Pilkington Brothers P.l.c.

Pilkington Plc

Joseph E Lewis

Charles Victor Thomasson

Bernard James Kirkbride

Robert Andrew Downey

Edward Hargreaves

David William Sheel

A method of producing mirrors comprising depositing a reflecting metal layer by pyrolysis on a ribbon of hot glass during the glass production process characterized by applying to the glass ribbon prior to deposition of the reflecting metal layer a primer for enhancing metal nucleation on the glass. The invention also provides a method of producing mirrors during the glass production process the method comprising pre-treating the surface of a ribbon of hot glass with an activating agent and pyrolytically depositing over the pre-treated surface a reflecting metal layer.

Method for producing mirrors by surface activation and pyrolytic

Infra red reflecting fluorine-containing tin oxide coatings are applied to glass using a solid chlorine-containing volatile inorganic tin (IV) compound optionally containing fluorine. The inorganic tin (IV) compound is suspended in carrier gas. When that compound is fluorine free, the suspension is directed on to the hot glass surface in the presence of a separate source of fluorine which may be an organic tin compound. When the inorganic tin (IV) compound contains fluorine, the suspension is directed on to the hot glass surface in the presence of an organic tin compound which may contain fluorine. Examples of the inorganic tin (IV) compounds which may be used are ammonium hexahalostannates of the formula (NH.sub.4).sub.2 SnHal.sub.6 wherein Hal represents halogen, being either chlorine, or a minor atomic proportion of fluorine and the balance chlorine.

Production of infrared reflecting coatings on glass

Solid tin (IV) compounds, free from carbon-tin bonds, and containing both chlorine and fluorine are used to apply infra red reflecting fluorine containing tin oxide coatings to glass. Examples of the tin compounds that may be used are ammonium hexahalostannates of the formula (NH.sub.4).sub.2 SnHal.sub.6 wherein Hal represents halogen, and a minor atomic proportion of the halogen present is fluorine and the balance is chlorine. The tin compounds are dispersed in finely divided form in a carrier gas, and the suspension of the tin compound in the carrier gas is directed on to a hot glass surface to be coated.

Process for coating glass

A glazing unit comprising a sheet of glass having a coating consisting essentially of silicon on a major face thereof, and a frame for that sheet.

Glazing unit

An apparatus for coating glass with a coating consisting of or containing silicon includes a gas distributor for locating transversely of the path of travel of a glass surface. A gas supply duct supplies coating material in gaseous form and the temperature of the duct is controlled. An elongated open-faced chamber positioned adjacent the glass path of travel communicates along its length with the duct through a gas-flow restrictor that provides gas release from the duct into the chamber at constant pressure along the length of the chamber.

Apparatus for coating glass

A coating consisting of or containing silicon is produced on glass by moving the glass, at a temperature of at least 400.degree. C, past a coating station to which silane-containing gas is supplied. The gas is released close to the glass surface into a hot zone opening towards the glass surface and at a substantially constant pressure across that surface. Non-oxidizing conditions are maintained in the hot zone, and the coating is produced by pyrolysis of the gas on the glass surface.

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Ormskirk, United Kingdom

Joseph E Lewis