Glazing Silver Layer Titanium Oxide Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Glazing with silver-based metallic layers experiences defects such as holes and domes during high-temperature heat treatments, leading to reduced optical quality, mechanical strength, and increased corrosion, which are exacerbated by certain dielectric layers in anti-reflective coatings.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a thick titanium oxide blocking layer between the anti-reflective coating capable of generating hole-type defects and the silver-based metallic layer, with a thickness greater than 1 nm, to prevent dewetting and dendritic defects, while maintaining the desired optical and electrical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a dielectric layer based on titanium oxide, niobium oxide or tin oxide is used in anti-reflective coatings, then the optical properties are improved, but hole-type defects are promoted in the silver layer during heat treatment
Solution Approach 1:
A blocking layer based on titanium oxide is introduced as an intermediary between the dielectric layer capable of generating hole-type defects and the functional silver-based metallic layer. This blocking layer acts as a mediator that prevents the harmful interaction between the dielectric layer and silver layer during heat treatment, while allowing the optical properties provided by the dielectric layer to be maintained.
2Strength
If blocking layers based on nickel and chromium alloy are used, then blurring is reduced and mechanical properties are improved, but emissivity, absorption and conductivity are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter of the blocking layer from nickel-chromium alloy to titanium oxide, and adjusts the thickness parameter to greater than 1 nm. This parameter change allows the blocking layer to provide mechanical strength and defect prevention while having minimal negative impact on optical properties like emissivity and absorption compared to traditional NiCr alloys.
3Strength
If the blocking layer thickness is increased to prevent dewetting, then mechanical resistance is enhanced, but the complexity of the stack increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking layer thickness is set to a minimal excessive value (greater than 1 nm) that is sufficient to prevent dewetting and provide mechanical resistance, without making the layer unnecessarily thick. This partial action approach provides adequate protection while minimizing the increase in stack complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Significantly reduces blur, absorption, and emissivity, and enhances mechanical resistance and corrosion resistance, outperforming configurations with NiCr alloy or without a blocking layer, while preserving the optical and electrical properties of the silver layer.
Implementation Method 1
high temperature heat treatments can cause modifications within the silver layer and in particular generate defects
Implementation Method 2
The functional silver-based metallic layers (or silver layers) have advantageous electrical conduction and reflection properties of infrared (IR) radiation
Implementation Method 3
reflection properties of infrared (IR) radiation, hence their use in so-called 'solar control' glazing aimed at reducing the quantity of incoming solar energy
Implementation Method 4
These dielectric layers also make it possible to protect the silver layer from chemical or mechanical attacks
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a glazing comprising a transparent substrate coated with a stack of thin films including at least one silver-based functional metallic layer, at least two antireflective coatings, each antireflective coating having at least one dielectric layer, such that each functional metallic layer is arranged between two antireflective coatings. The stack includes at least one antireflective coating comprising a dielectric layer capable of generating hole-type defects and at least one titanium oxide-based blocking layer having a thickness greater than 1 nm. The blocking layer is located between the antireflective coating comprising the dielectric layer capable of generating hole-type defects and a silver-based functional metallic layer, immediately in contact with the silver-based functional metallic layer.