US4364995A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Metal/metal oxide coatings
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1981-02-04
•
Granted: 1982-12-21
•
Expires: 2001-02-04
Abstract
Abstract Most processes for the generation of metal oxide or metal sulfide films involved oxidation of existing metal layers or direct vapor deposition of the oxide or sulfide layer. These processes do not provide efficient control of film integrity, optical properties, and bonding. The use of a metal vapor deposition process in which a controlled amount of oxygen or sulfur containing gas or vapor is introduced into the metal vapor stream or portions enables formation of metal oxide or metal sulfide films with excellent control over the film properties.
Inventors
- 👤 George H. Crawford
- 👤 Edward J. Downing
- 👤 Roy G. Schlemmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:19
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/56; C23C14/562; C23C14/0021; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/263; Y10T428/264; Y10T428/265; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31678; Y10T428/31681; Y10T428/31688; Y10T428/31692; Y10T428/31703
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
An article comprising a substrate having on at least one surface thereof a coating comprising at least two components of (a) metal and (b) metal oxide or metal sulfide or combinations thereof of between 15 A and 5×10 4 A in thickness, said coating being characterized by having a composition which varies its proportions of said at least two components through a thickness of at least 15 A in a continuous manner, said variation in proportions being further characterized by the ratio of said components only increasing or only decreasing through the thickness of the coating.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
An article comprising a substrate having on at least one surface thereof a coating comprising at least two components of (a) metal and (b) metal oxide or metal sulfide or combinations thereof of between 15 A and 5×10 4 A in thickness, said coating being characterized by having a composition which varies its proportions of said at least two components through a thickness of at least 15 A in a continuous manner, said variation in proportions being further characterized by the ratio of said components only increasing or only decreasing through the thickness of the coating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the smaller of the coating layer's (a) metal to (b) metal oxide or metal sulfide or combinations thereof, or (c) metal oxide or metal sulfide or combinations thereof to (d) metal ratios varies by at least 10% over a thickness of at least 15 A.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article of claim 2 wherein said metal oxide or metal sulfide or combinations thereof is a metal oxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The article of claim 3 wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, tin, chromium, nickel, titanium, cobalt, zinc, iron, lead, manganese, copper, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of claim 3 wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, tin, chromium, nickel, titanium, zinc, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
10 words
The article of claim 3 wherein said metal comprises aluminum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said metal oxide or metal sulfide or combinations thereof is a metal sulfide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
An article comprising a substrate having on at least one surface thereof a coating comprising at least two components of (a) metal and (b) metal oxide or metal sulfide or combinations thereof of between 15 A and 5×10 4 A in thickness, said coating being characterized by having a composition which varies its proportions of said at least two components through a thickness of at least 15 A in a continuous manner, and said metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, nickel, titanium, zinc, tin, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
90 words
An article comprising a substrate having on at least one surface thereof a coating comprising at least two components of (a) metal and (b) metal oxide or metal sulfide or combinations thereof of between 15 A and 5×10 4 A in thickness, said coating being characterized by having a composition which varies its proportions of said at least two components through a thickness of at least 15 A in a continuous manner, and said metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, nickel, titanium, zinc, tin, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article of claim 8 wherein said metal oxide or metal sulfide or combinations thereof is a metal oxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article of claim 9 wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, zinc, tin and mixtures thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The article of claims 8, 9, or 10 wherein the surface of said metal/metal oxide layer having a relatively higher proportion of metal is adjacent to said substrate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The article of claims 8, 9, or 10 wherein said substrate comprises an organic polymeric material and wherein the surface of said metal/metal oxide layer having a relatively higher proportion of metal is adjacent to said substrate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3091548A
Cited
US3639185A
Cited
US3698946A
Cited
GB1468746A
Cited
US4158079A
Cited
US4008084A
Cited
US3962488A
Cited
GB1514420A
Cited
US4139391A
Cited
US4166148A
Cited
US4190321A
Cited
US4148967A
Cited
GB2028376B
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-12-20 | 1986-06-21 | 1986-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-20 | 1990-06-21 | 1990-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-20 | 1994-06-21 | 1994-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |