Ford Motor Company Limited

Eugene P Pharms

Charles J Amberger

Ronald R Hymore

In a transparent glass article comprising an electrically conductive, transparent, metal-based coating on a glass substrate and polyvinyl butyral material (PVB) bonded thereto, adhesion between the coating and the PVB is improved by a thin chromium-based film on the metal-based coating interfacing with the PVB. Adhesion is particularly improved in its resistance to exposure to UV radiation. In an electrically heated windshield application, the adhesion is improved by chromium-based film (24) between the metal-based coating (22) on a first glass template (12) and a PVB interlayer (26) mediate the first glass template and a second glass template (28). The glass article is produced according to a method aspect of the invention.

Electrically heated transparent glass article and method of making

This specification teaches a method of manufacturing a curved windshield with an electrically conductive film thereon. The method includes the steps of placing an electrically conductive film, an oxidizable metal layer, and an oxidized metal layer in layered relationship on a flat glass sheet. A glass templet is cut from the coated sheet and electric bus bars are applied and dried on the electrically conductive film on the coated glass templet. A glass templet is cut from an uncoated glass sheet and the two so-formed templets are united with the coating of the one sheet exposed to the ambient. The glass sheets are heated and bent into curved configuration. Thereafter, a laminating interlayer is placed between the glass templets and the glass templets are laminated together.

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Romulus, MI, United States of America

Eugene P Pharms