Transparent conducting, anti-static and anti-static–anti-glare coatings on plastic substrates

• Published in: Thin solid films 2001-07, Vol.392 (2), p.299-304
• Main Authors: Al-Dahoudi, N, Bisht, H, Göbbert, C, Krajewski, T, Aegerter, M.A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coatings; Conductivity; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Indium tin oxide; Liquid phase epitaxy; deposition from liquid phases (melts, solutions, and surface layers on liquids); Materials science; Methods of deposition of films and coatings; film growth and epitaxy; Optical coatings; Optical elements, devices, and systems; Optics; Physics; Plastic substrate; Sol–gel
• ISSN: 0040-6090; 1879-2731
• DOI: 10.1016/S0040-6090(01)01047-1

In 2O 3:Sn (ITO) sols made of crystalline nanoparticles, fully redispersable in an ethanol solution containing hydrolyzed organosilanes, have been developed to deposit conducting transparent and anti-glare coatings on plastic (PMMA, polycarbonate) and glass substrates by spin, dip and spray coating processes. The coatings are cured by UV irradiation and/or by a low temperature heat treatment ( T=130°C) in air or reducing atmosphere. The electrical, optical, textural and mechanical properties of the coatings are reported. A stable sheet resistance as low as 5 kΩ □, was obtained with a single 500-nm thick transparent layer. Anti-glare–anti-static coatings exhibiting a 40-kΩ □ sheet resistance, a gloss of 60–70 GU, a clarity of 75–90% and an optical resolution >8 lines/mm were obtained by a room temperature spraying process. The abrasion resistance of both coatings is in agreement with DIN 58196-H25-class 1.