The present invention relates to a method of producing a vacuum insulated glazing unit, the vacuum insulated glazing unit comprises a first tempered glass pane and a second tempered glass pane arranged in parallel, having a surface of each pane opposing each other with pillars arranged as spacers between the opposed surfaces. A side frit material is peripherally arranged between the first glass pane and the second glass pane creating an internal void between the glass panes. An evacuation opening is provided in the first glass pane and the evacuation opening comprises an evacuation member, preferably a hollow tube, through which evacuation member the internal void can be evacuated. A top frit material made of lead-free solder frit material comprising a glass content, the top frit material being arranged around the evacuation opening and comprising a surface defining an exterior boundary of the top frit material between the outside of the vacuum insulated glazing unit and the inside of the top frit material, wherein the glass content thereof is substantially in an amorphous state only.

A Vacuum Insulating Glazing Unit (VIGU) comprises two or more glass lites (panes) spaced apart from one another and hermetically bonded to an edge seal assembly therebetween. The resulting cavity between the lites is evacuated to create at least one insulating vacuum cavity within which are disposed a plurality of stand-off members to maintain separation between the lites. The edge seal assembly is preferably compliant in the longitudinal (i.e., edgewise) direction to allow longitudinal relative motion between the two lites (e.g., from thermal expansion). The longitudinal compliance may be obtained by imprinting a three-dimensional pattern into the edge seal material. The edge seal assembly is preferably bonded to the lites with a first bond portion that is hermetic and a second bond portion that is load-resistant. Methods for producing VIGUs and/or compliant edge seal assemblies and VIGU and edge seal apparatus are disclosed.

A method for forming a closed frame-shaped spacer for an insulating glass pane by applying a paste-like and subsequently hardening strand has at a beginning of the strand a ramp in which the thickness of the strand increases from zero to a nominal thickness. An end of the strand's thickness is complementary to the rising ramp on the same path, overlapping the ramp, decreasing from the target thickness to zero, the surface of the ramp forming an interface between the beginning and the end of the strand. The beginning and end of the strand are pressurized on either side by placing it between a first jaw and a second jaw. The exerting surface of the first jaw has a property enabling the material of the strand which comes into contact with the surface of the first jaw to be removed therefrom by lifting the first jaw from the strand.

Certain example embodiments relate to vacuum insulating glass units having edge seals formed in connection with solder alloys that, when reactively reflowed, wet metallic coatings pre-coated on the glass substrates' perimeters, and/or associated methods. The alloys may be based on materials that form seals at temperatures that will not de-temper glass and/or decompose a laminate, and/or remain hermetic and lack porous structures in their bulks. Example alloys may be based on inter-metallics of Sn and one or more materials selected from post-transition metals or metalloids; Zintl anions (e.g., In, Bi, etc.) from Group 13, 14, 15, or 16; and transition metals (e.g., Cu, Ag, Ni, etc.); and excludes Pb. Thin film coatings in certain example embodiments work with the solder material to form robust and durable hermetic interfaces. Because low temperatures are used, certain example embodiments can use compliant and visco-elastic spacer technology based on lamellar structures and/or the like.

A vacuum insulated glass unit comprises first and second glass panes, each defining interior and exterior surfaces and lateral edges. The interior surfaces of the panes are opposing and spaced apart to define an inter-pane gap. A band of metal solder extends continuously between the interior surfaces and continuously around the peripheries of the panes but is inset from the lateral edges, thus defining an inter-pane cavity surrounded by the solder band and a channel disposed between the band and the lateral edges. The solder band is attached with hermetic glass-to-metal bonds to the interior surfaces of the panes, whereby the cavity is hermetically sealed with respect to the panes. A plurality of stand-offs is disposed within the cavity and extends between the interior surfaces. An adhesive material is disposed within the channel, extending between the interior surfaces and structurally bonding the panes across the inter-pane gap.

Certain example embodiments relate to improved seals for glass articles. Certain example embodiments relate to a composition used for sealing an insulted glass unit. In certain example embodiments the composition includes vanadium oxide, barium oxide, zinc oxide, and at least one additional additive. For instance, another additive that is a different metal oxide or different metal chloride may be provided. In certain example embodiments, a vacuum insulated glass unit includes first and second glass substrates that are sealed together with a seal that includes the above-described composition.

A glass unit according to the present invention includes a first glass plate, a second glass plate that is arranged facing the first glass plate with a predetermined interval therebetween and forms an internal space with the first glass plate, a sealing member that seals a gap at peripheral edges of the first glass plate and the second glass plate, and a plurality of spacers arranged between the first glass plate and the second glass plate. The internal space has been depressurized to a vacuum state, or a predetermined gas has been injected into the internal space. The first and second glass plates each have a thickness of 5 mm or less, the pitch of the spacers is 15 mm or more, and the difference between the height of the highest spacer and the height of the lowest spacer is 0.01 mm or less.

The glass panel unit includes a first glass panel, a second glass panel, a seal, an evacuated space, and at least one spacer. The second glass panel is placed opposite the first glass panel. The seal with a frame shape hermetically bonds the first glass panel and the second glass panel to each other. The evacuated space is enclosed by the first glass panel, the second glass panel, and the seal. The at least one spacer is placed between the first glass panel and the second glass panel. The at least one spacer has a height H1 smaller than a height H2 of the seal between the first glass panel and the second glass panel.

Certain example embodiments relate to vacuum insulating glass units having edge seals formed in connection with solder alloys that, when reactively reflowed, wet metallic coatings pre-coated on the glass substrates' perimeters, and/or associated methods. The alloys may be based on materials that form seals at temperatures that will not de-temper glass and/or decompose a laminate, and/or remain hermetic and lack porous structures in their bulks. Example alloys may be based on inter-metallics of Sn and one or more materials selected from post-transition metals or metalloids; Zintl anions (e.g., In, Bi, etc.) from Group 13, 14, 15, or 16; and transition metals (e.g., Cu, Ag, Ni, etc.); and excludes Pb. Thin film coatings in certain example embodiments work with the solder material to form robust and durable hermetic interfaces. Because low temperatures are used, certain example embodiments can use compliant and visco-elastic spacer technology based on lamellar structures and/or the like.

Provided are a vacuum heat insulating member which includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; and a sealing part disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, in which an internal space is formed by surrounding by the first substrate, the second substrate and the sealing part, and in which the sealing part includes a glass phase and a metal phase, the metal phase being disposed on a side of the internal space of the glass phase. Thus, in the vacuum heat insulating member, an amount of a gas released from the glass phase to the internal space can be decreased and a high heat insulating property can be kept.