Heat treatable low-E coated articles and methods of making same

A coated article comprising:

• a coating provided on a glass substrate, said coating comprising from the glass substrate outwardly:
• a) at least one dielectric layer;
• b) a first contact layer that is at least partially oxidized;
• c) a first IR reflecting layer comprising Ag;
• d) a second contact layer that is at least partially oxidized, said first IR reflecting layer contacting each of said first and second contact layers;
• e) at least one additional dielectric layer;
• f) a third contact layer that is at least partially oxidized;
• g) a second IR reflecting layer comprising Ag;
• h) a fourth contact layer that is at least partially oxidized, said second IR reflecting layer contacting each of said third and fourth contact layers;
• i) at least one additional dielectric layer;
• wherein after being heat treated (HT) and laminated said coated article has a visible transmittance of at least about 70%, a Tsolar no greater than about 50%, an Rsolar of at least 26%, and a sheet resistance (Rs) of no greater than 8.0 ohms/sq;
• and
• wherein at least two of said first, second, third and fourth contact layers comprise at least Ni or a Ni alloy.

A coated article comprising:

• a coating provided on a glass substrate, said coating comprising:
• a) at least one dielectric layer;
• b) a first contact layer;
• c) a first IR reflecting layer;
• d) a second contact layer, said first IR reflecting layer contacting each of said first and second contact layers;
• e) at least one dielectric layer;
• f) a third contact layer;
• g) a second IR reflecting layer;
• h) a fourth contact layer, said second IR reflecting layer contacting each of said third and fourth contact layers;
• i) at least one dielectric layer;
• wherein after being heat treated (HT) said coated article has a visible transmittance of at least 70%, a Tsolar no greater than 50%, an Rsolar of at least 26%, and a sheet resistance (Rs) of no greater than 8.0 ohms/sq;
• and
• wherein said a) at least one dielectric layer comprises Si-rich SixNy where x/y is from 0.76 to 1.5.

A coated article comprising:

• a coating provided on a glass substrate, said coating comprising from the glass substrate outwardly:
• a) at least one dielectric layer comprising silicon nitride;
• b) a first contact layer comprising Ni or a Ni alloy at least partially oxidized;
• c) a first IR reflecting layer comprising Ag;
• d) a second contact layer comprising Ni or a Ni alloy at least partially oxidized;
• e) at least one additional dielectric layer;
• f) a third contact layer comprising Ni or a Ni alloy at least partially oxidized;
• g) a second IR reflecting layer comprising Ag;
• h) a fourth contact layer comprising Ni or a Ni alloy at least partially oxidized;
• i) at least one additional dielectric layer;
• wherein after being heat treated (HT) said coated article has a visible transmittance of at least 70%, a Tsolar no greater than 50%, an Rsolar of at least 26%, and a sheet resistance (Rs) of no greater than 8.0 ohms/sq.

A coated article comprising:

• a coating provided on a glass substrate, said coating comprising from the glass substrate outwardly:
• a) at least one dielectric layer;
• b) a first contact layer;
• c) a first IR reflecting layer comprising Ag;
• d) a second contact layer, said first IR reflecting layer contacting each of said first and second contact layers;
• e) at least one dielectric layer;
• f) a third contact layer;
• g) a second IR reflecting layer comprising Ag;
• h) a fourth contact layer, said second IR reflecting layer contacting each of said third and fourth contact layers;
• i) at least one dielectric layer;
• wherein after being heat treated (HT) and laminated in the form of a vehicle windshield said coated article has a visible transmittance of at least 70%, a Tsolar no greater than 50%, an Rsolar of at least 26%, a sheet resistance (Rs) of no greater than 8.0 ohms/sq, and a glass side reflective color coordinate value a*G (normal viewing angle) in the range of from −2.0 to +2.0;
• and
• wherein said glass side reflective color coordinate value a*G does not change by more than 3.0 upon a 60° change in viewing angle (VA) from normal.

A method of making a coated article including an oxidation graded layer, the method comprising:

• providing a substrate;
• providing a sputtering apparatus including at least one target;
• introducing a first gas proximate a first side of the target and a second gas proximate a second side of the target, the first gas including more oxygen than the second gas so that as the substrate passes below the target an oxidation graded layer is formed, the oxidation graded layer being more oxidized at one portion thereof than at another portion thereof;
• and
• wherein the oxidation graded layer contacts an IR reflecting layer in the coated article.

A method of making a coated article, the method comprising:

• sputtering at least one dielectric layer onto a substrate;
• sputtering a first contact layer over the at least one dielectric layer;
• sputtering a metallic infrared (IR) reflecting layer directly on the first contact layer;
• sputtering a second contact layer directly on the metallic IR reflecting layer in a manner such that the second contact layer is oxidation graded and becomes progressively more oxidized through its thickness away from the IR reflecting layer.

A coating support by a substrate, the coating comprising from the substrate outwardly:

• a first silicon nitride SixNy layer;
• a first NiCrOx layer;
• a first Ag layer;
• a second NiCrOx layer;
• a first dielectric layer;
• a second silicon nitride SixNy layer;
• a third NiCrOx layer;
• a second Ag layer;
• a fourth NiCrOx layer;
• a second dielectric layer;
• and
• wherein after heat treatment the coated article has a visible transmission of at least 70% and a sheet resistance of no greater than 8.0 ohms/square.

A coated article comprising:

• a layer system supported by a glass substrate, the layer system comprising from the substrate outwardly:
• a Si-rich silicon nitride SixNy layer where x/y is from 0.76 to 1.5 in at least part of the layer;
• a first contact layer;
• and
• an IR reflecting layer.

A method of making a coated article, the method comprising:

• providing a substrate;
• sputtering a Si-rich silicon nitride SixNy layer, where x/y is from 0.76 to 1.5 in at least part of the layer, over the substrate by using a Si inclusive target and more of an inert gas than nitrogen gas proximate the target;
• sputtering an IR reflecting layer over the Si-rich silicon nitride layer;
• and
• wherein a ratio of the inert gas to the nitrogen gas proximate the target is in the range of from 1.15 to 3.0.