Glass, glass-ceramic and ceramic articles with protective coatings having hardness and toughness

An article, comprising:

• a transparent substrate comprising a primary surface;
• and
• a protective film disposed on the primary surface,
• wherein the protective film comprises:
• (1) a hardness of greater than 13 GPa, as measured by a Berkovich nanoindenter,
• (2) an effective fracture toughness (Kc) of greater than 2.5 MPa·m1/2, and
• (3) an optical extinction coefficient (k) equal to or less than 1×10−2, measured at 400 nm wavelength,
• wherein the protective film comprises a composition having greater than 98% ZrO2 (by molar concentration or volume), and
• further wherein the protective film comprises a thickness in a range from 1.1 μm to 3.75 μm.

An article, comprising:

• a transparent substrate comprising a primary surface;
• and
• a protective film disposed on the primary surface,
• wherein the protective film comprises:
• (1) an effective fracture toughness (Kc) of greater than 2.5 MPa·m1/2, and
• (2) an optical extinction coefficient (k) equal to or less than 1×10−2, measured at 400 nm wavelength,
• wherein the protective film comprises a composition having greater than 98% ZrO2 (by molar concentration or volume), and
• further wherein the protective film comprises a thickness in a range from 1.1 μm to 3.75 μm.