Hydrophilic surfaces carrying temporary protective covers
AssigneeCardinal CG Company
InventorsRoger D. O'Shaughnessy, Annette J. Krisko, Klaus Hartig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A substrate carrying a temporary protective cover and related methods of producing and processing substrates are described. In one embodiment, a substrate bears a hydrophilic coating carrying a temporary protective cover that protects the hydrophilic coating against contamination but that can readily be readily removed from the hydrophilic coating by washing with a given washing fluid.
Claims56
A substrate having an exterior surface bearing a hydrophilic coating that is resistant to attack by a weak acid or a weak base, the hydrophilic coating carrying a temporary protective cover that is stable in the presence of water but breaks down in the presence of a weal, acid or a weak base.
An insulating glass unit comprising spaced-apart panes having confronting interior surfaces that bound a between-pane space, at least one of the panes having an exterior surface bearing a hydrophilic coating that is durable to a given washing fluid, the hydrophilic coating carrying a temporary protective cover comprising a sputtered film that protects the hydrophilic coating against contamination but that can readily be removed from the hydrophilic coating by washing with said washing fluid.
A substrate bearing a hydrophilic coating comprising silicon dioxide formed directly upon the substrate, the hydrophilic coating being durable to a given washing fluid, the hydrophilic coating carrying a temporary protective cover comprising a sputtered film that protects the hydrophilic coating against contamination but that can readily be removed from the hydrophilic coating by washing with said washing fluid.
A method of producing substrates, the method comprising:
- a) providing a substrate with generally opposed interior and exterior surfaces;
- b) forming a hydrophilic coating upon the exterior surface of the substrate, the hydrophilic coating comprising material that is resistant to attack by a weak acid or a weak base;
- and
- c) forming a temporary protective cover over the hydrophilic coating, the cover comprising material that is stable in the presence of water but breaks down in the presence of a weak acid or a weak base.
A method of processing substrates, the method comprising:
- a) providing a substrate having an exterior surface bearing a hydrophilic coating that is durable to a given washing fluid, the hydrophilic coating carrying a temporary protective cover comprising a sputtered film that protects the hydrophilic coating against contamination but that can readily be removed from the hydrophilic coating by washing with said washing fluid;
- and
- b) washing the covered exterior surface of the substrate with said washing fluid to remove at least a portion of the cover, thereby exposing at least a portion of the hydrophilic coating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.