Patent · US Expired

Method of making self-cleaning substrates

US6679978B2 · kind B2 · utility

24Cited by
16References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 22, 2002
Grant dateJan 20, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 8, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC03C2217/71
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A photocatalytically-assisted self-cleaning (“PASC”) coating on a substrate enables the substrate to shed dirt simply by rinsing with water. A method of making a PASC coating includes depositing by chemical vapor deposition an alkali metal diffusion barrier layer on a substrate; sputtering an ultraviolet radiation activated layer on the alkali metal diffusion barrier layer at a temperature of 100° C. or less; and, without heating above 100° C., exposing the ultraviolet radiation activated layer to ultraviolet radiation to form the self-cleaning substrate. The sputter deposition of the ultraviolet radiation activated layer on the chemical vapor deposited alkali metal diffusion barrier layer allows the ultraviolet radiation activated layer to be activated upon exposure to UV radiation without first having been heated during and/or after deposition. The elimination of this step of heating the ultraviolet radiation activated layer results in significant process simplification and cost reduction.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.