic layer of nickel or nickel alloy having a nickel content of at least about 10% by weight Ni, said layer being substantially free of a nitride or oxide of said metal;
a third substantially metallic layer of silver;
a fourth substantially metallic layer of nickel or nickel alloy having a nickel content of at least about 10% by weight Ni, said layer being substantially free of a nitride or an oxide of said metal; and
a fifth layer of silicon nitride;
b) subjecting said substrate having said coating thereon to a heat treatment which increases the visible transmittance of said coated substrate by at least 4%; and
c) thereafter fabricating said glass substrates so as to be in light transmitting communication with each other thereby to form said matchable glass article, wherein the heat treated glass article has a Δ
E*ab value less than 2.0 and a Δ
a* value less than 0.7 due to said heat treatment.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said heat treatment is tempering.
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7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said heat treatment increases said visible transmittance by 5%-7%.
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8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said glass article has a generally neutral blue-green color and when viewed from the glass side of said coating has a Δ
- a* of less than 0.5.
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9. The method of claim 1 wherein said article is an insulating glass unit whose U-values and shading coefficients are substantially the same as those of an otherwise identically formed I.G. unit whose coated substrate is not heat treated.
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10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said U-values and shading coefficients are:
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11. The method according to claim 1 wherein said layer coating system so formed is mechanically and chemically durable both before and after said heat treatment.
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12. A method of making a coated article, the method comprising:
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providing a first substrate;
sputtering a coating system so as to be supported by the first substrate, wherein the coating system includes at least one layer comprising silver (Ag) located between at least first and second layers comprising silicon nitride; and
tempering the substrate with the coating system thereon via heat treatment, wherein the tempering causes the substrate with the coating system thereon when viewed from the substrate side to experience a Δ
Eab of less than 2.0 and a Δ
a* of less than about 0.8.- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of making a coated article, the method comprising:
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providing a first substrate;
sputtering a coating system so as to be supported by the first substrate, wherein the coating system includes at least one layer comprising silver (Ag) located between at least first and second layers comprising silicon nitride; and
heat treating the substrate with the coating system thereon via heat treatment, wherein the heat treating causes the substrate with the coating system thereon when viewed from the substrate side to experience a Δ
E*ab of less than 2.0 and a Δ
a* of less than about 0.8.- View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification