Ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass

Abstract

The ultraviolet/infrared transmittance glass consists of base glass including: 65 to 80 wt. % SiO2; 0 to 5 wt. % B2O3; 0 to 5 wt. % Al2O3; 0 to 10 wt. % MgO; 5 to 15 wt. % CaO; 10 to 18 wt. % Na2O; 0 to 5 wt. % K2O; 5 to 15 wt. % total amount of MgO and CaO; and 0 to 20 wt. % total amount of Na2O and K2O, colorants including: equal to or more than 0.05 wt. % and less than 0.2 wt. % total iron oxide (T-Fe2O3) expressed as Fe2O3; 0.63 to 1.4 wt. % CeO2; 0.02 to 1.5 wt. % TiO2; 0.0005 to 0.005 wt. % CoO; and 0.0003 to 0.002 wt. % Se. FeO expressed as Fe2O3 is between 30 wt. % and 60 wt. % of T-Fe2O3.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of patent application Ser. No. 09/409,381 filed on Sep. 30, 1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to an ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass having a bronze or gray color shade.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT

[0003] Recently, a variety of glasses with ultraviolet/infrared absorptivity to be used as a vehicle window glass including a windshield have been proposed with a view of preventing degradation of luxurious interior materials and reducing cooling load of the vehicle.

[0004] For example, glasses having a green color shade and being improved in the infrared absorptivity and the ultraviolet absorptivity due to including a relatively large amount of Fe2O3 have been developed as a window glass of a vehicle.

[0005] A glass having a bronze, brown or gray color shade includes a smaller amount of Fe2O3 than that of the glass having a green color shade and employs ultraviolet absorbing agents including CeO2, TiO2 and V2O5 so as to be provided with the ultraviolet absorptivity. For example, a heat rays absorbent glass having a bronze color shade disclosed in the Japanese Patent H6-40741A consists of a base glass including 68 to 74 wt. % SiO2, 0.1 to 3.0 wt. % Al2O3, 2 to 4.5 wt. % MgO, 8 to 11 wt. % CaO, 11.5 to 16 wt. % Na2O, 0.5 to 3.0 wt. % K2O, 0.1 to 0.4 wt. % SO3, 68 to 74 wt. % total amount of SiO2 and Al2O3, 11 to 15 wt. % total amount of CaO and MgO and 12 to 17 wt. % total amount of Na2O and K2O, and colorants including 0.13 to 0.55 wt. % total iron oxide (T-Fe2O3) expressed as Fe2O3, 0.2 to 0.6 wt. % CeO2, 0.15 to 0.45 wt. % TiO2, 0.3 to 14 ppm CoO and 5 to 20 ppm Se, in which the reduction rate of the glass (Fe2+/Fe3+) is between 17% and 55%.

[0006] A colored ultraviolet absorbent glass disclosed in the Japanese Patent H6-345482A is a glass having a brown color shade consisting of 65 to 75 wt. % SiO2, 0.1 to 5 wt. % Al2O3, 1 to 6 wt. % MgO, 5 to 15 wt. % CaO, 10 to 18 wt. % Na2O, 0 to 5 wt. % K2O, 0.05 to 1.0 wt. % SO3, 0.2 to 1.5 wt. % CeO2, 0 to 1.0 wt. % TiO2, 0 to 0.0015 wt. % CoO, 0.0002 to 0.0012 wt. % Se and 0.2 to 0.4 wt. % Fe2O3, in which Fe2+ is in a range of 3 to 15 wt. % among the total amount of Fe.

[0007] A colored ultraviolet absorbent glass disclosed in the Japanese Patent H6-345483A consists of 65 to 75 wt. % SiO2, 0.1 to 5 wt. % Al2O3, 1 to 6 wt. % MgO, 5 to 15 wt. % CaO, 10 to 18 wt. % Na2O, 0 to 5 wt. % K2O, 0.05 to 1.0 wt. % SO3, 0.4 to 1.0 wt. % CeO2, 0 to 1.0 wt. % TiO2, 0.0018 to 0.0030 wt. % CoO, 0.0001 to 0.0010 wt. % Se and 0.1 to 0.3 wt. % Fe2O3, in which Fe2+ is in a range of 3 to 20 wt. % among the total amount of Fe.

[0008] A gray glass composition disclosed in the Japanese Patent H8-48540A consists of 66 to 75 wt. % SiO2, 0 to 5 wt. % Al2O3, 0 to 5 wt. % MgO, 5 to 15 wt. % CaO, 10 to 20 wt. % Na2O, 0 to 5 wt. % K2O, 0.0003 to 0.0050 wt. % CoO, 0.0001 to 0.0015 wt. % Se, 0.30 to 0.70 wt. % Fe2O3 (total iron), not more than 0.21 wt. % FeO and less than 2.0 wt. % of CeO2, V2O5, TiO2 and MoO3 to be provided with a dull gray color shade.

[0009] An ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass disclosed in the Japanese Patent H6-92678A consists of 65 to 80 wt. % SiO2, 0 to 5 wt. % Al2O3, 0 to 5 wt. % B2O3, 0 to 10 wt. % MgO, 5 to 15 wt. % CaO, 10 to 18 wt. % Na2O, 0 to 5 wt. % K2O, 5 to 15 wt. % total amount of MgO and CaO, 10 to 20 wt. % total amount of Na2O and K2O, 0.3 to 2 wt. % cerium oxide expressed as CeO2, 0 to 1 wt. % TiO2, 0.1 to 0.8 wt. % T-Fe2O3, 0 to 0.006 wt. % CoO, 0 to 0.01 wt. % NiO and 0 to 0.0015 wt. % Se.

[0010] The conventional ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glasses as referred above are provided with the ultraviolet absorptivity due to a sole action and/or an interaction of one or more than two from among Fe2O3, CeO2, TiO2 and the like, and with the heat rays absorptivity due to FeO added in the form of Fe2O3 and reduced therefrom. However, it is difficult to provide a bronze or gray color shade developed due to Se and a high ultraviolet and infrared absorptivity for the same glass simultaneously.

[0011] For example, the glass having a bronze color shade disclosed in the Japanese Patent H6-40741A requires relatively large contents of Fe2O3 and TiO2 in order to provide the ultraviolet absorptivity because of its relatively small content of CeO2. In this case, the glass is reduced in the visible light transmittance and the shade is tinged with yellow to become tar tint. It is also difficult to maintain the pink color developed by Se and to provide the bronze or gray color shade in the sights of the present invention for the glass because Se is easy to develop dark brown when the glass includes a large amount of T-Fe2O3.

[0012] Each of the glasses having a bronze or gray color shade disclosed in the Japanese Patent H6-345482A, H6-345483A and H8-48540A has a disadvantage that indeed the glass has the ultraviolet absorptivity, but is reduced in the infrared absorptivity because the glasses include a small content of FeO in contrast with its large content of T-Fe2O3.

[0013] Examples 1 through 18 of the ultraviolet/infrared glass disclosed in the Japanese Patent H6-92678 include a small content of T-Fe2O3. These examples except for the example 13 are disadvantageously reduced in the infrared absorptivity and increased in the solar energy transmittance (TG). The example 13 is provided with TG of equal to or less than 65%, while the glass includes 1.46 wt. % CeO2 in order to be balanced against the visible light transmittance and the ultraviolet transmittance thereof. CeO2 is not preferable to be used in large amounts because of its expensive cost.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] It is an object of the present invention to solve conventional problems described above and provide an ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass having a bronze or gray color shade which is provided with a high ultraviolet and infrared absorptivity.

[0015] The ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass of the present invention consists of a base glass comprising:

[0016] 65 to 80 wt. % SiO2;

[0017] 0 to 5 wt. % B2O3;

[0018] 0 to 5 wt. % Al2O3;

[0019] 0 to 1 wt. %MgO;

[0020] 0 to 5 wt. % K2O;

[0021] 5 to 15 wt. % total amount of MgO and CaO; and

[0022] 10 to 20 wt. % total amount of Na2O and K2O, colorants including:

[0023] equal to or more than 0.05 wt. % and less than 0.2 wt. % total iron oxide (T-Fe2O3) expressed as Fe2O3;

[0024] 0.63 to 1.4 wt. % CeO2;

[0025] 0.02 to 1.5 wt. % TiO2;

[0026] 0.0005 to 0.005 wt. % CoO; and

[0027] 0.0003 to 0.002 wt. % Se.

