Articles coated with multi-layer coating stacks

Abstract

An article coated with a multi-layer coating stack includes an article, a multi-layer coating stack including a first layer disposed on the article and comprising a metal oxide or metal nitride, a functional layer disposed on the first layer and comprising indium doped tin oxide, and a second layer disposed on the functional layer and comprising silicon oxide.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 325,870, filed March 31, 2022, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 405,147, filed September 9, 2022, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties herein.

[0002] The present disclosure, in some non-limiting embodiments, relates to articles coated with multi-layer coating stacks, including transparent materials having a multi-layer coating stack on a surface thereof. [Background technology]

[0003] Technical considerations Transparencies are included in vehicles and architectural structures to allow users inside to see outside (and vice versa) and to allow light to enter the interior of the vehicle or architectural structure. As a result of sunlight entering the transparency, radiative heat transfer between the transparency and the interior of the vehicle or architectural structure can change the temperature of the interior, which can be undesirable. To reduce radiative heat transfer between the transparency and the interior, low-emissivity coatings have been developed that are applied over the transparency. These low-emissivity coatings are subject to environmental conditions and can change significantly in color and performance as the coating degrades. Thus, there is a need to protect low-emissivity coatings. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to some non-limiting aspects of the present disclosure, an article coated with a multilayer coating stack includes an article, a multilayer coating stack including: an article; a first layer disposed on the article and comprising a metal oxide or a metal nitride; a functional layer disposed on the first layer and comprising indium-doped tin oxide; and a second layer disposed on the functional layer and comprising silicon oxide.

[0005] In some non-limiting embodiments, the silicon oxide of the second layer may be aluminum silicon oxide. The first layer may include an underlayer disposed on the article and comprising at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide tin, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride, and an overlayer disposed on the underlayer and comprising silicon oxide. The coated article may consist essentially of or consist of a first layer disposed on the article, comprising an underlayer disposed on the article and comprising at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide tin, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride, and an overlayer disposed on the underlayer and comprising silicon oxide, a functional layer disposed on the first layer, and a second layer disposed on the functional layer and comprising silicon oxide. The coated article may have the following structure: a first layer disposed directly on the article, the first layer including an underlayer disposed directly on the article and including at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride, and an overlayer disposed directly on the underlayer and including silicon oxide, a functional layer disposed directly on the first layer, and a second layer disposed directly on the functional layer and including silicon oxide.

[0006] In some non-limiting embodiments, the coated article may further include a protective layer disposed on the second layer. The protective layer may include a metal oxynitride layer disposed on the second layer, and a metal oxide layer disposed on the metal oxynitride layer, which may be titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium aluminum oxide, or silicon aluminum oxide, or a combination thereof. The coated article may include: a first layer disposed on the article, the first layer including: an underlayer disposed on the article and comprising at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride; and an overlayer disposed on the underlayer and comprising silicon oxide; a functional layer disposed on the first layer; a second layer disposed on the functional layer and comprising silicon oxide; a protective layer disposed on the second layer, the protective layer comprising: a metal oxynitride layer disposed on the second layer; and a metal oxide layer disposed on the metal oxynitride layer, the metal oxide layer comprising at least one of titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium aluminum oxide, or silicon aluminum oxide, or a combination thereof; The coated article may have the following structure: a first layer disposed directly on the article, the first layer including: an underlayer disposed directly on the article and comprising at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride; and an overlayer disposed directly on the underlayer and comprising silicon oxide; a functional layer disposed directly on the first layer; a second layer disposed directly on the functional layer and comprising silicon oxide; and 1. A protective layer disposed directly on a second layer, the protective layer comprising: a metal oxynitride layer disposed directly on the second layer; and a metal oxide layer disposed directly on the metal oxynitride layer and comprising at least one of titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium aluminum oxide, or silicon aluminum oxide, or a combination thereof.

[0007] In some non-limiting aspects, the coated article may comprise glass or plastic. The functional layer may be less than 160 nm thick. The second layer may be substantially free of alumina and aluminum silicon oxynitride. In one embodiment, the second layer and / or the protective layer may be less than 70 nm thick. In another embodiment, the second layer, the protective layer and / or combinations thereof may be 70-100 nm thick, e.g., 75-97 nm, or 80-95 nm thick. The second layer may be the outermost layer. The protective layer may be the outermost layer. The functional layer may be substantially free of silver. The coated article may be attached to the body or insulating glass unit of a vehicle.

[0008] According to some non-limiting aspects of the present disclosure, a transparency includes a coated article in which a multi-layer coating stack is disposed on a surface of the transparency. The coated article includes an article, a multi-layer coating stack including a first layer disposed on the article and including a metal oxide or metal nitride, a functional layer disposed on the first layer and including an indium-doped tin oxide, and a second layer disposed on the functional layer and including a silicon oxide.

[0009] In some non-limiting embodiments, the transparency may include a vehicle window, with the multi-layer coating stack disposed on the interior surface of the vehicle window. The transparency may include an insulating glass unit for an architectural structure. The insulating glass unit may include a first transparency having a first surface and a second surface, and a second transparency having a third surface and a fourth surface, with a gap defined between the second surface and the third surface, the first surface being exposed to an exterior side of the architectural structure, the fourth surface being exposed to an interior side of the architectural structure, and the multi-layer coating stack being disposed on the fourth surface.

[0010] The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the following drawings, in which like reference numbers identify like parts throughout. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 shows a side view (not to scale) of an article coated with a multi-layer coating stack according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0012] [Figure 1B] FIG. 1 shows a side view (not to scale) of an article coated with a multi-layer coating stack according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0013] [Figure 1C] FIG. 1 shows a side view (not to scale) of an article coated with a multi-layer coating stack according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0014] [Figure 1D] FIG. 1 shows a side view (not to scale) of an article coated with a multi-layer coating stack according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0015] [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view (not to scale) of a multi-layer coating stack applied over a transparency attached to a vehicle body.

[0016] [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view (not to scale) of a multi-layer coating stack applied over a glazing in an insulating glass unit installed in a building structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] As used herein, spatial or directional terms such as "left", "right", "inside", "outside", "top", "bottom" and the like refer to the present disclosure as shown in the drawings. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure can assume various alternative orientations, and therefore such terms should not be considered limiting. Furthermore, as used herein, all numbers used in the specification and claims expressing dimensions, physical properties, processing parameters, amounts of ingredients, reaction conditions, and the like, should be understood to be modified in all instances by the term "approximately". Thus, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical values ​​set forth in the following specification and claims may vary depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present disclosure. At a minimum, and without any attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the claims, each numerical value should be construed at least in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Furthermore, all ranges disclosed herein should be understood to encompass the beginning and end values ​​of the range, and any subranges subsumed within that range. For example, a range stated as "1 to 10" should be considered to include every subrange between (and including) a minimum value of 1 and a maximum value of 10, i.e., every subrange beginning with a minimum value of 1 or greater and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less, e.g., 1 to 3.3, 4.7 to 7.5, 5.5 to 10, etc. "A" or "an" refers to one or more.

[0018] Additionally, as used herein, the terms "formed on," "deposited on," "disposed on," or "provided on" mean formed, deposited, placed, or provided on a surface, but not necessarily in contact with the surface. For example, a coating layer "disposed on" a substrate does not exclude the presence of one or more other coating layers or films of the same or different composition located between the formed coating layer and the substrate.

[0019] As used herein, the term "film" refers to a coating region of a desired or selected coating composition. A "layer" can include one or more "films," and a "coating" or "coating stack" can include one or more "layers."

[0020] Additionally, all documents referenced herein, including, but not limited to, issued patents and patent applications, are to be deemed "incorporated by reference" in their entirety.

[0021] The present disclosure relates to an article coated with a multi-layer coating stack comprising: an article; and a multi-layer coating stack comprising: a first layer disposed on the article and comprising a metal oxide or metal nitride; a functional layer disposed on the first layer and comprising indium-doped tin oxide (ITO); and a second layer disposed on the functional layer and comprising silicon oxide.

[0022] 1A and 1B, non-limiting embodiments of coated articles 100, 110 according to the present disclosure are shown. The coated articles 100, 110 include an article 102 onto which a multi-layer coating stack is applied. The multi-layer coating stack is applied onto a surface of the article 102. The multi-layer coating stack includes a first layer 104 disposed on the article 102, the first layer 104 comprising a metal oxide or a metal nitride. The multi-layer coating stack includes a functional layer 106 disposed on the first layer 104, the functional layer 106 comprising an indium-doped tin oxide. The multi-layer coating stack includes a second layer 108 disposed on the functional layer 106, the second layer 108 comprising a silicon oxide.

[0023] Non-limiting examples of suitable materials for the article 102 include glass or plastic. The article 102 may also include a ceramic material.

[0024] Non-limiting examples of suitable plastic materials include acrylic polymers such as polyacrylates, polyalkyl methacrylates such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl methacrylate and polypropyl methacrylate, polyurethanes, polycarbonates, polyalkyl terephthalates such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polysiloxane-containing polymers, or copolymers of any of the monomers therefor, or any mixtures thereof.

[0025] Non-limiting examples of suitable glass materials include conventional soda-lime glass, borosilicate glass, or lead glass. The glass may be clear glass. By "clear glass" is meant untinted or uncolored glass. Alternatively, the glass may be tinted or otherwise colored glass. The glass may be annealed or heat treated glass. As used herein, the term "heat treated" means tempered or at least partially tempered. The glass may be of any type, such as conventional float glass, and may be of any composition with any value of any optical property, e.g., visible transmittance, ultraviolet transmittance, infrared transmittance, and / or total solar energy transmittance. By "float glass" is meant glass formed by the conventional float process, in which molten glass is deposited on a molten metal bath and controllably cooled to form a float glass ribbon. Examples of the float process are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,466,562 and 4,671,155.

