High shading performance coatings

• US 7,122,252 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardinal CG Company (Cardinal Glass Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cardinal CG Company (Cardinal Glass Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hoffman, Wayne L.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNeil, Jennifer C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blackwell, G.
• Application Number:
  US10/438,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20040016202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 428/428, 428/433, 428/434, 428/697, 428/698, 428/699, 428/701, 428/702, 428/704
• 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 17/3639 Multilayers containing at least two functional metal layers
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3644 the metal being silver
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/78 Coatings specially designed to be durable, e.g. scratch-resistant
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00

Abstract

The invention provides high shading performance, low-emissivity coatings. The invention provides a monolithic pane bearing a high shading performance, low-emissivity coating. The invention also provides an insulating glass unit bearing a high shading performance, low-emissivity coating. Finally, the invention provides methods of producing coated substrates by depositing high shading performance, low-emissivity coatings.

Claims

1. A transparent substrate bearing a high shading performance, low-emissivity coating comprising, in sequence outwardly:

(a) a first infrared-reflective film having a thickness of between about 76 Å and

about 122 Å

;

(b) a first high absorption blocker layer positioned directly over the first infrared-reflective film, the first high absorption blocker layer comprising a metallic film selected from the group consisting of niobium, titanium, and niobium-titanium, wherein the first high absorption blocker layer has a thickness of between about 38 Å and

about 69 Å

;

(c) a second infrared-reflective film having a thickness of between about 119 Å and

about 184 Å

; and

(d) a second high absorption blocker layer positioned directly over the second infrared-reflective film, the second high absorption blocker layer comprising a metallic film selected from the group consisting of niobium, titanium, niobium-titanium, wherein the second high absorption blocker layer has a thickness of between about 29 Å and

about 63 Å

, wherein the first and second high absorption blocker layers have a combined thickness of at least 70 Å

, the coating comprising an inner coat between the substrate and the first infrared-reflective film, the inner coat having an optical thickness and comprising at least one transparent dielectric film, the coating comprising a middle coat between the first high absorption blocker layer and the second infrared-reflective film, the middle coat having an optical thickness and comprising at least one transparent dielectric film, wherein the coating has a ratio defined as the optical thickness of the inner coat divided by the optical thickness of the middle coat, said ratio being between about 0.12 and about 0.2.

2. The transparent substrate of claim 1 wherein the first and second infrared-reflective films have a combined thickness of between about 209 Å

and about 293 Å

.

3. The transparent substrate of claim 1 wherein the combined thickness of the first and second high absorption blocker layers is between 72 Å

and about 110 Å

.

4. The transparent substrate of claim 1 wherein the first and second infrared-reflective films have a combined thickness of between about 233 Å

and about 266 Å

, and the combined thickness of the first and second high absorption blocker layers is between 80 Å and

100 Å

.

5. The transparent substrate of claim 1 wherein the optical thickness of the inner coat is less than about 334 Å

.

6. The transparent substrate of claim 1 wherein the optical thickness of the inner coat is between about 172 Å

and about 322 Å

.

7. The transparent substrate of claim 1 wherein the optical thickness of the middle coat is between about 962 Å

and about 1552 Å

.

8. The transparent substrate of claim 1 wherein the coating comprises an outer coat further from the substrate than the second high absorption blocker layer, the outer coat comprising at least one transparent dielectric film.

9. The transparent substrate of claim 8 wherein the outer coat has an optical thickness of between about 476 Å

and about 624 Å

.

10. The transparent substrate of claim 4 wherein the coating includes an outer coat further from the substrate than the second high absorption blocker layer, wherein the optical thickness of the inner coat is between about 192 Å

and about 290 Å

, the optical thickness of the middle coat is between about 1070 Å and

about 1410 Å

, and the outer coat has an optical thickness of between about 530 Å and

about 568 Å

.

11. The transparent substrate of claim 1 wherein the coating has an emissivity of less than about 0.08.

12. The transparent substrate of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the first high absorption blocker layer is at least 5 Å

different than the thickness of the second high absorption blocker layer.

13. The transparent substrate of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second high absorption blocker layers has a physical thickness of greater than 50 Å

.

14. The transparent substrate of claim 1 wherein the inner coat has a physical thickness of less than about 167 Å

.

15. The transparent substrate of claim 1 wherein the inner coat is positioned directly over the substrate, wherein each film of the inner coat is a transparent dielectric film having a refractive index of between about 1.7 and about 2.4, and wherein the first infrared-reflective film is positioned directly over the inner coat.