[0028] In the glass of the present invention FeO expressed as Fe2O3 is between 30 wt. % and 60 wt. % of T-Fe2O3.

[0029] The ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass may further comprise 0.001 to 0.01 wt. % NiO so as to adjust its color of the shade.

[0030] The ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass is preferable to include 0.01 to 1 wt. % La2O3.

[0031] The ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass at any thickness between 2.6 mm and 6.3 mm is preferable to be provided with the visible light transmittance of equal to or more than 65% when measured by using the CIE illuminant A, the solar energy transmittance of equal to or less than 65% when measured over a wavelength between 300 nm and 2100 nm and the ultraviolet transmittance specified by ISO of equal to or less than 20%.

[0032] The ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass at any thickness between 2.6 mm and 6.3 mm is preferable to be provided with the excitation purity of equal to or less than 10% when measured by using the CIE illuminant C and a bronze color shade having the chromaticity expressed as a* and b* defined by the L*a*b* coordinates in ranges of −2>a*≦1 and 4≦b*≦10.

[0033] The ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass at any thickness between 2.6 mm and 6.3 mm is preferable to be provided with the excitation purity of equal to or less than 5% when measured by using the CIE illuminant C and a gray color shade having the chromaticity expressed as a* and b* defined by the L*a*b* coordinates in ranges of −2≦a*≦1 and −1≦b*≦4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] The description will be made as regard to the ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass composition of the present invention. It should be noted that components will be represented with percentage by weight. The composition is based on that of a glass which is suitable for being molded in the floating process.

[0035] SiO2 (silica) is a principal component for forming skeleton of glass. Less than 65% SiO2 lowers the durability of the glass and more than 80% SiO2 raises the melting temperature of the glass so high.

[0036] B2O3 is a component for improving the durability of the glass, prompting to melt, and yet enhancing the ultraviolet absorption. B2O3 should be less than 5%, since reduction of the transmittance in the ultraviolet range extends even to the visible range to tinge the glass with yellow and difficulties during forming are caused due to the vaporization of B2O3 when B2O3 exceeds 5%.

[0037] Al2O3 is a component for improving the durability of the glass. More than 5% Al2O3 raises the melting temperature of the glass so high. Al2O3 is preferable to be included equal to or less than 5%, particularly in a range of 0.1 to 2%.

[0038] MgO and CaO improve the durability of the glass and adjust a liquidus temperature and viscosity of the glass during molding. More than 10% MgO raises the liquidus temperature. Less than 5% or more than 15% CaO raises the liquidus temperature of the glass. The durability of the glass is lowered when the total amount of MgO and CaO is less than 5%, while the liquidus temperature is increased when the total exceeds 15%.

[0039] Na2O and K2O prompt the glass to melt. The efficiency of promotion of melting becomes poor when Na2O is less than 10% or the total of Na2O and K2O is less than 10%, while the durability of the glass is lowered when Na2O exceeds 18% or the total of Na2O and K2O exceeds 20%. K2O also prompts Se to develop its pink color and improve the ultraviolet absorptivity at the same time. K2O is preferable not to exceed 5% because K2O is expensive as compared to Na2O.

[0040] Iron oxide is present in the form of Fe2O3 (Fe3+) and the form of FeO (Fe2+) in the glass. Fe2O3 is a component for improving the ultraviolet absorptivity and FeO is a component for improving the heat rays absorptivity just as CeO2 and TiO2.

[0041] When the amount of T-Fe2O3 is too small, the glass is reduced in the infrared absorptivity and ultraviolet absorptivity, while, when the content of T-Fe2O3 is too large, the glass is reduced in the visible light transmittance and it is difficult to obtain the desired shade because the color development of Se becomes to be tinged with dark brown. Therefore, T-Fe2O3 is preferable to be contained in an amount of equal to or more than 0.05% and less than 0.2%.

[0042] When the amount of FeO is too small, the glass is reduced in the infrared absorptivity, while, when the content of FeO is too large, the glass is reduced in the visible light transmittance. Therefore, a ratio of FeO expressed as Fe2O3 to T-Fe2O3 is preferable to be in a range of 30 to 60%.

[0043] The present invention aims to improve the infrared absorption of the glass while maintaining the visible light transmittance thereof at a high degree depending on a large content of FeO in contrast with a small content of T-Fe2O3. Therefore, the glass of the present invention includes T-Fe2O3 and FeO in ranges applying to this aim.

