Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of forming a metal oxide film on a substrate, the method having the steps of preparing a solution of at least one metal alkoxide, adjusting the viscosity of the alkoxide solution by adding thereto a viscosity adjusting agent, thereafter applying the alkoxide solution to the substrate to form a sol film on the substrate, drying the sol film to cause the sol film to turn into a gel film and baking the gel film to a temperature sufficient to convert the gel film to the metal oxide film, characterized in that said viscosity adjusting agent is a combination of a first hydroxypropyl cellulose of which 2 wt % aqueous solution has a viscosity in the range from 150 to 400 centipoises at 20° C. and a second hydroxypropyl cellulose of which 2 wt % aqueous solution has a viscosity in the range from 6 to 10 centipoises at 20° C., wherein the proportion of said first hydroxypropyl cellulose to said second hydroxypropyl cellulose is in the range from 70:30 to 97:3 by weight.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of forming a metal oxide film on a substrate, the method having the steps of preparing a solution of at least one metal alkoxide, adjusting the viscosity of the alkoxide solution by adding thereto a viscosity adjusting agent, thereafter applying the alkoxide solution to the substrate to form a sol film on the substrate, drying the sol film to cause the sol film to turn into a gel film and baking the gel film to a temperature sufficient to convert the gel film to the metal oxide film, characterized in that said viscosity adjusting agent is a combination of a first hydroxypropyl cellulose of which 2 wt % aqueous solution has a viscosity in the range from 150 to 400 centipoises at 20° C. and a second hydroxypropyl cellulose of which 2 wt % aqueous solution has a viscosity in the range from 6 to 10 centipoises at 20° C., wherein the proportion of said first hydroxypropyl cellulose to said second hydroxypropyl cellulose is in the range from 70:30 to 97:3 by weight.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is a glass substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said proportion is in the range from 80:20 to 95:5.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said combination of said first hydroxypropyl cellulose and said second hydroxypropyl cellulose is dissolved in an alcohol before adding the combination to the metal alkoxide solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the total amount of said first hydroxypropyl cellulose and said second hydroxypropyl cellulose is from 0.1 to 5 wt % of the metal alkoxide solution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the total amount of said first hydroxypropyl cellulose and said second hydroxypropyl cellulose is such that after the addition of said combination the metal alkoxide solution has a viscosity in the range from 3 to 30 centipoises at 20° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said viscosity of the metal alkoxide solution is in the range from 5 to 15 centipoises at 20° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the metal alkoxide solution comprises a titanium alkoxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the metal alkoxide solution further comprises a silicon alkoxide.