Solar Protection Glazing with Si-Ti Oxide Layer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing glazing technologies face challenges in maintaining optical and thermal properties during heat treatments, such as bending or tempering, which can lead to modifications in light transmission and appearance, and the application of enamel coatings at high temperatures often results in defects like blurring.

Innovation Solution

A glazing system comprising a stack of thin layers, including a titanium oxide layer with a specific Si/Ti atomic ratio, dielectric sub-layers, and over-layers made of materials like silicon nitride and oxynitride, which are resistant to heat treatments up to 650°C without significant optical or thermal changes, and can be enameled without blurring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If heat treatment is applied to glass substrates to improve strength and resistance, then mechanical durability is improved, but the optical and thermal properties of the thin-layer stack are significantly modified

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical durabilityVSAvoidoptical and thermal properties stability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The thin-layer stack is deposited on the glass substrate before heat treatment, allowing the layers to be formed in a controlled environment where their optical and thermal properties can be precisely controlled. The heat treatment is then applied to the already-formed stack, which has been designed to withstand these conditions without significant property modification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite structure consisting of multiple thin layers (metallic layer, dielectric layers, and functional layers) deposited on the glass substrate. Each layer is carefully selected and controlled to provide specific functions while collectively maintaining stability during heat treatment, resolving the contradiction between mechanical durability and property stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Illumination intensity

If layers are deposited after heat treatment to maintain optical properties, then optical appearance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical appearanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The thin-layer stack is deposited on the glass substrate before heat treatment, allowing the layers to be formed in a controlled environment where their optical and thermal properties can be precisely controlled. The heat treatment is then applied to the already-formed stack, which has been designed to withstand these conditions without significant property modification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If exterior-facing layers are used to provide solar protection, then solar filtering is improved, but durability during heat treatment deteriorates due to oxidation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolar radiation filteringVSAvoidlayer durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A dielectric layer is introduced as an intermediary between the metallic functional layer and the external environment. This dielectric layer protects the metallic layer from oxidation during heat treatment while allowing the functional layer to maintain its solar filtering properties, thus resolving the contradiction between solar protection and durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Illumination intensity

If light transmission is increased to maintain aesthetic appearance, then optical appearance is improved, but thermal insulation performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight transmissionVSAvoidthermal insulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite structure consisting of multiple thin layers (metallic layer, dielectric layers, and functional layers) deposited on the glass substrate. Each layer is carefully selected and controlled to provide specific functions while collectively maintaining stability during heat treatment, resolving the contradiction between mechanical durability and property stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different layers in the stack are designed with different properties: some layers are optimized for light transmission to maintain aesthetic appearance, while other layers are optimized for thermal insulation to reduce energy loss. This local differentiation of properties within the composite structure allows both requirements to be satisfied simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 system maintains its optical and thermal performance, including light transmission and colorimetry, after heat treatments, and allows for uniform aesthetic appearance in both vision and spandrel applications, preventing blurring and optical defects.

Implementation Method 1

by selecting the chemical nature, the thicknesses and the succession of the thin layers constituting the stack, we can significantly act on the quantity of energy of the solar radiation entering or leaving a room

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

such glazing makes it possible to avoid excessive heating inside them in summer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

the oxide layers surrounding the functional layer cannot prevent its oxidation during bending or tempering, oxidation accompanied by a modification of light transmission

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation resistance: Oxidation

Implementation Method 4

deposited by the technique of cathode sputtering assisted by a magnetic field (magnetron)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSputtering: Sputtering

Data Source

PatentEP3122694B1Glazing provided with a thin-layer stack for solar protection
Publication Date: 2018.10.24 SAINT GOBAIN VITRAGE SA
  • EP3122694B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3122694B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a solar protection and/or thermal insulation glazing comprising a substrate, in particular a glass substrate, provided with a stack of thin layers which act on solar radiation, said stack consisting of the succession of the following layers, starting from the surface of the glass: an underlayer or a set of underlayers, said underlayer(s) consisting of dielectric materials, a layer based on titanium oxide also comprising silicon, the overall Si/Ti atomic ratio in said layer being between 0.01 and 0.25 and in which Si and Ti represent at least 90% of the atoms other than oxygen, the thickness of said layer being between 20 and 70 nm, - an overlayer or a set of overlayers, said overlayer(s) consisting of dielectric materials.