Abstract: A method for improving the quality of a system of layers deposited on a substrate such as glass is provided, in which, the system of layers have an oxide-based surface layer, in particular n-type semi-conductor oxides such as SnO.sub.x, in which the surface layer is subjected to IR irradiation to provide a stabilization of the layer equivalent to or better than with a 48-hour exposure to the air.

Abstract: A substrate is treated prior to use to induce a near-parallel orientation of a liquid crystal director relative to the substrate. A layer of silica is deposited on the substrate by in-line magnetron sputtering as the substrate is moved past the sputtering target, and the silica-coated substrate is thereafter treated with an alcohol that is selected from one of two classes of alcohols: (1) alcohols having an aromatic ring structure on one end of an aliphatic chain and a hydroxy group on the other end, with or without at least one ether group in the chain, and (2) an aliphatic chain having a hydroxy group at one end and at least one ether linkage in the chain. An example is 2-phenylethanol. The alcohol-treated substrate is covered with a layer of the liquid crystal. The process of the invention induces a tilt to the director of the liquid crystal. The tilt is about 0.5.degree. to 4.degree., as measured parallel to the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of producing mirrors comprising depositing onto a ribbon of hot glass during the production process a coating comprising a reflecting layer and at least two reflection enhancing layers whereby the mirrors have a visible light reflection of at least 70%. There is also provided a mirror having such a coating. In a preferred embodiment the coating comprises: an inner layer having a refractive index of at least 1.6; an intermediate layer of relatively low refractive index and; an outer layer having a refractive index of at least 1.6; the intermediate layer having a refractive index less than the refractive index of either said inner layer or said outer layer and less than 3, provided that at least one of said inner and outer layers is of silicon, the aggregate refractive index of the inner and outer layers is at least 5.5, and the thicknesses of the layers are such that the mirror has a visible light reflection of at least 70%.

Abstract: A material having antireflection properties, and a method of depositing an antireflection coating on a substrate, are disclosed. In order to obtain a coating having simultaneously antireflection, hydrophobic and abrasion resistance properties, a material is used comprising: an organic or inorganic substrate (2); an adhesion promoter layer (4) of a material selected from silanes; an antireflection coating (6) formed from colloids of silica in a siloxane binder; a coupling agent layer (8) of a material selected from silazanes; and an anti-abrasion layer (10) of a fluorinated polymer. These materials have specific applications in optics.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for producing optical thin films with a high laser damage threshold and the resulting thin films. The laser damage threshold of the thin films is permanently increased by irradiating the thin films with a fluence below an unconditioned laser damage threshold.

Abstract: A method for coating a moving substrate provides a coating having a chemical composition which varies continuously from the interface with the substrate to the opposite surface of the coating. The method involves directing a vapor coating composition toward a substrate surface and moving portions of the vapor in opposite directions. A vapor coating mixture may include a tin-containing precursor and a silicon-containing precursor. An accelerant, e.g. a phosphorus-containing precursor, may be used with the metal-containing precursors to increase the deposition rate of the coating. The coating deposited on the substrate has regions of continuously varying weight percent of silicon oxide and tin oxide as the distance from the substrate-coating interface increases, with the surface of the coating farthest from the substrate-coating interface being predominantly tin oxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing dull surfaces, in which initially a first paint layer is applied in a first layer thickness and at least one second paint layer is then applied on top of the first paint layer, at least the paint layer applied last being provided with dulling agents and having a dry film layer thickness which is less than the average particle size of the dulling agent. The method is characterized in that the paint layers applied are cured by ionizing radiation.

Abstract: A mirror for SOR includes a base (1) made of a heat resistant ceramic material having a surface, a first SiC coating (2, 3) formed on the surface of the base (1), which has a first smoothed surface, and a second SiC coating (4, 5) formed on the first smoothed surface of the first SiC coating (2, 3), which has a second smoothed surface. A third SiC coating can be formed on the smoothed surface of the second SiC coating (4).

Abstract: An organic functional thin film is comprised of a polymer of a molecule having two or more identical or different groups selected from the group consisting of a carbonyloxycarbonyl group, a carboxylic acid group, a carboxylic acid halide group, a carboxyl group, a --COCl group, an --NCO group, a --CHO group and an epoxy group and a molecule having two or more identical or different groups selected from the group consisting of an amino group, groups containing at least one amino proton, an alkylamino group, a silylated alkylamino group, a carboxylic acid group and a hydroxyl group, formed by vapor-phase deposition, the polymer-forming molecules having at least partially one or more donor and/or acceptor groups. Similar organic thin films are also disclosed. These organic thin films are useful for various electronic applications.

Abstract: There is formed a silicon-base antimigration barrier layer by projection, on a hot surface of a glass object, in an unconfined ambient atmosphere from a gaseous mixture comprising neutral gas, a silicon precursor, typically a silane, between 10 and 60% of ammonia and preferably less than 5% oxygen, the ratio of the oxygen and silane contents being comprised between 0 and 4. It is useful particularly for the treatment of sodium-calcium glass receptacles to prevent migration of ions into liquids contained in the receptacles.

Abstract: High quality silicon nitride thin films can be deposited by plasma CVD onto large area glass substrates at high deposition rates by adjusting the spacing between the gas inlet manifold and substrate, maintaining the temperature at about 300.degree.-350.degree. C., and a pressure of at least 0.8 Torr. Subsequently deposited different thin films can also be deposited in separate chemical vapor deposition chambers which are part of a single vacuum system.

Abstract: A hard-coating, heat-absorbing composition which is capable of absorbing near-infrared rays from sunlight and a heat-shielding substance is disclosed. The composition comprises a silicone varnish for hard-coating comprising polysiloxane and, dissolved therein, diphenylthiourea and copper monobutyl-o-phthalate. It can be applied to plastic substrate and heated to cure the silicone varnish, whereupon curing of polysiloxane and production of a heat-absorbing compound are simultaneously effected. The composition ensures to provide various substrates with a heat-shielding characteristic.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming a metal oxide film on a glass substrate in which ambient air and particularly water vapor is prevented from reaching the initial nucleation site by injection of dry gas at a point such that ambient air is excluded from the area around the upstream edge of the injector where the film first starts to be formed. Crystal growth inhibiting gas is injected so as to reach only the initial nucleation site to improve the nucleation process, thereby improving film properties without decreasing the overall film thickness. Application of the above methods in the deposition of tin oxide yields improved haze control of the tin oxide film, including very low haze coatings.

Abstract: The thickness distribution of a vapor deposited layer such as an interference filter deposited on a substrate such as a glass faceplate for a projection television tube, is controlled in the plane of the substrate by employing at least one variable transmission mark to partially shield the substrate during deposition.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multimode optical transmission medium from a synthetic resin having the distribution of refractive index varying continuously in a fixed direction. In the method, a monomer is polymerized while a transparent polymer for constituting the wall of a vessel is being dissolved into the monomer. Therefore, this method is free from the defect of methods using conventional polymerization reactions, and has an extremely high productivity.

Abstract: An electrically-conducting substrate coated with silicon dioxide is contacted with alcohol vapors from a source (12) by heating the substrate (16) in a microwave oven. The substrate and source of alcohol are contained in a vessel (10), on which a vacuum is optionally pulled during the heating. The process results in approximately 100 fold reduction in processing time from the prior art time of several hours to several minutes. The process may be used in either inducing perpendicular alignment or parallel alignment of liquid crystals in the cell.

Abstract: A method for providing an essentially uniform coating over the outer surface of an article of manufacture. In particular, a vapor deposition process is disclosed for coating relatively small articles, such as spheres which may be used as lenses in optical systems. The coating may comprise an anti-reflective or alternatively, reflective, material.

Abstract: An infrared reflecting interference filter capable of transmitting a desired proportion of visible radiation while reflecting a large portion of incident solar radiation is provided. The filter consists of a transparent substrate coated first with a dielectric layer, next a partially metal reflectance layer, and finally an outer protective dielectric layer. In addition, between each metal-dielectric interface is deposited a nucleation or glue layer that facilitates adhesions and improves chemical and mechanical resistance. The interference filters are durable and can be modified to provide a full range of optical and electrical characteristics. The dielectric layer can comprise of composite films consisting of silicon nitride in combination with zirconium nitride, titanium nitride, and/or hafnium nitride.

Abstract: A substrate (20) is treated prior to use to induce a near-perpendicular orientation of a liquid crystal director (26) relative to the substrate. A layer of silica (38) is deposited upon the substrate (20) by in-line magnetron sputtering as the substrate (20) is moved past the sputtering target (78), and the silica-coated substrate (20) is thereafter treated with a long-chain alcohol. The alcohol-treated substrate (20) is covered with a layer of liquid crystal (22), the director (26) of the liquid crystal (22) assuming a field-off state tilted about 1-3 degrees from the perpendicular toward an azimuthal direction (30) parallel to the direction of movement of the substrate (20) during deposition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cathode ray tube having a surface with reduced reflectivity and electrical resistivity and to a method for providing such reduced reflectivity and electrical resistivity. In the method of the invention, a solution of a soluble metallic cation moiety and a silane in an organic solvent is provided. The solution is applied to the surface of a cathode ray tube to provide a coating of the silane and the metallic moiety of the metallic compound on the surface. Thereafter, the cathode ray tube is cured at an elevated temperature for a period of time sufficient to convert the metallic cation moiety to a metal oxide in situ and to provide a metallic oxide in a matrix of siloxane.

Abstract: The present invention refers to the deposition of thin film coatings produced by plasma-activated chemical vapor deposition of volatile fluorinated cyclic siloxanes of the structure [RR'SiO].sub.x, in which R is a hydrocarbon radical with 1-6 carbon atoms, R' is a fluorinated hydrocarbon radical with 3-10 carbon atoms, the carbon in the alpha and beta positions with respect to the silicon atom is hydrogenated and x is 3 or 4.

Abstract: For forming by pyrolysis a coating based upon silicon, oxygen and carbon, on the surface of a moving glass substrates from a percursor gaseous mixture essentially without any oxidizing component and comprising a silane and an ethylenic compound, the contact time between this precursor mixture and the glass is maintained at a value greater than that necessary for the deposition of the coating if this were performed from a precursor gaseous mixture containing an oxidizing agent. The coating thus obtained has a refractive index lying between 1.45 and 2, preferably between 1.6 and 1.9, and its thickness reaches values greater than 50 mm.

Abstract: A coating fluid for forming an oxide coating, having a good thermal stability and superior coating-forming properties is provided, which fluid comprises a reaction product obtained by subjecting (A) an alkoxysilane or aryloxysilane expressed by the formula RmSi(OR).sub.4-m wherein R is 1-4C alkyl or aryl and m is 0 to 2 and (B) a metal alkoxide or aryloxide compound expressed by the formula M(OR').sub.n wherein M is Mg, B, P, Zr, Y, Ti or Ba, R' is 1-4C alkyl or aryl and n is a valence of the metal atom to hydrolysis and condensation using a catalyst in the presence of a solvent.

Abstract: A chemical coating consisting of a mixture of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), AC.sub.4 H.sub.9).sub.3, LiOH, Ti(OC.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.4, Zr( ).sub.2 C.sub.5 H.sub.7).sub.4, HNO.sub.3 for pH control, and glycerol which produces an environmentally protective barrier resistant to cracking or crazing to a glass fiber to which it is applied by the SOL-GEL process.

Abstract: A glazing article comprises a substrate bearing a substantially transparent coating comprising an optically functional topcoat and a thinner anti-iridescence layer undercoat mediate the topcoat and the substrate. The anti-iridescence layer eliminates or substantially reduces iridescence and, in addition, is readily designed to make the overall coating either colorless or to provide a substantially uniform muted color. The anti-iridescence layer comprises a first thickness zone in which the refractive index is higher than that of the substrate. A low refractive index zone is positioned directly on the high refractive index zone. A second high refractive index zone is positioned on the low refractive index zone, such that the low refractive index zone is directly sandwiched between the two high refractive index zones. A fourth zone, a low refractive index zone, follows the second high refractive index zone.

Abstract: A substantially transparent glazing article has an optically functional coating on a transparent substrate. The coating has an optically functional topcoat layer and an anti-iridescence layer between the topcoat and the substrate. The refractive index anti-iridescence layer is (i) higher than the refractive index of the substrate in a first high refractive index zone directly on the substrate surface, (ii) lower than that of the first high refractive index zone in a low refractive index zone directly on the first high refractive index zone, and (iii) higher than that of the low refractive index zone in a second high refractive index zone directly on the low refractive index zone. The refractive index of the anti-iridescence layer varies in at least one of the zones substantially continuously with distance from the substrate surface. Contiguous zones may together form a single gradient index zone.

Abstract: A high light-transmissive dust-proof body equipped with a holding frame to be mounted on a mask substrate and a transparent light-transmissive film mounted on the holding frame, wherein the light-transmissive film comprises an inorganic film having a thickness of 0.2 .mu.m to less than 10 .mu.m and transmitting light having wavelengths of 240 to 500 nm at an average light transmittance of at least 85%, wherein the light-transmissive film forms (i) a three-layer structure of a low refractive index layer/high refractive index layer/base layer, or (ii) a five-layer structure comprising a low refractive index layer/high refractive index layer/base layer/high refractive index layer/low refractive index layer, the high refractive index layer being an inorganic layer and the low refractive index layer being an organic polymer.

Abstract: Coated glass articles, particularly useful as vehicle or architectural glazings, are prepared by a chemical vapor deposition process in which glass is coated with a first layer of titanium nitride, a second layer of a silicon complex, and optionally, a third layer of a metal oxide.

Abstract: Method of vapor-depositing an interference filter layer on the inside of a display window, a display window, a projection cathode ray tube and a projection television apparatus.A method of manufacturing a projection cathode ray tube comprising an interference filter on an inwardly directed surface of a display window, the method comprising as a process step the vapor deposition of at least one layer of the interference filter. It has been found that the edges of a display window during the vapor deposition of an interference filter layer detrimentally influence the thickness of the vapor deposited layer, the thickness increases more towards the edges than follows from geometrical computations. In the method according to the invention vapor deposition is performed on a display window for which the height of the edge is less than 1/5 of the minor axis. The display screen preferably comprises a recessive edge.

Abstract: In the PCVD method glass is deposited in layers on the inner wall of a glass tube by heating the tube to a temperature between 1100.degree. and 1300.degree. C., by passing a reactive gas mixture through the glass tube from a gas inlet side at a pressure between 1 and 30 hPa, by forming a plasma in the interior of the glass tube, and by reciprocating the plasma between two reversal points. After a quantity of glass corresponding to the desired fiber optical construction has been deposited, the tube is collapsed to form a solid preform from which optical fiber are draw. The range of nonconstant deposition geometry at the preform entrance, (i.e. on the gas inlet side), is reduced by interrupting the reciprocating movement of the plasma at the reversal point on the gas inlet side.

Abstract: An anti-reflective coating employing silicon as a high refractive index material in a film pair together with silicon dioxide as a low refractive index material is found to be substantially transparent to visible light and to provide good anti-reflectance where the silicon film is ultra-thin, preferably less than about 50 Angstroms and the thickness of the silicon dioxide film is matched to that of the silicon film. Laminated glazing units having such anti-reflective film can be used, for example, even in applications requiring high transmittance of visible light, such as motor vehicle windshields, in view of the substantial transparency of the coating.

Abstract: A method of fabricating preforms for making optical fibers by drawing, in which a silica deposit, including a doping agent, is formed in successive layers inside a silica-based tube (1) from a chemical vapor containing a gaseous compound of silicon, oxygen, and a gaseous compound of an element for doping the silica, with the composite tube then being subjected to collapsing so as to cause the empty axial zone (3), the tube hollow, to disappear. The silica of the initial tube is then eliminated, by removal, after which a recharge of silica (5) is made around the remaining cylinder (4) by plasma torch deposition from a gas comprising oxygen and a halogen derivative of silica.

Abstract: In the manufacture of optical fibers according to the PCVD method, a method is provided wherein the yield of the method (.eta.), in particular at increased deposition rates (m), is raised by reducing the geometrical taper, without forming optical tapers. This is obtained in that glass is deposited in layers on the inside of a glass tube and, simultaneously, on a glass rod having a circular cross-section, which rod is arranged inside the glass tube, such that its longitudinal axis coincides with that of the glass tube, the radius of the glass rod being adjusted to at most 0.67 times and at least 0.2 times the inner radius of the glass tube, and the glass rod being removed from the glass tube upon completion of the deposition process.

Abstract: A metehod of manufacturing planar optical waveguides in which a planar optical preform which is stretched to form a planar optical cane with substantially smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the original preform, and in which the optical circuitry pattern is achieved by lithographic techniques. Optical fiber preforms may be inserted in slots in a substrate to form the planar optical preform.

Abstract: An optical fiber is formed by continuously coating a precursor core filam with a glass-forming coating. The precursor filament is continuously moved from a storage reel through a stationary coating station. The filament is then moved through a stationary glass-forming station and is continuously processed to convert the coating to a glass, with the core either removed from the fiber during glass forming or becoming an integral part of the ultimate fiber during glass forming. The glass fiber is then moved continuously through a glass densification station and is densified in a continuous process. The fiber is thereafter provided with a protective coating as it moves through a stationary coating station and the completed optical fiber is continuously reeled.

Abstract: An amorphous oxide film composed essentially of an oxide containing at least one member selected from the group consisting of Zr, Ti, Hf, Sn, Ta and In and at least one member selected from the group consisting of B and Si.

Abstract: In a flame hydrolysis method for depositing glass soot used ultimately to make optical fiber, a reactant that forms the glassy soot stream is delivered to the torch (20) in liquid form and an ultrasonic nozzle (34) in the torch atomizes the reactant or breaks the reactant into a fine mist without the use of a gas.

Abstract: An optical recording medium is formed to include a resinous substrate, a laminate film including an inorganic dielectric layer and a recording layer, and a resinous protective film, respectively disposed on the substrate. The laminate film is formed to have a compression stress of 15-55 kg/mm.sup.2 so as to be in a dense film free from cracking or peeling. The resinous protective layer is formed to have a tensile stress of 2.5-5.5 kg/mm.sup.2 so as to compensate the compression stress in the laminate film, thus preventing warp and skew of the optical recording medium. The resinous protective film may preferably be formed from a photocurable composition comprising an increased amount of a polyacrylate compound providing a dense film and a urethane acrylate compound providing a flexibility.

Abstract: In order to eliminate the effect of water attack on silica optical fibres, the fibres are provided with a surface layer of silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride. The method proposed includes direct nitridation. This may be achieved by adding a nitriding atmosphere to the drawing furnace gases, or to the reactive gases (TiCl.sub.4 and SiCl.sub.4) incorporated in the flame of an oxyhydrogen torch for the formation of a compressive silica/titania layer on an optical fibre by a glass soot deposition and sintering process.

Abstract: Vaporized reactants, useful for chemical vapor deposition of a coating on the surface of a hot substrate, are prepared by initially heating a liquid coating precursor, injecting the liquid coating precursor into a vaporization chamber, simultaneously admitting a blend gas into the vaporization chamber, heating the liquid and blend gas to cause the liquid to vaporize at a temperature below its standard vaporization temperature, and thoroughly mixing the coating precursor vapor and blend gas, to produce a stream of vaporized reactant for pyrolytic decomposition at the surface of the hot substrate. A horizontal thin film evaporator provides a particularly suitable vaporization chamber for the present process.

Abstract: The invention relates to the chemical vapor deposition of dihalogenated silanes to form stable, abrasion resistant, photoconductive, dopable semiconductor amorphous films on substrates. Additional hydrogen and plasma discharge conditions are not necessary to practice the invention.

Abstract: A coated object comprising a glass substrate and an organomineral film, such an an organosilicon compound, deposited upon at least a portion of the glass substrate wherein the coating is of a sufficient thickness and has a sufficient refractive index so as not to absorb energy within the visible spectrum. The object may additionally comprise at least one coating layer interposed upon the substrate beneath the organomineral film to improve the optical properties of the coated object. A method for making the coated object of the invention is described wherein a plasma deposition process is utilized to deposit the organomineral film upon the surface of the glass or glass-based substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for producing a plasma and treating substrates therein. The plasma produced by means of microwaves serves to coat a substrate which is situated in a chamber (5) having metal walls (6,7,12,13). The microwaves are repeatedly reflected at the metal walls (6,7,12,13), so that the chamber (5) has numerous microwave modes. By means of permanent magnets, which are placed either inside the chamber (5) or outside the chamber (5) in the vicinity of the substrate that is to be coated, it is possible to produce within this chamber (5) an electron-cyclotron resonance which permits a locally controlled ignition of the plasma.

Abstract: A process, based on sputtering from metal sources, is disclosed for forming a stable, reduced electrochromic layer in contact with an ionically conducting oxide. A deposited electrochromic layer is reduced by sputtering onto it an alloy or composite metallic thin film capable of injecting insertion atoms into the electrochromic layer. The metallic thin film, now partially depleted in insertion atoms, is converted into an electronically insulating but ionically conducting oxide layer in an oxidizing atmosphere. The resultant two-layer structure, consisting of the reduced electrochromic layer capped by the insulating oxide, may be used as on component in an all solid-state electrochromic device.

Abstract: An error-compensated process for forming a multiple-notch optical filter which is characterized by a continually and accurately varying periodic profile. The optical medium if formed on a substrate so that the profile of the refractive index is multiply sinusoidally modulated to maintain Bragg's law for each component in the multiple-notch profile. In a preferred embodiment, as the optical medium is coated on the substrate, the depositing film is monitored by optical techniques, and feedback information is provided to a computer driven by a pre-programmed process control algorithm so that real time control of the manufacturing process may be accomplished.

Abstract: In manufacturing anti-static cathode ray tubes, the concentration of a conducting filler dispersed in the coating solution is so set that a surface resistance lies within a fixed range. The baking step of the anti-static treatment is integrated in the conventional heat treatment of cathode ray tubes. Further, the salvage cap used to receive splashes of coating solution is rotated in synchronization with the tube.

Abstract: Coatings, which act as barrier layers to inhibit migration of alkali metal ions from a glass surface and/or act as color suppressing underlayers for overlying infra-red reflecting or electrically conducting layers, are deposited by pyrolysis of a gaseous mixture of a silane, an unsaturated hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas other than carbon dioxide which does not react with the silane at room temperature on a hot glass surface at a temperature of 600.degree. C. to 750.degree. C.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing a planar glass substrate coated with a dielectric layer system in which the individual layers are formed by a chemical vapor deposition coating process. After the layers have been applied, the glass substrate is either drawn, compressed, or its surface enlarged until the coating layers are reduced in thickness. A planar glass substrate having a multiplicity of extremely thin dielectric layers can be fabricated according to this process.

Abstract: A rod-shaped light conductor for medical purposes, for example, which is employed in the dental medicine. The light conductor is protected against thermal stresses through the intermediary of a special surface coating, as a result of which there is prevented any deterioration in the discharge of light from the end surfaces of the light conductor.

Abstract: In the P.C.V.D. process, in principal the quartz tube need not be rotated during the deposition of the glass layers. However, it has been found in practice that an improvement in the quality of the glass fibers can be obtained if the quartz tube is rotated regularly over an angle of 360.degree./n. n is preferably equal to an integer from 2 to 12.