# US 9,751,799 B2 · Physical vapor deposited layers for protection of glass surfaces > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,799 B2 - Document ID: US9751799B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/043,354 - Filed: 2013-10-01 - Published: 2014-04-03 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-03 - Assignees: Corning Incorporated - Applicants: Corning Incorporated - Inventors: Charles Andrew Paulson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751799B2 ## CPC - C03C 17/001: {General methods for coating; Devices therefor} - B32B 17/06: comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific {material} - C03C 17/22: with other inorganic material (C03C17/34, C03C17/44 take precedence) - C03C 17/225: {Nitrides} - G02B 1/14: Protective coatings, e.g. hard coatings - B32B 2307/536: Hardness - Y10T 428/24983: Hardness - Y10T 428/265: 1 mil or less - Y10T 428/266: of base or substrate - 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 - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A scratch-resistant glass substrate is prepared by forming a hard, scratch-resistant layer over a major surface of the substrate. The layer is formed from an inorganic material such as a metal oxide, metal nitride, metal carbide, or metal boride using, for example, physical vapor deposition such as reactive or non-reactive sputtering at a process temperature of less than 500° C. The inorganic layer is resistant to micro-ductile scratching, which can safeguard the visible appearance of the glass substrate in use. The glass substrate can include chemically-strengthened glass. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A scratch-resistant glass article, comprising a glass substrate having opposing major surfaces; and an inorganic, optically-transparent layer formed over a majority of a first major surface, wherein the glass substrate comprises chemically-strengthened glass having a compressive stress of about 300 MPa or greater, wherein the scratch-resistant glass article exhibits a scratch depth reduction, when scratched using a Berkovich indenter and a load of up to about 160 mN, of at least 20%, when compared to a glass substrate without the inorganic, optically-transparent layer provided over a majority of a first major surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The scratch-resistant glass article of claim 1, further exhibiting a scratch width reduction, when scratched using a Berkovich indenter and a load of up to about 160 mN, of at least 20%, when compared to a glass substrate without the low-temperature-deposited inorganic, optically-transparent layer provided over a majority of a first major surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The article according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic layer comprises a metal oxide, a metal nitride, a metal carbide, a metal boride, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The article according to claim 3, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Si, Ti, V, Cr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, Hf, Ta and W. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The article according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic layer has a Berkovich indenter hardness of at least 9 GPa. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The article according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic layer has a hardness that is at least 10% greater than a hardness of the glass substrate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The article according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic layer has a thickness ranging from about 10 nm to 3 microns. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The article according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic layer is a contiguous layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The article according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic layer is formed in direct physical contact with the glass substrate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The article according to claim 1, wherein an anti-reflective layer or a stress-reduction layer is formed between the glass substrate and the inorganic layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The article according to claim 1, wherein the glass substrate has a thickness ranging from about 100 microns to 5 mm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The article according to claim 1, wherein the first major surface is substantially planar. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The article according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic layer is water clear. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The article according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic layer has a refractive index of less than about 3 at visible wavelengths. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The article according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic layer has a refractive index between about 1.4 and 2 at visible wavelengths. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The article according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic layer has a reflectance of less than about 40% at visible wavelengths. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The article according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic layer is under a state of compressive stress. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The article according to claim 1, where the inorganic layer is substantially free of microductile scratches.