Glazing Surface Layer Optical Stability Heat Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-solar or low-emissive glazings undergo significant changes in optical properties after thermal treatments like bending or tempering, making it difficult to use heat-treated and untreated parts simultaneously without noticeable differences, and they lack sufficient chemical and mechanical resistance.
Innovation Solution
The use of glazing systems with a surface layer composed of titanium oxide combined with other high-hardness metal oxides such as ZrO2, SiO2, and Cr2O3, along with titanium oxide-based barrier layers, which are deposited in an oxidizing atmosphere to ensure stability and resistance to heat treatments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional surface layers (titanium nitride, zirconium oxynitride) are used to provide mechanical resistance, then scratch resistance is improved, but optical property stability after heat treatment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite oxide layers combining titanium oxide with other metal oxides (zirconium oxide, niobium oxide, tantalum oxide, hafnium oxide) to achieve both mechanical resistance and optical stability. This composite approach allows the surface layer to provide scratch resistance while maintaining color neutrality after heat treatment, resolving the contradiction between strength and stability.
2Strength
If heat treatment is applied to glazing to improve mechanical properties, then strength and durability are improved, but optical property uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the surface layer by incorporating specific metal oxides (TiO2 with ZrO2, Nb2O5, Ta2O5, or HfO2) in controlled proportions. This composition adjustment allows the material to withstand heat treatment temperatures while maintaining optical property uniformity, enabling both heat-treated and untreated glazing to be used together without noticeable differences.
3Reliability
If protective layers are added to protect metallic silver layers, then chemical resistance is improved, but layer system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the surface layer to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical scratch resistance, chemical protection against oxidation and environmental degradation, and maintains optical stability after heat treatment. By combining these functions into a single composite oxide layer rather than multiple separate layers, the patent reduces overall system complexity while improving reliability.
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
The glazing systems maintain minimal variations in optical properties and exhibit excellent chemical and mechanical resistance, ensuring uniform appearance and performance both before and after thermal treatments, with visible transmission changes less than 1% and resistance to scratches and humidity tests.
Implementation Method 1
These coatings are produced using magnetron-assisted vacuum deposition techniques and systematically include one or more infrared-reflecting layers
Implementation Method 2
ensure that the reflection is selective in the infrared range, allowing as much visible wavelength as possible to pass through
Implementation Method 3
the silver-based layer(s) are embedded within dielectric layers... to protect them against mechanical and especially chemical damage
Implementation Method 4
They must also be resistant to mechanical stresses, wear, and scratches. Layers of this type are primarily nitride or oxynitride layers such as Si3N4, TiN
Implementation Method 5
These layers must protect the silver from alteration that can result from contact with neighboring layers or from constituents of the layers that may migrate, particularly under the conditions of the heat treatments considered
Implementation Method 6
These coatings are produced using magnetron-assisted vacuum deposition techniques
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an essentially transparent glazing including an assembly of thin layers deposited in a vacuum with a magnetron, and having sun-proof and/or low-emission properties, wherein the surface protection layer comprises a layer containing titanium oxide and at least one other high-hardness metal oxide selected from the group including ZrO2, SiO2, Cr2O3. The glazing of the present invention is matchable.