US4594137A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stainless steel overcoat for sputtered films
Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Inc
•
Filing: 1983-09-09
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Granted: 1986-06-10
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Expires: 2003-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for improving the stability and durability of sputtered metal films such as silver and copper by means of depositing a protective overcoat of a metal such as stainless steel on the exposed surface of the film.
Inventors
- 👤 F. Howard Gillery
- 👤 Russell C. Criss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:32
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03C; C03C17/00; C03C17/34; C03C17/36; C03C17/3602; C03C17/3607; C03C17/3613; C03C17/3642; C03C17/3652; C03C17/3657; C03C17/366; C03C17/3689; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/06; C23C14/14; C23C14/16; C23C14/18; C03C2217/00; C03C2217/70; C03C2217/78
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
In a method for coating a substrate with an elemental metal film selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, gold, platinum and palladium by cathode sputtering, the improvement which comprises depositing over the elemental metal film a protective overcoat of a metal which forms a dense oxide surface which protects said elemental metal film from oxidation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a method for coating a substrate with an elemental metal film selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, gold, platinum and palladium by cathode sputtering, the improvement which comprises depositing over the elemental metal film a protective overcoat of a metal which forms a dense oxide surface which protects said elemental metal film from oxidation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a method for coating a substrate with an elemental metal film by cathode sputtering, the improvement which comprises depositing over the elemental metal film a protective overcoat of a metal selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, vanadium, chromium, aluminum, tin, tantalum and nickel and alloys thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a method for coating a substrate with an elemental metal film by cathode sputtering, the improvement which comprises depositing over the elemental metal film a protective overcoat of a metal selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, vanadium, chromium, aluminum, tin, tantalum and nickel and alloys thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
In a method for coating a glass substrate with an elemental metal film by cathode sputtering wherein the substrate is first coated with a primer metal which bonds oxidatively with the glass surface, the improvement which comprises depositing over the elemental metal film a protective overcoat of a metal which forms a dense oxide surface, selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, vanadium, chromium, aluminum, tin, tantalum, nickel and alloys thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
In a method for coating a glass substrate with an elemental metal film by cathode sputtering wherein the substrate is first coated with a primer metal which bonds oxidatively with the glass surface, the improvement which comprises depositing over the elemental metal film a protective overcoat of a metal which forms a dense oxide surface, selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, vanadium, chromium, aluminum, tin, tantalum, nickel and alloys thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improved method according to claim 3, wherein the elemental metal film is selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, platinum, palladium, copper and mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
In a method for coating a substrate with an elemental metal film by cathode sputtering, wherein the elemental metal film is selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, platinum, palladium, copper and mixtures thereof, the improvement which comprises depositing over the elemental metal film a protection overcoat of a metal which forms a dense oxide surface selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and titanium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
In a method for coating a substrate with an elemental metal film by cathode sputtering, wherein the elemental metal film is selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, platinum, palladium, copper and mixtures thereof, the improvement which comprises depositing over the elemental metal film a protection overcoat of a metal which forms a dense oxide surface selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and titanium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improved method according to claim 5, wherein primer, elemental metal film layers and overcoat are deposited by magnetically enhanced cathode sputtering.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improved method according to claim 6, wherein the substrate is transparent, the primer layer is stainless steel, the elemental metal film comprises a layer of silver and a layer of copper, and the overcoat is stainless steel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improved method according to claim 7, wherein the substrate is glass and the stainless steel primer has a thickness of about 20 to 25 Angstroms.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improved method according to claim 8, wherein the stainless steel overcoat has a thickness of about 30 to 40 Angstroms.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
In a method for coating glass with a two-layer film of silver and copper by cathode sputtering, the improvement which comprises depositing over the film a protective overcoat of a metal which forms a dense oxide surface layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
In a method for coating glass with a two-layer film of silver and copper by cathode sputtering, the improvement which comprises depositing over the film a protective overcoat of a metal which forms a dense oxide surface layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improved method according to claim 10, wherein the overcoat metal is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, vanadium, chromium, aluminum, tin, tantalum and nickel alloys.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improved method according to claim 11, wherein the overcoat metal is stainless steel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improved method according to claim 12, wherein the thickness of the stainless steel overcoat is about 30 to 40 Angstroms.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improved method according to claim 13, wherein the stainless steel primer, the silver and copper layers of the film and the stainless steel overcoat are all deposited by magnetron sputtering.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-06-09 | 1989-12-09 | 1990-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-09 | 1993-12-09 | 1994-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-09 | 1997-12-09 | 1998-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |