Process for forming anti-reflective coatings comprising light metal fluorides
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsEdward N. Boulos, Mark F. Best, Joseph H. Simmons, Stephen J. Pagano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention is directed to a process for forming coatings comprising light metal fluorides on a substrate. More particularly, the coating comprising light metal fluorides is preferably made using sol-gel techniques and may comprise a concentration gradient of the light metal fluorides across the thickness of the coating to provide it with unique anti-reflective properties.
Claims17
A process for forming an anti-reflective coating comprising light metal fluorides on a substrate, said process comprising:
- providing a coating of a reactive composition comprising:
- (i) light metal oxide precursor, (ii) non-aqueous solvent, and (iii) water on said substrate;
- heating the coated substrate for a time sufficient to densify the coating material to form a densified coating comprising light metal oxide;
- and
- exposing said densified coating at an elevated temperature to an atmosphere comprising fluorine gas or a fluorine producing gaseous compound for a time sufficient to replace only a portion of the oxygen atoms of said light metal oxide of said densified coating with fluoride atoms so that said densified coating comprises a concentration gradient of light metal fluoride to thereby form said anti-reflective coating.
A process for forming a ceramic coating, comprising a concentration gradient of light metal fluorides, on a substrate, said process comprising:
- providing a coating of a reactive composition comprising:
- (i) light metal oxide precursor, (ii) non-aqueous solvent, and (iii) water on said substrate;
- heating the coated substrate for a time sufficient to densify the coating material to form a densified coating comprising light metal oxide;
- and
- exposing said densified coating at an elevated temperature to an atmosphere comprising fluorine gas or a gaseous fluorine producing compound for a time sufficient to replace only a portion of the oxygen atoms of said light metal oxide with fluoride atoms so that said densified, coating comprises a concentration gradient of light metal fluoride, said concentration gradient being such that said densified coating comprises a greater concentration of light metal fluoride in a region of said ceramic coating distant from said substrate surface and a lesser concentration of light metal fluoride in a region of said densified coating nearer said substrate surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.