[0044] CeO2 is an essential component of the present invention for improving the ultraviolet absorptivity and is present in the form of Ce3+ or in the form of Ce4+ in the glass. Particularly, Ce3+ is effective in absorbing ultraviolet with less absorptivity in the visible range. When CeO2 is contained too much, the visible rays having a short wavelength are excessively absorbed to ting the glass with yellow. Since the cerium oxide which is the raw material of CeO2 is expensive and acts as an oxidizing agent, it is difficult to maintain the ratio of FeO to T-Fe2O3 at a high rate when the glass including a large amount of CeO2. Therefore, the content of CeO2 is between 0.63% and 1.4%.

[0045] TiO2 is a component for improving the ultraviolet absorptivity particularly by interaction with FeO. Too much TiO2 tinges the glass with yellow. TiO2 is preferable to be included in a range of 0.02 to 1.5%.

[0046] CoO is a component for forming a bronze or gray color shade by cooperating with Se. Less than 0.0005% CoO can not form a desired color shade, while more than 0.005% CoO reduces the visible light transmittance.

[0047] Se contributes a pink color, so that it forms the bronze or gray color shade with the aid of a complementary color of CoO. Less than 0.0003% Se can not form a desired color shade, while more than 0.002% Se reduces the visible light transmittance.

[0048] SO3 is supplied into the glass from the sulfate or the like which prompts the glass to be refined. The bronze or gray color shade can not be obtained because the color development of Se is weakened when SO3 is more than 0.30%.

[0049] Although NiO brings the bronze or gray color shade, the content of NiO is not more than 0.01% because the glass is reduced in the visible light transmittance when NiO is contained too much.

[0050] La2O3 decreases viscosity of the molten glass, prompts the glass to be melted and improves the chemical durability including water- resistance of the glass. When La2O3 is added into a glass including Fe2O3 and CeO2, La2O3 also reduces the ultraviolet transmittance. The content of La2O3 is preferable to be not more than 1% because of its expensive cost. Although La2O3 may added in the form of a raw material including La2O3 at a high rate, such a raw material requires to be refined and increases the cost. In order to save costs of raw materials, La2O3 is preferable to be added in the form of a mixture with CeO2 yielded together with La2O3. La2O3 may be added also in the form of an impurity left in CeO2 refined at a low degree. In this case, traces of oxidized rare earth elements including Pr2O3, Nd2O3 and the like may be added into the glass, but the glass may comprise them in such a range as not to lose effects of the present invention.

[0051] One or more than two among ZnO, MnO, V2O5, MoO3, SnO may be added within a rang from 0 to 1% in total or within such a range as not to lose effects of the present invention.

[0052] ZnO can prevent from forming the nickel sulfide which is easy to appear during melting the glass in a reducing atmosphere and contributes explosion of the glass itself.

[0053] Each of MnO, V2O5 and MoO3 acts as a component for absorbing the ultraviolet and for fine adjustment of the bronze or gray color shade depending on its degree of ultraviolet absorptivity in the glass. While, SnO acts as a reducing agent or a refining agent.

[0054] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described referring to examples.

[0055] Glass raw material comprising silica sand, dolomite, limestone, soda ash, potassium carbonate, boron oxide, ferric oxide, titanium oxide, cerium oxide, cobalt oxide, metallic selenium, nickel oxide, lanthanum oxide and the carbonaceous reducing agent (graphite etc.) are mixed in such a manner to obtain a desired composition. Then, the raw material is heated and melted in an electric furnace at 1500° C. After 4 hours' melting, the molten glass is flowed onto a stainless plate and annealed to the room temperature to obtain glass plates having a thickness of about 7 mm. Each of the glass plates is polished in order to reduce the thickness thereof to 3.5 mm, 4 mm or 5 mm to become a sample. After that, the sample is measured in the optical properties including the visible light transmittance (YA) measured by using the CIE illuminant A, the solar energy transmittance (TG), the ultraviolet transmittance (Tuv) specified by ISO, L*, a* and b* specified by CIE and measured by using the CIE illuminant C, the dominant wavelength (&lgr; d), and the excitation purity (Pe).

