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US5744227A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Antireflective coatings comprising a lubricating layer having a specific surface energy

Assignee: Southwall Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1995-04-03
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Granted: 1998-04-28
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Expires: 2015-04-03
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Abstract

Abstract An improved way to impart antireflection properties to light transmissive substrates and, at the same time, achieve a durable surface and electrical conductivity is disclosed. A stack of at least two sputter-deposited light transmissive inorganic layers, one of which being electrically conductive and having a high index of refraction with the one above it (relative to the substrate being antireflected) having a low index of refraction, in combination with a thin lubricating overlayer comprising a solvent-soluble lubricant such as a solvent-soluble fluoropolymer can achieve this desired combination of properties.

Inventors

  • 👤 Clark I. Bright
  • 👤 F. Eugene Woodard
  • 👤 Steven J. Pace
  • 👤 Julius G. Kozak

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 10:58
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B1/00; G02B1/10; G02B1/11; G02B1/111; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24942; Y10T428/2495; Y10T428/24967; Y10T428/24975; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/263; Y10T428/264; Y10T428/265

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 180 words
A durable body having antireflection properties comprising a polymer substrate presenting a surface sought to be antireflected, a hardcoat layer formed on said surface to provide structural strength, the substrate having the hardcoat layer being sufficiently flexible to accommodate forming the substrate into a web, a multilayer antireflection coating on said hardcoat layer comprising at least two immediately adjacent pairs of layers, each layer of the antireflection coating having a thickness of less than 1500 angstroms, each such pair having, in order, a first layer of electrically conductive transparent inorganic material having an index of refraction of from 1.7 to 2.6 and a thickness of from about 50 to 1500 angstroms, the first layer being the closer layer to the polymer substrate within said pair of layers, and a second layer of transparent inorganic material having an index of refraction of from 1.29 to 1.7 and a thickness of from 50 to 1500 angstroms, with a lubricating layer having a surface energy not greater than 40 dynes/cm on a side of the multilayer antireflection coating opposite to the polymer substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 180 words
A durable body having antireflection properties comprising a polymer substrate presenting a surface sought to be antireflected, a hardcoat layer formed on said surface to provide structural strength, the substrate having the hardcoat layer being sufficiently flexible to accommodate forming the substrate into a web, a multilayer antireflection coating on said hardcoat layer comprising at least two immediately adjacent pairs of layers, each layer of the antireflection coating having a thickness of less than 1500 angstroms, each such pair having, in order, a first layer of electrically conductive transparent inorganic material having an index of refraction of from 1.7 to 2.6 and a thickness of from about 50 to 1500 angstroms, the first layer being the closer layer to the polymer substrate within said pair of layers, and a second layer of transparent inorganic material having an index of refraction of from 1.29 to 1.7 and a thickness of from 50 to 1500 angstroms, with a lubricating layer having a surface energy not greater than 40 dynes/cm on a side of the multilayer antireflection coating opposite to the polymer substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The body of claim 1 wherein the antireflection coating comprises three said pairs of layers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
The body of claim 1 wherein the first layer comprises an inorganic material selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal carbides, metal nitrides, metal oxynitrides, and metal sulfides.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
The body of claim 1 wherein the first layer is a metal oxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 14 words
The body of claim 1 wherein the first layer is a conductive metal oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
The body of claim 1 wherein the second layer comprises an inorganic material selected from the group consisting of inorganic oxides, metal fluorides, metal oxyfluorides, and metal fluoronitrides.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
The body of claim 6 wherein the second layer comprises an inorganic oxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
The body of claim 1 wherein the hardcoat layer on the polymer substrate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a silica-based hardcoat, siloxane hardcoat, melamine hardcoat and acrylic hardcoat.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 23 words