16. The transparent substrate of claim 1 wherein the transparent substrate bearing the high shading performance, low-emissivity coating has a maximum transmission in the visible range, said maximum transmission being less than 50%.

17. An insulating glass unit comprising first and second panes held in a spaced-apart configuration, the panes having confronting inner surfaces oriented toward a between-pane space and opposed outer surfaces oriented away from the between-pane space, wherein one of said inner surfaces bears a high shading performance, low-emissivity coating comprising first and second infrared-reflective films and first and second high absorption blocker layers positioned respectively directly over said first and second infrared-reflective films, wherein the first and second high absorption blocker layers have a combined thickness of at least 70 Å

, wherein each of the high absorption blocker layers comprises a metallic film selected from the group consisting of niobium, titanium, and niobium-titanium, and wherein the insulating glass unit has a total visible transmittance of between about 0.36 and about 0.44 and an exterior reflected color characterized by an a_h, color coordinate of between about −

0.75 and about −

3.25 and a b_h color coordinate of between about −

2.25 and about −

4.75, the coating comprising an inner coat positioned directly over said one of said inner surfaces, wherein the inner coat comprises at least one transparent dielectric film, and wherein each film of the inner coat is a transparent dielectric film having a refractive index of between about 1.7 and about 2.4, the first infrared-reflective film being positioned directly over the inner coat.

18. The insulating glass unit of claim 17 wherein the coating has an emissivity of less than about 0.08.

19. The insulating glass unit of claim 17 wherein the insulating glass unit has an exterior visible reflectance of less than about 15%.

20. The insulating glass unit of claim 17 wherein the first infrared-reflective film has a thickness of between about 76 Å

and about 122 Å

, the first high absorption blocker layer has a thickness of between about 38 Å and

about 69 Å

, the second infrared-reflective film has a thickness of between about 119 Å and

about 184 Å

, and the second high absorption blocker layer has a thickness of between about 29 Å and

about 63 Å

.

21. The insulating glass unit of claim 20 wherein the first and second infrared-reflective films have a combined thickness of between about 233 Å

and about 266 Å

, and the combined thickness of the first and second high absorption blocker layers is between 80 Å and

100 Å

.

22. The insulating glass unit of claim 21 wherein the coating comprises, in sequence outwardly:

(a) the inner coat;

(b) the first infrared-reflective film;

(c) the first high absorption blocker layer;

(d) a middle coat comprising at least one transparent dielectric film;

(e) the second infrared-reflective film;

(f) the second high absorption blocker layer; and

(g) an outer coat comprising at least one transparent dielectric film.

23. The insulating glass unit of claim 22 wherein the inner coat has an optical thickness of between about 192 Å

and about 290 Å

, the middle coat has an optical thickness of between about 1070 Å and

about 1410 Å

, and the outer coat has an optical thickness of between about 530 Å and

about 568 Å

.

24. The insulating glass unit of claim 17 wherein the first high absorption blocker layer has a thickness that is at least 5 Å

different than a thickness of the second high absorption blocker layer.

25. The insulating glass unit of claim 17 wherein at least one of the first and second high absorption blocker layers has a physical thickness of greater than 50 Å

.

26. The insulating glass unit of claim 17 wherein the inner coat has a physical thickness of less than about 167 Å

.

27. The insulating glass unit of claim 17 wherein the insulating glass unit has a solar heat gain coefficient of between about 0.3 and about 0.25.

28. An insulating glass unit comprising first and second panes held in a spaced-apart configuration, the panes having confronting inner surfaces oriented toward a between-pane space and opposed outer surfaces oriented away from the between-pane space, wherein one of said inner surfaces bears a high shading performance, low-emissivity coating comprising first and second infrared-reflective films and first and second high absorption blocker layers positioned respectively directly over said first and second infrared-reflective films, wherein each of the high absorption blocker layers comprises a metallic film selected from the group consisting of niobium, titanium, and niobium-titanium, wherein the first and second high absorption blocker layers have a combined thickness of at least 70 Å

, and wherein the insulating glass unit has a solar heat gain coefficient of less than about 0.3, the coating comprising an inner coat between said one of said inner surfaces and the first infrared-reflective film, the inner coat having an optical thickness and comprising at least one transparent dielectric film, the coating comprising a middle coat between the first high absorption blocker layer and the second infrared-reflective film, the middle coat having an optical thickness and comprising at least one transparent dielectric film, wherein the coating has a ratio defined as the optical thickness of the inner coat divided by the optical thickness of the middle coat, said ratio being between about 0.12 and about 0.2.

