Silver Alloy Glazing Coating Infrared Reflectance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current glazing technologies face challenges in achieving high infrared reflectance while maintaining high visible light transmission, particularly in the long and near-infrared spectra, which affects heat transfer and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A glazing with a transparent glass substrate coated with a functional metal Ag alloy layer containing alloying agents like Mg, Al, Si, or other metals, applied in specific concentrations and thicknesses, enhances infrared reflectance and reduces sheet resistance, thereby improving energy efficiency and visible transmittance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a functional metal layer (silver) is used to achieve high infrared reflectance, then infrared reflectance is improved, but sheet resistance increases and visible transmittance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the silver layer by introducing alloying elements (Al, Si, Mg, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, In, Sn, Hf, Ta, or W) at controlled concentrations (0.1-5 at%). This parameter modification allows the layer to maintain low sheet resistance while achieving high infrared reflectance, resolving the contradiction between electrical conductivity and thermal radiation reflection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system by combining silver with alloying elements to form Ag-based alloy layers. This composite structure leverages the high electrical conductivity of silver while incorporating elements that enhance infrared reflectance properties, thereby simultaneously improving both sheet resistance and infrared reflectance characteristics.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a functional metal layer (silver) is used to achieve high infrared reflectance, then infrared reflectance is improved, but visible transmittance worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the optical parameters of the silver layer through alloying, which changes the electronic band structure and optical absorption characteristics. By carefully selecting alloying elements and their concentrations, the layer achieves high infrared reflectance while maintaining high visible transmittance, thus resolving the contradiction between these two optical properties.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the silver layer thickness is increased to improve infrared reflectance, then infrared reflectance is improved, but visible transmittance and sheet resistance worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compositional parameters of the silver layer through alloying, which allows achieving the desired infrared reflectance with thinner layers. The alloying elements modify the optical constants of silver, enhancing infrared reflection efficiency per unit thickness, thereby maintaining visible transmittance while achieving high infrared reflectance with optimized (reduced) thickness.
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 Ag alloy coating layer with optimized alloying agent concentrations and thicknesses achieves higher infrared reflectance and lower sheet resistance, leading to enhanced energy savings and improved optical properties compared to unalloyed Ag layers, with increased reflectance and reduced transmittance in the infrared spectrum.
Implementation Method 1
Glazings with a high visible transmittance and high infrared (IR) reflectance are desirable in many applications, allowing visible light to pass through the glazing while reflecting IR radiation
Implementation Method 2
These anti-reflective layers also ensure the protection of the functional metal layer from chemical attack and/or mechanical stress
Data Source
AI summary
The present document discloses a glazing in the form of a window glass or vehicle glass which comprises a transparent glass substrate, and a coating, which comprises at least one functional metal Ag alloy coating layer. The alloy coating layer consists essentially of Ag with an alloying agent selected from a group consisting of Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, In, Sn, Hf, Ta or W. An alloying agent concentration is 0.15-1.35 at. %, preferably 0.20-1.00 at. % or 0.25-0.80 at. % of the Ag alloy coating layer, the rest being Ag, and the Ag alloy coating layer has a thickness of 5-20 nm, preferably 8-15 nm or more preferably 8-12 nm.