The body of claim 1 additionally comprising a primer layer comprising an oxidizable metal between the multilayer antireflection coating and the hardcoat layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 10 words
The body of claim 1 wherein the substrate is polyester.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 10 words
The body of claim 10 wherein the polyester is poly(ethyleneterephthalate).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 232 words
A light transmissive body having antireflection properties comprising a light transmissive substrate presenting a surface sought to be antireflected a multilayer antireflection coating adherent to said surface, said antireflection coating comprising a first layer closer to the substrate comprising electrically conductive light transmissive sputter-deposited inorganic material having an index of refraction of from 1.7 to 2.6 and a thickness of from about 100 to 1500 angstroms, a second layer on said first layer opposite to the substrate, said second layer comprising sputter-deposited light transmissive inorganic material having an index of refraction of from 1.29 to 1.7 and a thickness of from 100 to 1500 angstroms, a third layer on the second layer opposite to the first layer, said third layer comprising electrically conductive light transmissive inorganic material having an index of refraction in the range of 1.7 to 2.6 and a thickness in the range of 500 to 1500 angstroms, a fourth layer on the third layer opposite to the second layer, said fourth layer comprising light transmissive inorganic material having an index of refraction in the range of 1.29 to 1.7 and a thickness in the range of 500 to 1500 angstroms, and a lubricating layer adhered to the antireflection coating on a side opposite to the substrate, said lubricating layer having a thickness of less than about 200 angstroms and a bulk surface energy of less than about 30 dynes/cm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 232 words
A light transmissive body having antireflection properties comprising a light transmissive substrate presenting a surface sought to be antireflected a multilayer antireflection coating adherent to said surface, said antireflection coating comprising a first layer closer to the substrate comprising electrically conductive light transmissive sputter-deposited inorganic material having an index of refraction of from 1.7 to 2.6 and a thickness of from about 100 to 1500 angstroms, a second layer on said first layer opposite to the substrate, said second layer comprising sputter-deposited light transmissive inorganic material having an index of refraction of from 1.29 to 1.7 and a thickness of from 100 to 1500 angstroms, a third layer on the second layer opposite to the first layer, said third layer comprising electrically conductive light transmissive inorganic material having an index of refraction in the range of 1.7 to 2.6 and a thickness in the range of 500 to 1500 angstroms, a fourth layer on the third layer opposite to the second layer, said fourth layer comprising light transmissive inorganic material having an index of refraction in the range of 1.29 to 1.7 and a thickness in the range of 500 to 1500 angstroms, and a lubricating layer adhered to the antireflection coating on a side opposite to the substrate, said lubricating layer having a thickness of less than about 200 angstroms and a bulk surface energy of less than about 30 dynes/cm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 146 words
The light transmissive body of claim 12 further comprising a hardcoat layer between the substrate and the multilayer antireflection coating, wherein the substrate is polyester and said multilayer antireflection coating comprises two pairs of layers, a first pair having, in order, the first layer, which is closest to the substrate and is conductive transparent inorganic oxide having an index of refraction of from 1.88 to 2.15 and a thickness of from 150 to 500 angstroms, and the second layer, which is transparent inorganic oxide having an index of refraction of from 1.4 to 1.6 and a thickness of from 150 to 500 angstroms, and a second pair having the third layer, which is conductive transparent inorganic oxide having an index of refraction of from 1.88 to 2.15, and the fourth layer, which is transparent inorganic oxide having an index of refraction of from 1.4 to 1.6.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 20 words
The light transmissive body of claim 13 wherein the first layer and the third layer are each conductive indium/tin oxide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 12 words
The light transmissive body of claim 13 wherein the polyester is poly(ethyleneterephthalate).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 256 words
