Passivation coating for flexible substrate mirrors

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:867556

Tracy, C Edwin ^[1]; Benson, David K ^[1]

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1. Golden, CO

A protective diffusion barrier for metalized mirror structures is provided by a layer or coating of silicon nitride which is a very dense, transparent, dielectric material that is impervious to water, alkali, and other impurities and corrosive substances that typically attack the metal layers of mirrors and cause degradation of the mirrors' reflectivity. The silicon nitride layer can be deposited on the substrate before metal deposition thereon to stabilize the metal/substrate interface, and it can be deposited over the metal to encapsulate it and protect the metal from corrosion or other degradation. Mirrors coated with silicon nitride according to this invention can also be used as front surface mirrors. Also, the silver or other reflective metal layer on mirrors comprising thin, lightweight, flexible substrates of metal or polymer sheets coated with glassy layers can be protected with silicon nitride according to this invention.

• Research Organization: Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, MO (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4963012
• OSTI ID: 867556
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

passivation
coating
flexible
substrate
mirrors
protective
diffusion
barrier
metalized
mirror
structures
provided
layer
silicon
nitride
dense
transparent
dielectric
material
impervious
water
alkali
impurities
corrosive
substances
typically
attack
metal
layers
degradation
reflectivity
deposited
deposition
thereon
stabilize
interface
encapsulate
protect
corrosion
coated
according
front
surface
silver
reflective
comprising
lightweight
substrates
polymer
sheets
glassy
protected
reflective metal
flexible substrate
diffusion barrier
metal layers
metal layer
silicon nitride
front surface
dielectric material
metal deposition
protective diffusion
substrate interface
typically attack
passivation coating
nitride layer
mirror structures
metal deposit
metalized mirror
mirror structure
deposition thereon
corrosive substances
surface mirrors
/359/