Reflective or semi-reflective metal alloy coatings

• US 7,572,517 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Target Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Target Technology Company LLC
• Inventors: Wityak, George M.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNeil; Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, DANIEL H
• Application Number:
  US11/032,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20060165943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,674 Days
• Field of Search: 428/457, 428/64.1, 428/425.9, 428/64.4, 428/64.5, 430/270
• US Class Current: 428/457
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3647 in combination with other metals, silver being more than 50%
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/366 Low-emissivity or solar control coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 5/06 Alloys based on silver
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 5/08 with copper as the next major constituent
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 30/00 Coating with metallic material characterised only by the composition of the metallic material, i.e. not characterised by the coating process C23C26/00, C23C28/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/24 Record carriers characterised by shape, structure or physical properties, or by the selection of the material characterised by the arrangement of information on the carrier G11B7/007
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/24038 Multiple laminated recording layers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/2467 azo-dyes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/2472 cyanine
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/248 porphines; azaporphines, e.g. phthalocyanines
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/258 of reflective layers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/259 based on silver
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/2595 based on gold
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/26 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12771 Transition metal-base component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12868 Group IB metal-base component alternative to platinum group metal-base component [e.g., precious metal, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31678 Of metal

Abstract

A silver-based alloy composition for use as a reflective, semi-reflective or highly reflective coatings or layer(s) for use in optical data storage media, low emissivity glass, transparent conductive displays, and electro-chromic mirrors, or other reflective, semi-reflective or highly reflective applications. The alloy compositions comprise silver with hafnium, and/or indium, and/or copper, and/or zinc, and/or silicon and/or tin.

Claims

1. An optical storage medium including a coating, said coating comprising an alloy comprising:

silver; and

hafnium;

wherein said coating is a semi-reflective and semi-transparent coating proximate a first information layer having stored information therein in the form of a molded or stamped first data pit pattern,

wherein said coating forms a layer in said optical storage medium; and

wherein said optical storage medium further comprises a highly-reflective coating proximate a second information layer having stored information therein in the form of a molded or stamped second data pit pattern.

2. The medium of claim 1, wherein said silver is in an amount of between approximately 85% by weight and approximately 99.9% by weight.

3. The medium of claim 2, wherein said silver is in an amount of between approximately 90% by weight and approximately 99% by weight.

4. The medium of claim 3, wherein said silver is in an amount of between approximately 95% by weight and approximately 99% by weight.

5. The medium of claim 1, wherein said hafnium is between approximately 0.01% by weight and approximately 15.0% by weight.

6. The medium of claim 5, wherein said hafnium is between approximately 1.0% by weight and approximately 10% by weight.

7. The medium of claim 6, wherein said hafnium is between approximately 1.0% by weight and approximately 5.0% by weight.

8. The medium of claim 7, comprising approximately 98% silver and approximately 2.0% hafnium.