Titanium silicide-coated glass windows

• US 5,057,375 A
• Filed: 04/15/1988
• Issued: 10/15/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roy G. Gordon
• Original Assignee: Roy G. Gordon
• Inventors: Gordon, Roy G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Ellis P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Turner, Archene A.
• Application Number:
  US07/182,092
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 428/426-428, 428/432-433, 428/446, 428/688, 428/689, 428/699, 428/698, 428/701, 428/702, 428/704, 428/332, 428/336, 428/213
• US Class Current: 428/432
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/22 with other inorganic material C03C17/34, C03C17/44 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3435 comprising a nitride, oxynitride, boronitride or carbonitride
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3482 comprising silicon, hydrogenated silicon or a silicide
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/282 Carbides, silicides
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2218/152 by cvd
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2495 Thickness [relative or absolute]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/265 1 mil or less

Abstract

Transparent glass windows comprising thereon titanium silicide (TiSi₂) as the principal solar screening layer for reducing transmission of near infrared and visible radiation. In some embodiments, a protective layer of silicon or metal oxide, about 300 angstroms thick, is placed thereover. The protective layer serves to protect the silicide from oxidation during high-temperature processing procedures and increases the abrasion-resistance of the window product. The particular importance of titanium silicide film is that it allows production of a window that is neutral in color when viewed in transmission as well as in reflection. Thus, one is able to provide a durable, pyrolytic, high-performance, color-neutral, solar-shielding window product.

Claims

1. In a window having a transparent coated glass member, said member mounted in a frame so that it has a first surface facing outwardly of a structure and a second surface facing inwardly of said structure, the improvement wherein the window consists essentially of

a) a transparent glass substrate;

b) a transparent coating comprising titanium silicide on said substrate to enhance the solar-shielding properties of said window while preserving a color-neutral appearance of said window when viewed from either surface of said window; and

c) a protective overcoat for said titanium silicide coating on said window, said protective overcoat comprising silicon or a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica or tin oxide.

2. A window as defined in claim 1 wherein said titanium silicide coating is about 200 to 800 Å

.

3. A window as defined in claim 1 wherein said protective overcoat is about 200 to 400 Å

.

4. A window as defined in claim 1 wherein said window consists essentially of in addition to said glass substrate, a sequence of coatings thereover, said sequence of coatings being, from the glass outwardly,

(1) a coating of about 200 Å

of titanium silicide;

(2) a coating of about 200 Å

of titanium nitride; and

(3) a coating of about 200 Å

of titanium silicide.

5. A window as defined in claims 1 or 5 wherein said protective overcoat has a thickness of about 100-400 Å

.

6. A window as defined in claim 1 wherein said protective overcoat is formed of tin oxide.

7. A solar screening transparent sheet product having a first surface and a second surface, the sheet product being color neutral when viewed from either surface and characterized by oxidation resistance during annealing, tempering, bending or other processes at temperatures above 800°

F., said product consists essentially of

a) an exterior film of silicon or a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica or tin oxide;

b) a film of titanium silicide under said silicon or metal oxide and forming the principle barrier to near infrared and visible radiation of said product; and

c) a substrate of transparent glass under said film of titanium silicide.

8. A sheet product as defined in claim 7 wherein said exterior film of silicon or metal oxide is in a range from about 100 to 400 Å

.

9. A sheet product as defined in claim 7 wherein said exterior film is of tin oxide and is a means to provide abrasion resistance superior to the abrasion resistance of titanium silicide.

10. A sheet product as defined in claim 7 wherein the titanium silicide has a thickness of about 300-800 Å

.