Reflective or semi-reflective metal alloy coatings

Abstract

A silver-based alloy composition for use as a reflective, semi-reflective or highly reflective coatings or layer(s) for use in optical data storage media, low emissivity glass, transparent conductive displays, and electro-chromic mirrors, or other reflective, semi-reflective or highly reflective applications. The alloy compositions comprise silver with hafnium, and/or indium, and/or copper, and/or zinc, and/or silicon and/or tin.

1 . A reflective, semi-reflective, highly reflective or semi-transparent coating comprising an alloy comprising: 
 silver; and    hafnium;    wherein said coating does not comprise a component of an optical storage medium.    
   
   
       2 . The coating of  claim 1 , wherein said silver is in an amount of between approximately 85% by weight and approximately 99.9% by weight.  
   
   
       3 . The coating of  claim 1 , wherein said hafnium is between approximately 0.01% by weight and approximately 15.0% by weight.  
   
   
       4 . The coating of  claim 7  comprising approximately 98% silver and approximately 2.0% hafnium.  
   
   
       5 . A reflective, semi-reflective, highly reflective or semi-transparent coating comprising an alloy comprising: 
 silver; and    indium;    wherein said coating does not comprise a component of an optical storage medium.    
   
   
       6 . The coating of  claim 5  comprising between approximately 85% by weight and approximately 99.9% by weight silver.  
   
   
       7 . The coating of  claim 5  comprising between approximately 0.01% by weight and approximately 15% by weight indium.  
   
   
       8 . The coating of  claim 5  wherein said alloy further comprises one or more elements selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, tin, and silicon.  
   
   
       9 . The coating of  claim 8  comprising between approximately 0.01% by weight and approximately 10% by weight of copper.  
   
   
       10 . The coating of  claim 8  comprising between approximately 0.01% by weight and approximately 10% by weight of zinc.  
   
   
       11 . The coating of  claim 8  comprising between approximately 0.01% by weight and approximately 10% by weight of tin.  
   
   
       12 . The coating of  claim 8  comprising between approximately 0.01% by weight and approximately 10% by weight of silicon.  
   
   
       13 . The coating of  claim 8  comprising between approximately 85% by weight and between approximately 99.9% by weight silver; between approximately 0.01% by weight and between approximately 15% by weight indium; between approximately 0.05% by weight and between approximately 10.0% by weight tin; and between approximately 0.01% by weight and between approximately 0.75% silicon.  
   
   
       14 . The coating of  claim 8  wherein said alloy comprises between approximately 90% and 95% by weight of silver, between approximately 3% and 6% by weight of copper, between approximately 1% and 3% by weight of zinc, between approximately 0.1% and 1% by weight of tin, and between approximately 0.1% and 0.2% by weight of indium.  
   
   
       15 . A reflective, semi-reflective, highly reflective or semi-transparent coating comprising an alloy comprising: 
 silver;    copper;    zinc;    tin; and    silicon;    wherein copper is present in said alloy in an amount greater than 5.0 atomic percent; and    wherein said coating does not comprise a component of an optical storage medium.    
   
   
       16 . The coating of  claim 15  comprising between approximately 97% and 99% by weight silver; between approximately 0.5% and 2% by weight copper; between approximately 0.1% and 1% by weight zinc; between approximately 0.1% and 0.5% by weight tin; and between approximately 0.1% and 0.5% by weight silicon.  
   
   
       17 . A low emissivity glass comprising the coating of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       18 . A low emissivity glass comprising the coating of  claim 5 .  
   
   
       19 . A low emissivity glass comprising the coating of  claim 15 .  
   
   
       20 . A transparent conductive display comprising the coating of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       21 . A transparent conductive display comprising the coating of  claim 5 .  
   
   
       22 . A transparent conductive display comprising the coating of  claim 15 .  
   
   
       23 . An electro-chromic mirror comprising the coating of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       24 . An electro-chromic mirror comprising the coating of  claim 5 .  
   
   
       25 . An electro-chromic mirror comprising the coating of  claim 15.