# US 5,348,599 A · Method of making laminating glazing unit

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- Number: US 5,348,599 A
- Document ID: US5348599A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/059,088
- Filed: 1993-05-05
- Granted: 1994-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 1990-12-20
- Assignees: Ford Motor Company
- Inventors: Kenneth E. Nietering
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5348599A

## CPC

- C03C 17/3615: {Coatings of the type glass/metal/other inorganic layers, at least one layer being non-metallic}
- B32B 17/10036: {comprising two outer glass sheets}
- B32B 17/10174: {Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer}
- B32B 17/10761: {containing vinyl acetal}
- B32B 27/36: comprising polyesters
- C03C 17/36: at least one coating being a metal
- C03C 17/3639: {Multilayers containing at least two functional metal layers}
- C03C 17/3644: {the metal being silver}
- C03C 17/3652: {the coating stack containing at least one sacrificial layer to protect the metal from oxidation}
- C03C 17/366: {Low-emissivity or solar control coatings}
- C03C 17/3673: {specially adapted for use in heating devices for rear window of vehicles}
- C03C 17/3681: {the multilayer coating being used in glazing, e.g. windows or windscreens}
- H05B 3/86: the heating conductors being embedded in the transparent or reflecting material {(H05B3/845 takes precedence)}
- H05B 2203/013: Heaters using resistive films or coatings
- Y10T 428/12597: Noncrystalline silica or noncrystalline plural-oxide component [e.g., glass, etc.]
- Y10T 428/12611: Oxide-containing component
- Y10T 428/263: Coating layer not in excess of 5 mils thick or equivalent
- Y10T 428/265: 1 mil or less
- Y10T 428/3163: Next to acetal of polymerized unsaturated alcohol [e.g., formal butyral, etc.]
- C03C: CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A method of making a glazing unit comprises sputter coating surface of a substrate ply with a first film of dielectric material and then a substantially transparent, electrically conductive coating, and then laminating the coated surface of the substrate ply to a laminating ply of polymeric material. The first film of dielectric material is sputtered onto the surface of the substrate followed by sputtering, in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, an electrically conductive film of silver metal over the first dielectric film. An adhesion film of copper or zinc is sputtered over the silver metal film in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. A film of tantalum pentoxide is then sputtered over the adhesion film. Applications include, for example, glazing units for solar load reduction and electrically heated glazing units.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of making a laminated glazing unit comprising:
sputter coating a surface of a substrate ply with a first film of dielectric material and then sputter coating thereover a substantially transparent, electrically conductive coating by sputter deposition of an electrically conductive film of silver metal over the first film of dielectric material in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, then sputter deposition of an adhesion film selected from the group consisting of copper or zinc over the film of silver metal in a non-oxidizing atmosphere and then sputter depositing a film of tantalum pentoxide over the adhesion film; and
then laminating the coated surface of the substrate ply to a laminating ply of polymeric material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the substrate ply is glass, the laminating ply is PVB, the first film of dielectric material is zinc oxide.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the adhesion film is copper.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 where the sputter deposition of the tantalum pentoxide film comprises first sputter deposition of a sacrificial layer of tantalum metal by sputtering tantalum in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, followed immediately by sputter deposition of tantalum in an oxidizing atmosphere, the sacrificial layer being substantially oxidized upon exposure to said oxidizing atmosphere.