[0026] The article 102 may, for example, comprise clear float glass, or may be tinted or colored glass. The article 102 may be of any desired dimensions, for example, length, width, shape, or thickness. In one non-limiting embodiment where the article is an automotive transparency, the article 102 may be 1-10 mm thick, such as 1-8 mm thick, such as 2-8 mm thick, such as 3-7 mm thick, such as 5-7 mm thick, such as 4-6 mm thick. In one non-limiting embodiment where the article is an architectural transparency, the article 102 may be 1-30 mm thick, such as 2.5-25 mm thick, such as 2.5-10 mm thick.

[0027] 1A and 1B, a multi-layer coating stack may be disposed on a surface of the article 102, and the multi-layer coating stack may include a first layer 104 comprising a metal oxide or metal nitride disposed on the article 102. The first layer 104 may be a single film (FIG. 1A) or a multiple film (FIG. 1B) layer.

[0028] 1B, the first layer 104 may be a multi-film layer including an underlayer 112 disposed over the article 102 and an overlayer 114 disposed over the underlayer 112. The underlayer 112 may include at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, aluminum silicon nitride, or mixtures thereof.

[0029] Zinc oxide or tin oxide may also encompass "zinc / tin alloy oxide", meaning both true alloy and mixture of oxides. Zinc oxide can be deposited from a zinc cathode containing other materials to improve the sputtering properties of the cathode. Thus, zinc / tin alloy oxide can be obtained from magnetron sputtering vacuum deposition from zinc and tin cathodes. For example, the zinc cathode can contain a small amount of tin (e.g., up to 20% by weight, up to 15% by weight, up to 10% by weight or up to 5% by weight) to improve sputtering. In that case, the resulting zinc oxide film contains a small amount of tin oxide, e.g., up to 10% by weight tin oxide, e.g., up to 5% by weight tin oxide. A coating layer deposited from a zinc cathode with up to 10% by weight tin (added to increase the conductivity of the cathode) is referred to herein as a "zinc oxide film", even though a small amount of tin may be present. One non-limiting cathode can include zinc and tin in ratios of 5% to 95% zinc and 95% to 5% tin by weight, such as 10% to 90% zinc and 90% to 10% tin by weight, although other ratios of tin to zinc can be used.

[0030] "Zinc stannate" is Zn X Sn 1-X O 2-X (Formula 1) refers to a composition of matter having the formula: where "x" varies from greater than 0 to less than 1. For example, "x" can be greater than 0 and can be any fraction or decimal between greater than 0 and less than 1. For example, when x=2 / 3, Formula 1 is Zn 2 / 3 Sn 1 / 3 O 4 / 3 which is more commonly written as "Zn2SnO4." Zinc stannate-containing films have one or more forms of Formula 1 in a predominant amount in the layer.

[0031] The overlayer 114 may include silicon oxide, which is defined as a compound containing both silicon and oxygen. The silicon oxide may include, for example, silicon oxide, silicon aluminum oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon aluminum oxynitride, or any mixture thereof. The silicon oxide may include silicon metal oxides, such as silicon aluminum oxide.

[0032] The first layer 104 may have a thickness of less than 70 nm, for example less than 50 nm. The first layer 104 may have a thickness of 20 to 70 nm, for example 30 to 50 nm.

[0033] In a non-limiting embodiment in which the first layer includes a lower layer 112 and an upper layer 114, the lower layer 112 may be less than 30 nm thick, e.g., less than 20 nm thick, and the upper layer 114 may be less than 50 nm thick, e.g., less than 40 nm thick. The lower layer 112 may be between 10 nm and 30 nm thick, e.g., between 10 nm and 20 nm thick. The upper layer 114 may be between 20 nm and 50 nm thick, e.g., between 20 nm and 40 nm thick. Alternatively, the first layer may consist of the lower layer 112 and the upper layer 114.

[0034] 1A and 1B, the multi-layer coating stack may include a functional layer 106 disposed on the first layer 104. The functional layer 106 may include indium doped tin oxide. Alternatively, the functional layer may consist of indium doped tin oxide. The functional layer 106 may be in direct contact with the first layer 104.

[0035] The functional layer 106 may be less than 160 nm, e.g., less than 150 nm, less than 120 nm, or less than 110 nm thick. For embodiments in which the coated article 100, 110 is a transparency installed in a vehicle, the functional layer may be 55-110 nm, e.g., 60-100 nm, or 70-90 nm thick. For embodiments in which the coated article 100, 110 is a transparency in an insulating glass unit installed in a building structure, the functional layer may be 100-160 nm, e.g., 110-150 nm, or 120-140 nm thick.