29. The insulating glass unit of claim 28 wherein the solar heat gain coefficient is less than about 0.27.

30. The insulating glass unit of claim 28 wherein the coating has an emissivity of less than about 0.08.

31. The insulating glass unit of claim 28 wherein the insulating glass unit has an exterior visible reflectance of less than about 18%.

32. The insulating glass unit of claim 31 wherein the exterior visible reflectance is less than about 15%.

33. The insulating glass unit of claim 28 wherein the insulating glass unit has an exterior reflected color characterized by an a_h color coordinate of between about −

0.75 and about −

3.25 and a b_h color coordinate of between about −

2.25 and about −

4.75.

34. The insulating glass unit of claim 28 wherein the first infrared-reflective film has a thickness of between about 76 Å

and about 122 Å

, the first high absorption blocker layer has a thickness of between about 38 Å and

about 69 Å

, the second infrared-reflective film has a thickness of between about 119 Å and

about 184 Å

, and the second high absorption blocker layer has a thickness of between about 29 Å and

about 63 Å

.

35. The insulating glass unit of claim 34 wherein the first and second infrared-reflective films have a combined thickness of between about 233 Å

and about 266 Å

, and the combined thickness of the first and second high absorption blocker layers is between 80 Å and

100 Å

.

36. The-insulating glass unit of claim 35 wherein the coating comprises, in sequence outwardly:

(a) the inner coat;

(b) the first infrared-reflective film;

(c) the first high absorption blocker layer;

(d) the middle coat;

(e) the second infrared-reflective film;

(f) the second high absorption blocker layer; and

(g) an outer coat comprising at least one transparent dielectric film.

37. The insulating glass unit of claim 36 wherein the optical thickness of the inner coat is between about 192 Å

and about 290 Å

, the optical thickness of the middle coat is between about 1070 Å and

about 1410 Å

, and the outer coat has an optical thickness of between about 530 Å and

about 568 Å

.

38. The insulating glass unit of claim 28 wherein the first high absorption blocker layer has a thickness that is at least 5 Å

different than a thickness of the second high absorption blocker layer.

39. The insulating glass unit of claim 28 wherein at least one of the first and second high absorption blocker layers has a physical thickness of greater than 50 Å

.

40. The insulating glass unit of claim 28 wherein the inner coat has a physical thickness of less than about 167 Å

.

41. The insulating glass unit of claim 28 wherein the inner coat is positioned directly over said one of said inner surfaces, wherein each film of the inner coat is a transparent dielectric film having a refractive index of between about 1.7 and about 2.4, and wherein the first infrared-reflective film is positioned directly over the inner coat.

42. The insulating glass unit of claim 28 wherein the solar heat gain coefficient is between about 0.3 and about 0.25.

43. The insulating glass unit of claim 28 wherein the insulating glass unit has a total visible transmittance of between about 0.36 and about 0.44.

44. An insulating glass unit comprising first and second panes held in a spaced-apart configuration, the panes having confronting inner surfaces oriented toward a between-pane space and opposed outer surfaces oriented away from the between-pane space, wherein one of said inner surfaces bears a high shading performance, low-emissivity coating comprising first and second infrared-reflective films and first and second high absorption blocker layers positioned respectively over said first and second infrared-reflective films, wherein the first and second high absorption blocker layers have a combined thickness of at least 70 angstroms, the coating comprising an inner coat positioned directly over said one of said inner surfaces, wherein the inner coat comprises at least one transparent dielectric film, wherein each film of the inner coat is a transparent dielectric film having a refractive index of between about 1.7 and about 2.4, the first infrared-reflective film being positioned directly over the inner coat, and the coating comprising a middle coat positioned between the first and second infrared-reflective films, the middle coat having an optical thickness and comprising at least one transparent dielectric film, wherein the coating has a ratio defined as the optical thickness of the inner coat divided by the optical thickness of the middle coat, said ratio being between about 0.12 and about 0.2, wherein the insulating glass unit has a total visible transmittance of between about 0.36 and about 0.44 and an exterior reflected color characterized by an a_h color coordinate of between about −

0.75 and about −

3.25 and a b_h color coordinate of between about −

2.25 and about −

4.75.