A light transmissive body having antireflection properties comprising a web of a light transmissive substrate presenting a surface sought to be antireflected a multilayer antireflection coating adherent to said surface, said antireflection coating comprising a first layer closer to the substrate comprising light transmissive inorganic material having an index of refraction of from 1.7 to 2.6 and a thickness of from about 100 to 1500 angstroms, a second layer in contact with said first layer on a side opposite to the substrate, said second layer comprising light transmissive inorganic material having an index of refraction of from 1.29 to 1.7 and a thickness of from 100 to 1500 angstroms, a third layer in contact with the second layer on a side opposite to the first layer, said third layer comprising light transmissive inorganic material having an index of refraction in the range of 1.7 to 2.6 and a thickness in the range of 500 to 1500 angstroms, at least one of said first and third layers being electrically conductive, a fourth layer in contact with the third layer on a side opposite to the second layer, said fourth layer comprising light transmissive inorganic material having an index of refraction in the range of 1.29 to 1.7 and a thickness in the range of 500 to 1500 angstroms, and a lubricating layer adhered to the antireflection coating on a side opposite to the substrate, said lubricating layer having a thickness of less than about 200 angstroms and a bulk surface energy of less than about 30 dynes/cm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 256 words
A light transmissive body having antireflection properties comprising a web of a light transmissive substrate presenting a surface sought to be antireflected a multilayer antireflection coating adherent to said surface, said antireflection coating comprising a first layer closer to the substrate comprising light transmissive inorganic material having an index of refraction of from 1.7 to 2.6 and a thickness of from about 100 to 1500 angstroms, a second layer in contact with said first layer on a side opposite to the substrate, said second layer comprising light transmissive inorganic material having an index of refraction of from 1.29 to 1.7 and a thickness of from 100 to 1500 angstroms, a third layer in contact with the second layer on a side opposite to the first layer, said third layer comprising light transmissive inorganic material having an index of refraction in the range of 1.7 to 2.6 and a thickness in the range of 500 to 1500 angstroms, at least one of said first and third layers being electrically conductive, a fourth layer in contact with the third layer on a side opposite to the second layer, said fourth layer comprising light transmissive inorganic material having an index of refraction in the range of 1.29 to 1.7 and a thickness in the range of 500 to 1500 angstroms, and a lubricating layer adhered to the antireflection coating on a side opposite to the substrate, said lubricating layer having a thickness of less than about 200 angstroms and a bulk surface energy of less than about 30 dynes/cm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 183 words
A durable body having antireflection properties comprising a polymer substrate presenting a surface sought to be antireflected, a hardcoat layer formed on said surface to provide structural strength, the substrate and hardcoat layer being formed into a web, a multilayer antireflection coating on said hardcoat layer comprising two or more immediately adjacent pairs of layers, each layer of the antireflection coating having a thickness of less than 1500 angstroms, each such pair having, in order, a first layer of transparent inorganic material having an index of refraction of from 1.7 to 2.6 and a thickness of from about 50 to 1500 angstroms, the first layer being the closer layer to the polymer substrate within said pair of layers, and a second layer of transparent inorganic material having an index of refraction of from 1.29 to 1.7 and a thickness of from 50 to 1500 angstroms, at least one of said first and second layers being electrically conductive, with a lubricating layer having a surface energy not greater than 40 dynes/cm on a side of the multilayer antireflection coating opposite to the polymer substrate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 183 words
A durable body having antireflection properties comprising a polymer substrate presenting a surface sought to be antireflected, a hardcoat layer formed on said surface to provide structural strength, the substrate and hardcoat layer being formed into a web, a multilayer antireflection coating on said hardcoat layer comprising two or more immediately adjacent pairs of layers, each layer of the antireflection coating having a thickness of less than 1500 angstroms, each such pair having, in order, a first layer of transparent inorganic material having an index of refraction of from 1.7 to 2.6 and a thickness of from about 50 to 1500 angstroms, the first layer being the closer layer to the polymer substrate within said pair of layers, and a second layer of transparent inorganic material having an index of refraction of from 1.29 to 1.7 and a thickness of from 50 to 1500 angstroms, at least one of said first and second layers being electrically conductive, with a lubricating layer having a surface energy not greater than 40 dynes/cm on a side of the multilayer antireflection coating opposite to the polymer substrate.

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