[0036] The functional layer 106 may be substantially free of silver-containing compounds. By "substantially free" of silver, it is meant that the functional layer 106 contains less than 1% silver by weight or that no silver is intentionally added to the functional layer 106. The functional layer 106 may be free of silver-containing compounds or may have 0% silver-containing compounds by weight.

[0037] 1A and 1B, the multi-layer coating stack may include a second layer 108 disposed on the functional layer 106. The second layer 108 may include silicon oxide. The silicon oxide may include silicon oxide, silicon aluminum oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon aluminum oxynitride. The silicon oxide may include a silicon metal oxide, such as silicon aluminum oxide.

[0038] The second layer 108 may be less than 70 nm thick, for example less than 60 nm, less than 55 nm, or less than 40 nm thick. The second layer 108 may be 10 to 70 nm thick, for example 20 to 60 nm, or 30 to 55 nm thick. The second layer 108 may protect the functional layer 106.

[0039] Alternatively, the second layer 108 may be 70-100 nm, 72-95 nm, or 80-95 nm thick. Such thicker second layers (compared to the sub-70 nm ranges above) may exhibit improved anti-reflective properties. The second layer 108 may be up to 100 nm or up to 95 nm thick.

[0040] The second layer 108 may be substantially free of alumina and aluminum silicon oxynitride. By "substantially free" of alumina it is meant that the second layer 108 contains less than 5% by weight of alumina or that no alumina is intentionally added to the layer. By "substantially free" of aluminum oxynitride it is meant that the second layer 108 contains less than 5% by weight of aluminum oxynitride or that no aluminum oxynitride is intentionally added to the layer. The second layer 108 may be free of alumina and / or aluminum oxynitride or may have 0% by weight of alumina and / or aluminum oxynitride.

[0041] As shown in Figures 1A and 1B, the second layer 108 may be the outermost layer on the coated article 100, 110 such that no coating layer is disposed thereon.

[0042] 1B , the coated article 110 includes a first layer 104 disposed on the article 102, the first layer 104 including an underlayer 112 disposed on the article 102 and comprising at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride, and an overlayer 114 disposed on the underlayer 112 and comprising silicon oxide; a functional layer 106 disposed on the first layer 104; and a second layer 108 disposed over the functional layer 106 and comprising silicon oxide.

[0043] 1B, the coated article 110 may have a layered structure in which a first layer 104 is disposed directly on the article 102, the first layer 104 includes an underlayer 112 disposed directly on the article 102 and including at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride, and an overlayer 114 disposed directly on the underlayer 112 and including silicon oxide, a functional layer 106 is disposed directly on the first layer 104, and a second layer 108 is disposed directly on the functional layer 106 and includes silicon oxide. As used herein, a first layer described as being disposed "directly on" a second layer refers to the first layer being on and in direct contact with at least a portion of the second layer, with no intervening layer between the first layer and the second layer in the direct contact area.

[0044] 1C and 1D, the coated articles 120, 130 may further include a protective layer 122 disposed over the second layer 108. It will be understood that components having the same element numbers from the coated articles 120, 130 of Figures 1C and 1D have the same characteristics as those described in connection with the coated articles 100, 110 of Figures 1A and 1B.

[0045] The protective layer 122 can be a single film (FIG. 1C) or a multi-film (FIG. 1D) layer.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 1D, the protective layer 122 may be a multi-film layer including a metal oxynitride layer 132 disposed on the second layer 108 and a metal oxide layer 134 disposed on the metal oxynitride layer 132.

[0047] Metal oxynitride layer 132 comprises a metal oxynitride, which is defined as a compound containing a metal, oxygen, and nitrogen. Non-limiting examples of metal oxynitrides include silicon oxynitride and silicon aluminum oxynitride, or any mixture thereof. Metal oxynitride layer 132 may comprise silicon aluminum oxynitride.

[0048] The metal oxynitride layer 132 may be less than 50 nm thick, for example less than 40 nm thick. The metal oxynitride layer 132 may be 10-50 nm thick, for example 20-40 nm thick.

[0049] The metal oxide layer 134 may include a metal oxide, which is defined as a compound containing a metal and oxygen. Non-limiting examples of metal oxides include at least one of titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium aluminum oxide, silicon aluminum oxide, or combinations thereof. The metal oxide may include titanium dioxide.

[0050] The metal oxide layer 134 may be less than 20 nm thick, such as less than 10 nm thick. The metal oxide layer 134 may be 1 to 20 nm thick, such as 2 to 15 nm, or 5 to 10 nm thick.

