Deposition of optically transparent IR reflective coatings on glass

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The TiO2/Ag/TiO2 multilayer configuration forms an optically transparent IR reflective coating. In such multilayer films the dielectric layers are generally deposited by rf sputtering. The deposition of TiO2 films from liquid polymer solutions employed in this work gives substantial advantages over the sputtering method in both cost and adaptability of the coating to various substrate shapes. In this method, however, the optical properties, e.g., refractive index, of the polymer-deposited films, are significantly dependent on certain processing parameters. This manuscript discusses the formation of transparent IR reflective films on fused silica and soda-lime glasses. Particular attention is given to providing spectral transmission characteristics that result in the maximum energy savings in incandescent lighting use, since the tungsten filament radiates over 80% of its energy in the infrared range and recovery of this energy would represent substantial energy conservation. The initial experiments with coated light bulbs showed an increase of efficiency as high as 30–40%.