[0056] Compositions and optical properties of each Example are shown in Table 1. The compositions are represented with percent or ppm by weight and the ratio of FeO expressed as Fe2O3 to T-Fe2O3 is also represented with weight percent. 1 TABLE 1 Example 1 2 3 4 5 glass SiO2 70.6 70.6 70.6 71.1 71.1 composition Al2O3 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 [wt. %] MgO 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 CaO 8.5 8.5 8.6 8.6 8.6 Na2O 13.5 13.5 13.7 13.7 13.7 K2O 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 T-Fe2O3 0.19 0.15 0.19 0.18 0.18 FeO 0.079 0.071 0.081 0.080 0.056 FeO/T-Fe2O3(%) 41.6 47.3 42.6 44.4 31.1 CeO2 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65 TiO2 0.90 0.90 0.55 0.10 0.03 Se(ppm) 10 12 14 12 10 CoO(ppm) 25 30 50 31 25 NiO(ppm) 50 optical thickness of 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 4.9 property the glass(mm) YA(%) 71.8 71.7 66.7 72.7 68.7 TG(%) 61.1 62.0 60.9 61.1 61.9 Tuv(%) 14.8 17.5 17.6 20.0 15.4 L* 87.24 87.24 84.82 88.06 85.39 a* −1.19 −1.00 −0.51 0.07 0.14 b* 4.52 3.28 1.16 3.45 6.86 &lgr;d(nm) 573.0 572.5 570.3 577.6 577.7 Pe(%) 4.55 3.27 1.15 3.64 7.45

[0057] Table 1 shows that Examples 1 through 5 are within the scopeof claim 1. Every glass of the Examples consists of:

[0058] equal to or more than 0.05 wt. % and less than 0.2 wt. % total iron oxide (T-Fe2O3) expressed as Fe2O3;

[0059] 0.63 to 1.4 wt. % CeO2;

[0060] 0.02 to 1.5 wt. % TiO2;

[0061] 0.0005 to 0.005 wt. % CoO; and

[0062] 0.0003 to 0.002 wt. % Se,

[0063] wherein FeO expressed as Fe2O3 is between 30% and 60% of T-Fe2O3.

[0064] Every glass of the Examples is also in the scope of claim 2 and has the high visible light transmittance and the superior ultraviolet and infrared absorptivity.

[0065] Among the Examples, the glasses of Examples 1, 5 are provided with the bronze color shade having the excitation purity of 10% or less when measured by using the CIE illuminant C and the chromaticity expressed as a* and b* by using the CIE color coordinates in ranges of −2≦a*≦1 and 4≦b*≦10.

[0066] The glasses of Examples 2, 3, 4 are provided with the gray color shade having the excitation purity of 5% or less when measured by using the CIE illuminant C and the chromaticity expressed as a* and b* by using the CIE color coordinates in ranges of −2≦a*≦1 and −1≦b*≦4.

[0067] Example 5 employs NiO as a component for controlling the color of the shade.

[0068] In Table 2, characteristics of Comparative Examples of the present invention are shown. 2 TABLE 2 Comparative Example 1 2 3 glass SiO2 72.00 71.0 71.0 composition B2O3 0.00 0.0 0.0 [wt. %] Al2O3 1.72 1.6 1.6 MgO 3.88 3.3 3.3 CaO 7.60 8.6 8.6 Na2O 12.80 13.7 13.7 K2O 0.68 0.8 0.8 T-Fe2O3 0.25 0.45 0.29 FeO 0.019 0.038 0.160 FeO/T-Fe2O3(%) 7.5 9.4 61.3 Se(ppm) 5 11 12 CoO(ppm) 15 20 12 CeO2 0.80 1.70 0.65 TiO2 0.40 0.12 0.03 optical thickness of 5.0 3.5 5.0 property the glass(mm) YA(%) 74.5 73.5 61.8 TG(%) 70.9 69.2 45.2 L* 84.30 88.26 80.72 a* −0.93 0.12 −1.55 b* 4.01 6.77 4.96 &lgr;d 578.3 577.6 573.1 Pe(%) 5.01 7.10 6.81 Tuv(ISO)(%) 11.1 9.7 17.7

[0069] Comparative Example 1 consists of the same composition as the Japanese Patent H6-345482A as referred above. Comparative Example 1 has the low ratio of FeO to T-Fe2O3, the value of which is out of the scope of the present invention and the solar energy transmittance of more than 65%. Comparative Example 2 has T-Fe2O3, CeO2 and the ratio of FeO to T-Fe2O3, every value of which is out of the scope of the present invention and also the solar energy transmittance of more than 65%. Comparative Example 3 has the high ratio of FeO to T-Fe2O3, the value of which is out of the scope of the present invention and the visible light transmittance of less than 65%. Any glasses of the Comparative Examples can not combine the bronze or gray color shade, the high visible light transmittance, the low solar energy transmittance and the low ultraviolet transmittance simultaneously.