[0051] The protective layer 122 (including both the metal oxynitride layer 132 and the metal oxide layer 134) may be less than 70 nm thick, such as less than 50 nm thick. The second layer 108 may be 10 to 70 nm thick, such as 15 to 60 nm thick, or 20 to 50 nm thick. Alternatively, the second layer 108 may be 70 to 100 nm thick, such as 72 to 97 nm thick, or 80 to 95 nm thick.

[0052] The sum of the thicknesses of the second layer 108 and the optional protective layer 122 (layers above the functional layer 106) may be 70-100 nm, for example 72-97 nm, or 80-95 nm, which may exhibit improved anti-reflection properties. The sum of the thicknesses of the second layer 108 and the optional protective layer 122 (layers above the functional layer 106) may be up to 100 nm or up to 95 nm thick.

[0053] As shown in Figures 1C and 1D, the protective layer 122 may be the outermost layer on the coated articles 120, 130 such that no coating layer is disposed thereon.

[0054] 1D , the coated article 130 may consist essentially of, or may consist of, a first layer 104 disposed on the article 102, the first layer 104 including an underlayer 112 disposed on the article 102 and including at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride, or combinations thereof, and an overlayer 114 disposed on the underlayer 112 and including silicon oxide, a functional layer 106 disposed on the first layer 104, a second layer 108 disposed on the functional layer 106 and including silicon oxide, and a protective layer 122 disposed on the second layer 108, the protective layer 122 including a metal oxynitride layer 132 disposed on the second layer 108, and a metal oxide layer 134 disposed on the metal oxynitride layer 132 and including at least one of titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium aluminum oxide, or aluminum silicon oxide, or combinations thereof.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 1D , the coated article 130 may have a layered structure, in which the first layer 104 is disposed directly on the article 102, the first layer 104 includes an underlayer 112 disposed directly on the article 102 and including at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride, or a combination thereof, and an overlayer 114 disposed directly on the underlayer 112 and including silicon oxide, and the functional layer 106 is disposed on the first layer 102. 104, a second layer 108 is disposed directly on the functional layer 106 and comprises silicon oxide, a protective layer 122 is disposed directly on the second layer 108, the protective layer 122 comprises a metal oxynitride layer 132 disposed directly on the second layer 108, and a metal oxide layer 134 disposed directly on the metal oxynitride layer 132 and comprises at least one of titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium aluminum oxide, or silicon aluminum oxide, or a combination thereof.

[0056] Tables 1 to 4 below provide non-limiting examples of useful coated articles according to the present disclosure, including various layer thicknesses and preferred thicknesses. The order in which the layers are disposed on the substrate is reported from top to bottom in the tables.

[0057] The following are non-limiting embodiments of coated articles. [Table 1]

[0058] The following are non-limiting embodiments of coated articles. [Table 2]

[0059] The following are non-limiting embodiments of coated articles. [Table 3]

[0060] The following are non-limiting embodiments of coated articles. [Table 4]

[0061] Any of the layers described herein can be deposited on a substrate or another layer by any useful method, including, but not limited to, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and / or physical vapor deposition (PVD) methods. Examples of CVD processes include spray pyrolysis. Examples of PVD processes include electron beam evaporation and vacuum sputtering (such as magnetron sputtering deposition (MSVD)). Other coating methods, including, but not limited to, sol-gel deposition, can also be used. In one non-limiting embodiment, the coating layer is deposited by MSVD. Examples of MSVD coating apparatus and methods are well understood by those skilled in the art and are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,379,040, 4,861,669, 4,898,789, 4,898,790, 4,900,633, 4,920,006, 4,938,857, 5,328,768, and 5,492,750.

[0062] 2 and 3, coated articles 200, 300 are shown according to some non-limiting embodiments. Components with element numbers having the same last two digits may have the same or similar properties. For example, components 102, 202, 302 all have the last two digits "02" and refer to articles that may have the same or similar properties as each other.

[0063] Referring to Figure 2, a coated article 200 is shown that includes a multi-layer coating stack applied over a transparency that is attached to a vehicle body. In Figure 2, coated article 200 includes an article 202 (also referred to herein as a transparency or ply) having a multi-layer coating stack 236 thereon. Article 202 may be a transparency within a vehicle. The type of vehicle is not particularly limited and may include, for example, an automobile or an aircraft. Transparency 202 may be a vehicle window, such as a vehicle front or rear windshield, a driver or passenger door window, a sunroof or moonroof, etc.

[0064] The multi-layer coating stack 236 may include, consist essentially of, or consist of any of the coating stacks described in this disclosure.

[0065] The transparency 202 coated with the multi-layer coating stack 236 may be attached to a vehicle body 238. Non-limiting examples of vehicle body 238 include the roof of an automobile for a sunroof, the door or frame of an automobile for an automobile window, or the fuselage of an airplane. The transparency 202 may be attached to a mechanism that can open and close the transparency, such as an automobile window or sunroof, as is commonly known in the vehicle arts.

[0066] 2, the transparency 202 may have a single ply, although multiple plies of transparency are within the scope of the present disclosure. The transparency 202 may have a first major surface 240 (first side) and an opposing second major surface 242 (second side). In the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the first major surface 240 faces the exterior of the vehicle and is thus an exterior major surface, while the second major surface 242 faces the interior of the vehicle. A multi-layer coating stack 236 may be formed on at least a portion of the transparency 202. In some preferred embodiments, the multi-layer coating stack 236 may be disposed on the second major surface 242 (e.g., an inner surface) of the transparency 202. The multi-layer coating stack 236 may be disposed on the innermost surface of the transparency 202.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 3, a coated article 300 is shown that includes a multi-layer coating stack applied over a transparency in an insulating glass unit that is attached to an architectural structure. In FIG. 3, the coated article 300 includes articles 302a, 302b (also referred to herein as glazings or plies) having a multi-layer coating stack 336 on at least one surface of the articles 302a, 302b. The glazings 302a, 302b may be glazings in an insulating glass unit (IGU) that is attached to the architectural structure. The type of architectural structure is not particularly limited and may include, for example, a building. The insulating glass unit may include, for example, a window or a skylight. However, it should be understood that the coated article 300 described herein is not limited to use with such architectural glazings, but may be implemented with any desired field of glazing, such as, for example, but not limited to, laminated or non-laminated residential and / or commercial windows, insulating glass units, and / or glazing for land, air, space, water and underwater vehicles.

[0068] The multi-layer coating stack 336 may include, consist essentially of, or consist of any of the coating stacks described in this disclosure.

[0069] The transparencies 302a, 302b coated with the multi-layer coating stack 336 may be attached to an architectural structure 344. Non-limiting examples of architectural structures 344 include openings for windows or skylights in commercial or residential buildings. The transparencies 302a, 302b may be attached to a mechanism that allows the transparency, such as a window or skylight, to be opened and closed, as is commonly known in the art of architectural transparencies.

[0070] 3, the transparency 302a, 302b may have two plies, such as a first ply 302a and a second ply 302b as shown. However, additional plies may be included in the transparency, such as a three-ply or four-ply transparency. Alternatively, the transparency may have a single ply.

[0071] In general, the plies 302a, 302b can be the same or different materials. Each of the plies 302a, 302b can include, for example, clear float glass, or can be tinted or colored glass, or one ply 302a, 302b can be clear glass and the other ply 302a, 302b can be colored glass. Without limitation, examples of glasses suitable for the first ply 302a and / or second ply 302b are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,746,347, 4,792,536, 5,030,593, 5,030,594, 5,240,886, 5,385,872, and 5,393,593.

[0072] The exemplary glazing 302a, 302b of FIG. 3 is in the form of an insulating glass unit and includes a first ply 302a having a first major surface 340 (first side) and an opposing second major surface 342 (second side). In the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the first major surface 340 faces the exterior of the building, i.e., is the outer major surface exposed to the exterior side of the building structure, and the second major surface 342 faces the interior of the building. The second ply 302b has an inner (third) major surface 348 (third side) and an outer (fourth) major surface 350 (fourth side) spaced apart from the first ply 302a. The fourth major surface 350 is the surface exposed to the interior side of the building structure. This numbering of the ply surfaces follows conventional practice in the fenestration art. The first ply 302a and the second ply 302b can be connected in any suitable manner, such as by being adhesively bonded to a conventional spacer frame. A gap 346 may be formed between the two plies 302a, 302b. The gap 346 may be defined between the second major surface 342 and the third major surface 348. The gap 346 may be filled with a selected atmosphere, such as air or a non-reactive gas, such as argon or krypton gas. A multi-layer coating stack 336 may be formed on at least a portion of one of the plies 302a, 302b. In some preferred embodiments, the multi-layer coating stack 336 is disposed on the fourth major surface 350 (e.g., the inner surface). The multi-layer coating stack 336 may be disposed on the innermost surface of 302a, 302b. Examples of insulating glass units can be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,193,236, 4,464,874, 5,088,258, and 5,106,663.

[0073] The multi-layer coating stack described in this disclosure and applied onto an article (e.g., a transparency) may function as a solar control coating. As used herein, the term "solar control coating" refers to a coating composed of one or more layers or films that affect the solar properties of the coated article, such as, for example, but not limited to, the amount of solar radiation reflected, absorbed, or transmitted by the coated article, such as visible light, infrared, or ultraviolet radiation, shading coefficient, emissivity, etc. Solar control coatings can block, absorb, or filter selected portions of the solar radiation spectrum, such as, but not limited to, infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), and / or visible spectrum, or portions thereof.

[0074] The following numbered sections illustrate various aspects of the disclosure.

