Coated article with low-E coating including zirconium silicon oxynitride and methods of making same

• US 7,153,578 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guardian Glass LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique SA, Guardian Industries Corporation (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dietrich, Anton, Disteldorf, Bernd, Chonlamaitri, Ratchaneekorn
• Primary Examiner(s): McNeil, Jennifer C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACKWELL, GWENDOLYN
• Application Number:
  US11/004,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20060121290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 428/428, 428/432, 428/446, 428/448, 428/697, 428/698, 428/699, 428/704
• US Class Current: 428/428
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/36 at least one coating being a metal
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3613 Coatings of type glass/inorganic compound/metal/inorganic compound/metal/other
• 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 17/3644 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 2217/74 UV-absorbing coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2218/154 by sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/0676 Oxynitrides

Abstract

A coated article is provided with at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer. In certain embodiments, the coating is provided with at least one layer of zirconium silicon oxynitride (e.g., ZrSiO_xN_y), for improving the coated article'"'"'s ability to block of UV radiation. The oxygen content of the layer may be adjusted in order to tune the coating'"'"'s visible transmission versus UV blockage.

Claims

1. A coated article including a coating supported by a glass substrate, the coating comprising:

a first layer;

an infrared (IR) reflecting layer comprising silver located on the substrate over at least the first layer;

a second layer located on the substrate and over at least the IR reflecting layer and the first layer; and

wherein the first layer and/or the second layer comprises zirconium silicon oxynitride, and wherein the zirconium silicon oxynitride contains more zirconium than silicon, and oxygen content of the layer comprising zirconium silicon oxynitride is provided in an amount so that the layer(s) comprising zirconium silicon oxynitride at a wavelength of 550 nm has an index of refraction (n) of from about 1.8 to 2.4.

2. The coated article of claim 1, further comprising a layer comprising zinc oxide located between the first layer and the IR reflecting layer.

3. The coated article of claim 1, wherein the first layer comprises zirconium silicon oxynitride and is in direct contact with the glass substrate.

4. The coated article of claim 1, wherein both the first layer and the second layer comprises zirconium silicon oxynitride.

5. The coated article of claim 1, wherein the first layer and/or the second layer consist essentially of zirconium silicon oxynitride.

6. The coated article of claim 1, wherein the coating has a sheet resistance (R_s) of no greater than about 6 ohms/square and a visible transmission of at least about 50%.

7. The coated article of claim 1, further comprising a layer comprising silicon nitride located on the substrate over the second layer.

8. The coated article of claim 1, wherein the coating comprises two IR reflecting layers comprising silver.

9. The coated article of claim 1, wherein the coating comprises a layer comprising an oxide of Ni and/or Cr located over and directly contacting the IR reflecting layer.

10. The coated article of claim 1, wherein the coating has a visible transmission of at least about 60%.

11. The coated article of claim 1, wherein the coated article is an insulating glass (IG) window unit comprising the glass substrate and the coating.

12. The coated article of claim 1, wherein the coated article is an insulating glass (IG) window unit, the IG window unit comprising said glass substrate and another glass substrate spaced therefrom, and wherein the IG window unit has a U-value of no greater than 1.25 W/(m²K).

13. The coated article of claim 12, wherein the IG window unit has a U-value of no greater than 1.20 W/(m²K).

14. The coated article of claim 1, wherein the coated article is a vehicle windshield.

15. The coated article of claim 1, wherein a Zr/Si ratio in the first layer and/or second layer is less than about 5.0.

16. The coated article of claim 1, wherein a Zr/Si ratio in the first layer and/or second layer is less than about 4.0.

17. The coated article of claim 1, wherein a Zr/Si ratio in the first layer and/or second layer is less than about 3.0.

22. The coated article of claim 1, wherein a ratio of nitrogen/oxygen in the zirconium silicon oxynitride is from about 1 to 25.

23. The coated article of claim 1, wherein a ratio of nitrogen/oxygen in the zirconium silicon oxynitride is from about 2 to 18.

24. The coated article of claim 1, wherein a ratio of nitrogen/oxygen in the zirconium silicon oxynitride is from about 2 to 10.

26. The coated articleof claim 1, wherein the Zr/Si ratio in the first layer and/or second layer is from about 1.25 to 1.75.

18. A coated article including a coating supported by a glass substrate, the coating comprising:

a first layer;

an infrared (IR) reflecting layer comprising silver located on the substrate over at least the first layer;

a second layer located on the substrate and over at least the IR reflecting layer and the first layer;

wherein the first layer and/or the second layer comprises zirconium silicon oxynitride containing more zirconium than silicon; and

wherein a Zr/Si ratio in the first layer and/or second layer is from about 1.0 to 2.0.

19. The coated article of claim 18, wherein oxygen content of the zirconium silicon oxynitride is provided in an amount so that the layer(s) comprising zirconium silicon oxynitride at a wavelength of 550 nm has an index of refraction (n) of from about 1.6 to 2.8, and an extinction coefficient (k) of no greater than about 2.3.

20. The coated article of claim 18, wherein oxygen content of the zirconium silicon oxynitride is provided in an amount so that the layer(s) comprising zirconium silicon oxynitride at a wavelength of 550 nm has an index of refraction (n) of from about 1.7 to 2.5, and an extinction coefficient (k) of no greater than about 2.0.

21. The coated article of claim 18, wherein oxygen content of the zirconium silicon oxynitride is provided in an amount so that the layer(s) comprising zirconium silicon oxynitride at a wavelength of 550 nm has an index of refraction (n) of from about 1.8 to 2.4, and an extinction coefficient (k) of no greater than about 1.8.

25. The coated article of claim 18, wherein the Zr/Si ratio in the first layer and/or second layer is from about 1.25 to 1.75.