Low-emissivity glass coatings having a layer of nitrided nichrome and methods of making same

Abstract

Low-E glass coated glass articles are comprised of a glass substrate and a multiple layer coating on a surface of the glass substrate. Relatively high light transmissivity of greater than about 72% and satisfactory color characteristics are achieved. The coating includes a layer of a transparent dielectric material adjacent the surface of the glass substrate, and respective layers of nitrided nichrome and silver each of which are formed by sputter-coating onto the glass substrate in a nitrogen-containing atmosphere. Most preferably, the coating also includes a layer of silicon oxynitride interposed between the layer of dielectric material and the layer of nitrided nichrome. The silicon oxynitride layer may include an oxygen gradient layer wherein the concentration of oxygen decreases from one location in the silicon oxynitride layer to another location at a different depth in that same layer. If present, the oxygen gradient is most preferably such that the greater amount of oxygen concentration is nearer the bottom of the layer (i.e., towards the glass substrate) with the lesser amount of oxygen concentration being nearer the top of the layer (i.e., away from the glass layer).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.