[0075] Item 1: An article coated with a multi-layer coating stack, the multi-layer coating stack including: an article; a first layer disposed on the article and comprising a metal oxide or metal nitride; a functional layer disposed on the first layer and comprising indium doped tin oxide; and a second layer disposed on the functional layer and comprising silicon oxide.

[0076] Item 2: The coated article of item 1, wherein the silicon oxide of the second layer comprises aluminum silicon oxide.

[0077] Clause 3: The coated article of clause 1 or clause 2, wherein the first layer comprises an underlayer disposed over the article and comprising at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride, and an overlayer disposed over the underlayer and comprising silicon oxide.

[0078] Clause 4: The coated article of any of clauses 1 to 3, consisting essentially of or consisting of: a first layer disposed on the article, the first layer comprising: an underlayer disposed on the article and comprising at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride; and an overlayer disposed on the underlayer and comprising silicon oxide; a functional layer disposed on the first layer; and a second layer disposed on the functional layer and comprising silicon oxide.

[0079] Clause 5: A coated article according to any of clauses 1 to 4, wherein a first layer is disposed directly on the article, the first layer comprising an underlayer disposed directly on the article and comprising at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride or aluminum silicon nitride, and an overlayer disposed directly on the underlayer and comprising silicon oxide, wherein a functional layer is disposed directly on the first layer, and a second layer is disposed directly on the functional layer and comprises silicon oxide.

[0080] Item 6: The coated article of any of items 1 to 5, further comprising a protective layer disposed over the second layer.

[0081] Clause 7: The coated article of clause 6, wherein the protective layer comprises a metal oxynitride layer disposed on the second layer, and a metal oxide layer disposed on the metal oxynitride layer and comprising at least one of titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium aluminum oxide, or silicon aluminum oxide.

[0082] Clause 8: A first layer disposed on the article, the first layer including: an underlayer disposed on the article and comprising at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride; and an overlayer disposed on the underlayer and comprising silicon oxide; a functional layer disposed on the first layer; a second layer disposed on the functional layer and comprising silicon oxide; a protective layer disposed on the second layer, the protective layer comprising: a metal oxynitride layer disposed on the second layer; and a metal oxide layer disposed on the metal oxynitride layer and comprising at least one of titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium aluminum oxide, or silicon aluminum oxide; 8. The coated article of paragraph 6 or 7, consisting essentially of, or consisting of.

[0083] Clause 9: A first layer is disposed directly on the article, the first layer including: an underlayer disposed directly on the article and including at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride; and an overlayer disposed directly on the underlayer and including silicon oxide; A functional layer is disposed directly on the first layer; a second layer disposed directly on the functional layer and comprising silicon oxide; a protective layer disposed directly on the second layer, the protective layer comprising a metal oxynitride layer disposed directly on the second layer, and a metal oxide layer disposed directly on the metal oxynitride layer and comprising at least one of titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium aluminum oxide, or silicon aluminum oxide; 9. The coated article of any of claims 6 to 8, comprising:

[0084] Item 10: A coated article according to any one of items 1 to 9, wherein the article comprises glass or plastic.

[0085] Item 11: The coated article of any one of items 1 to 10, wherein the functional layer has a thickness of less than 160 nm.

[0086] Item 12: The coated article of any of items 1 to 11, wherein the second layer is substantially free of alumina and aluminum silicon oxynitride.

[0087] Item 13: The coated article of any of items 1 to 12, wherein the second layer and / or the protective layer has a thickness of less than 70 nm.

[0088] Item 14: The coated article of any one of items 1 to 13, wherein the second layer is the outermost layer.

[0089] Item 15: The coated article of any one of items 6 to 13, wherein the protective layer is the outermost layer.

[0090] Item 16: The coated article of any of items 1 to 15, wherein the functional layer is substantially free of silver-containing compounds.

[0091] Clause 17: A coated article according to any of clauses 1 to 16, which is attached to the body or insulating glass unit of a vehicle.

[0092] Item 18: The coated article of any of items 6 to 17, wherein the second layer, the protective layer, and / or the combination thereof has a thickness of 70 to 100 nm, preferably 72 to 97 nm, or most preferably 80 to 95 nm.

[0093] Clause 19: A transparency comprising the coated article of any one of clauses 1 to 18, wherein a multi-layer coating stack is disposed on a surface of the transparency.

[0094] Clause 20: The transparency of clause 19, wherein the transparency comprises a vehicle window.

[0095] Item 21: The transparency of item 20, wherein the multi-layer coating stack is disposed on the inside of a vehicle window.

[0096] Clause 22: A transparency as described in clause 19, wherein the transparency comprises an insulating glass unit for building construction.

[0097] Clause 23: The transparency of clause 22, wherein the insulating glass unit includes a first transparency having a first surface and a second surface, and a second transparency having a third surface and a fourth surface, a gap is defined between the second surface and the third surface, the first surface is exposed to an exterior side of the building structure, the fourth surface is exposed to an interior side of the building structure, and a multi-layer coating stack is disposed on the fourth surface.

