Saint-gobain Vitrage International

Jean-Claude Cornut

Christian Padoy

Francis Defendini

Jean-Claude Lassegues

Doris Schoolmann

A method for forming an electrochromic glazing system which comprises means to reduce and preferably eliminate all trapped air from the system so as to avoid the formation of undesirable air bubbles trapped therein. The method comprises coating at least a portion of an inner surface of a first glass support sheet with a transparent electroconductive layer, followed by a layer of an electrochromic material which serves as an electrode. A second glass support sheet is also coated upon its inner aspect with an electroconductive layer, upon which is coated a counterelectrode layer. Thereafter, an electrolyte layer is deposited upon either the electrochromic, i.e., electrode layer, or the counterelectrode layer. The two coated glass support plates thereafter are preassembled, that is, they are oriented one above the other with their uncoated surfaces facing outwardly such that their coated portions are adjacent, but not in contact, with each other. A spacer, which ultimately serves as a peripheral seal for the glazing, keeps the two coated stacks apart during the preassembly stage. The area between the two stacks is then subjected to a vacuum to remove substantially all of the air therefrom. The glazing is thereafter subjected to an assembly stage in which the coated support plates are heated and then pressed together to from the completed glazing. The invention additionally relates to an apparatus for forming the glazings of the invention and to the glazings formed thereby.

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Gradignan, France

Jean-Claude Cornut