[0070] Aforementioned Examples and Comparative Examples show that the glass of the present invention is obviously a superior ultraviolet and infrared absorbent glass combining the bronze or gray color shade, the low ultraviolet transmittance and the low solar energy transmittance simultaneously.

[0071] As detailed above, according to the present invention, an ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass combining the bronze or gray color shade, the low ultraviolet transmittance and the low solar energy transmittance can be provided due to color development of Se and CoO in parallel and also due to containing T-Fe2O3 in the content of more than 0.05 wt. % and less than 0.2 wt. % and FeO of 30 to 60 wt. % of T-Fe2O3 so as to improve the infrared absorptivity while maintaining the visible light transmittance at a high rate, CeO2 of 0.63 to 1.4 wt. % to perform the melting process in a reducing atmosphere, TiO2 of 0.02 to 1.5 wt. % to compensate for the ultraviolet absorptivity.

[0072] The ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass of the present invention is excellent in preventing degradation and discoloration of interior materials when the glass is used for a window glass of a vehicle, a building or the like.

Claims

1. An ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass consisting of base glass comprising:

65 to 80 wt. % SiO2;

0 to 5 wt. % B2O3;

0 to 5 wt. % Al2O3;

0 to 10 wt. % MgO;

5 to 15 wt. % CaO;

10 to 18 wt. % Na2O;

0 to 5 wt. % K2O;

5 to 15 wt. % total amount of MgO and CaO; and

10 to 20 wt. % total amount of Na2O and K2O, colorants comprising:

equal to or more than 0.05 wt. % and less than 0.2 wt. % total iron oxide (T-Fe2O3) expressed as Fe2O3;

0.63 to 1.4 wt. % CeO2;

0.02 to 1.5 wt. % TiO2;

0.0005 to 0.005 wt. % CoO; and

0.0003 to 0.002 wt. % Se,

FeO expressed as Fe2O3 being between 30 wt. % and 60 wt. % of T-Fe2O3.

2. An ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass as claimed in

claim 1, wherein the glass at any thickness in a range of 2.6 to 6.3 mm has the visible light transmittance of equal to or more than 65% when measured by using the CIE illuminant A, the solar energy transmittance of equal to or less than 65%, and the ultraviolet transmittance specified by ISO of equal to or less than 20%.

3. An ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass as claimed in

claim 1 or

2, wherein the glass at any thickness in a range of 2.6 to 6.3 mm has a bronze color shade having the excitation purity of equal to or less than 10% when measured by using the CIE illuminant C, and the chromaticity expressed as a* and b* by using the L*a*b* coordinates in ranges of −2≦a*≦=1 and 4≦b*≦=10.

4. An ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass as claimed in

claim 1 or

2, wherein the glass at any thickness in a range of 2.6 to 6.3 mm has a gray color shade having the excitation purity of equal to or less than 5% when measured by using the CIE illuminant C, and the chromaticity expressed as a* and b* by using the L*a*b* coordinates in ranges of −2≦a*≦1 and −1≦b*≦4.

5. An ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass as claimed in any of

claims 1 to

4, wherein the glass further comprises NiO in a range of 0.001 to 0.01 wt. %.

6. An ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass as claimed in any of

claims 1 to

5, wherein the glass further comprises La2O3 in a range of 0.01 to 1 wt. %.

7. An ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass as claimed in any of

claims 1 to

6, wherein the glass comprises Al2O3 in a range of 0.1 to 2 wt. %.

8. An ultraviolet/infrared absorbent glass as claimed in any of

claims 1 to

7, wherein the glass further comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of ZnO, MnO, V2O5, MoO3 and SnO in a range of 0 to 1 wt. %.