[0098] example Examples 1 through 5 are examples of coated articles according to the present disclosure. Although the examples describe coating stacks on a single piece of glass, it is understood that the coatings may be applied to laminated glass, auto glass, insulated glass units, and the like.

[0099] The coated substrates of Examples 1 through 5 were prepared according to Table 5, and the sheet resistance properties of each coated substrate are reported. [Table 5]

[0100] Sheet resistance was measured using a Suragus EddyCus TF lab 2020. The measured sheet resistance of the coated substrate is known to correlate with the emissivity properties of the coated substrate, as the sheet resistance measurements of the coated substrates in Examples 1 through 5 indicate that the coated substrates also exhibit low emissivity properties. In Example 5, which had a thicker second layer, the sample exhibited improved anti-reflective properties compared to uncoated glass.

[0101] It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the concepts disclosed in the foregoing description. Accordingly, the specific embodiments detailed herein are illustrative only and do not limit the scope of the present invention, which is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. 1. An article coated with a multi-layer coating stack, comprising: The article; The multi-layer coating stack, a first layer disposed on the article, the first layer comprising a metal oxide or a metal nitride; a functional layer disposed on the first layer and comprising indium doped tin oxide; a second layer disposed on the functional layer and comprising silicon oxide; the multi-layer coating stack having An article coated with a multi-layer coating stack having:

2. The coated article of claim 1 , wherein the silicon oxide of the second layer comprises aluminum silicon oxide.

3. The first layer comprises: an underlayer disposed over the article and comprising at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride; an upper layer disposed on the lower layer and comprising silicon oxide; 2. The coated article of claim 1, having

4. The first layer disposed on the article, an underlayer disposed over the article and comprising at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride; an upper layer disposed on the lower layer and comprising silicon oxide; the first layer having the functional layer disposed on the first layer; the second layer disposed on the functional layer and comprising silicon oxide; 10. The coated article of claim 1 consisting essentially of, or consisting of.

5. the first layer is placed directly on the article; The first layer comprises: an underlayer disposed directly on the article and comprising at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride; an overlayer disposed directly on the underlayer and comprising silicon oxide; having the functional layer is disposed directly on the first layer; the second layer is disposed directly on the functional layer and comprises silicon oxide; The coated article of claim 1.

6. The coated article of claim 1 further comprising a protective layer disposed over said second layer, said protective layer being preferably an outermost layer.

7. 7. The coated article of claim 6, wherein the protective layer comprises a metal oxynitride layer disposed on the second layer, and a metal oxide layer disposed on the metal oxynitride layer and comprising at least one of titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium aluminum oxide, or silicon aluminum oxide.

8. The first layer disposed on the article, an underlayer disposed over the article and comprising at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride; an upper layer disposed on the lower layer and comprising silicon oxide; the first layer having the functional layer disposed on the first layer; the second layer disposed on the functional layer and comprising silicon oxide; a protective layer disposed over the second layer, a metal oxynitride layer disposed on the second layer; and a metal oxide layer disposed on the metal oxynitride layer and comprising at least one of titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium aluminum oxide, and silicon aluminum oxide; A protective layer having 7. The coated article of claim 6 consisting essentially of, or consisting of.

9. the first layer is placed directly on the article; The first layer comprises: an underlayer disposed directly on the article and comprising at least one of zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc tin oxide, zinc stannate, silicon nitride, or aluminum silicon nitride; an overlayer disposed directly on the underlayer and comprising silicon oxide; having the functional layer is disposed directly on the first layer; the second layer is disposed directly on the functional layer and comprises silicon oxide; the protective layer is disposed directly on the second layer; The protective layer is a metal oxynitride layer disposed directly on the second layer; a metal oxide layer disposed directly on the metal oxynitride layer, the metal oxide layer comprising at least one of titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium aluminum oxide, or silicon aluminum oxide; having The coated article of claim 6.

10. The coated article of claim 1 , wherein the article comprises glass or plastic.

11. The coated article of claim 1 , wherein the functional layer has a thickness of less than 160 nm.

12. the second layer is substantially free of alumina and aluminum silicon oxynitride; and / or the functional layer is substantially free of silver-containing compounds; The coated article of claim 1.

13. the second layer and / or the protective layer has a thickness of less than 70 nm; and / or The coated article of claim 6, wherein the second layer, the protective layer and / or the combination thereof have a thickness of 70 to 100 nm.

14. the second layer is the outermost layer; and / or The coated article of claim 1 , wherein the coated article is attached to a vehicle body or an insulating glass unit.

15. A transparency comprising the coated article of claim 1, A transparency, wherein the multi-layer coating stack is disposed on a surface of the transparency.

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