Coating and curing apparatus and methods

A coating and curing apparatus, comprising:

• a conveyor system of a combination roll coating and curing facility, wherein the combination roll coating and curing facility comprises at least one roll coating facility followed by at least one curing facility, the at least one roll coating facility comprising a doctor roller and an application roller, and wherein the conveyor system is adapted to transport a substantially flat substrate first through the roll coating facility and afterwards through the curing facility;
• a source of a sol-gel coating for use in the combination roll coating and curing facility, the source comprising space for a reservoir of the sol-gel coating material between the doctor roller and the application roller of the roll coating facility, the reservoir in fluid communication with the doctor roller and the application roller;
• a processor that controls a process parameter of the at least one roll coating facility;
• and
• an air knife of the at least one curing facility, wherein the air knife is adapted to direct a heated air stream to a portion of the flat substrate as it is transported through the at least one curing facility,
• wherein the at least one roll coating facility is adapted to coat the substantially flat substrate with a continuous film of sol gel coating material and wherein the air knife is adapted to cure the continuous sol gel coating material while an interior of the substantially flat substrate remains at a temperature substantially lower than a temperature of air from the air knife.