The invention relates to a method for obtaining a magnesium fluoride (MgF.sub.2) sol solution, comprising the steps of providing a magnesium alkoxide precursor in a non-aqueous solvent and adding 1.85 to 2.05 molar equivalents of non-aqueous hydrofluoric acid, characterized in that the reaction proceeds in the presence of a second magnesium fluoride precursor selected from the group of salts of strong, volatile acids, such as a chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrate or triflate of magnesium, or of a catalytic amount of a strong, volatile acid; and/or an additive non-magnesium fluoride precursor selected from the group of salts of strong, volatile acids, such as a chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrate or triflate of lithium, antimony, tin calcium, strontium, barium, aluminium, silicium, zirconium, titanium or zinc. The invention further relates to sol solutions, method of applying the sol solutions of the invention to surfaces as a coating, and to antireflective coatings obtained thereby.

A coated insulation material comprising an insulation material substrate and a coating on at least part of a surface of the insulation material substrate and wherein the coating comprises 20 to 65 wt % alkali silicate based on the total weight of the cured coating and the alkali silicate comprises potassium silicate. Also described is an aqueous coating composition useful in providing the insulation material coating, a potassium silicate coating, methods of producing the coated insulation material and potassium silicate coating and kit of parts including an insulation material substrate and either the aqueous coating composition or the potassium silicate coating.

A coated insulation material comprising an insulation material substrate and a coating on at least part of a surface of the insulation material substrate and wherein the coating comprises 20 to 65 wt % alkali silicate based on the total weight of the cured coating and the alkali silicate comprises potassium silicate. Also described is an aqueous coating composition useful in providing the insulation material coating, a potassium silicate coating, methods of producing the coated insulation material and potassium silicate coating and kit of parts including an insulation material substrate and either the aqueous coating composition or the potassium silicate coating.

An article comprises a body having a coating. The coating comprising a mixture of a first oxide and a second oxide. The coating includes a glaze on a surface of the coating, the glaze comprising a eutectic system having a super-lattice of a first fluoride and a second fluoride.

An article comprises a body having a coating. The coating comprising a mixture of a first oxide and a second oxide. The coating includes a glaze on a surface of the coating, the glaze comprising a eutectic system having a super-lattice of a first fluoride and a second fluoride.

Methods and apparatus are provide for: a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces, and an elastic modulus; and layer(s) having a thickness between first and second opposing surfaces thereof, the first surface of the layer contacting the second surface of the substrate, forming an interface. The layer may exhibit one or more of: a first elastic modulus proximate to the first surface thereof and a second elastic modulus proximate to the second surface thereof, the second elastic modulus being substantially higher than the elastic modulus value, the first elastic modulus being lower than the elastic modulus of the substrate, the second elastic modulus being higher than the elastic modulus of the substrate, and the layer exhibiting an increasing elastic modulus gradient through the thickness thereof from the first elastic modulus to the second elastic modulus.

Methods and apparatus are provide for: a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces, and an elastic modulus; and layer(s) having a thickness between first and second opposing surfaces thereof, the first surface of the layer contacting the second surface of the substrate, forming an interface. The layer may exhibit one or more of: a first elastic modulus proximate to the first surface thereof and a second elastic modulus proximate to the second surface thereof, the second elastic modulus being substantially higher than the elastic modulus value, the first elastic modulus being lower than the elastic modulus of the substrate, the second elastic modulus being higher than the elastic modulus of the substrate, and the layer exhibiting an increasing elastic modulus gradient through the thickness thereof from the first elastic modulus to the second elastic modulus.

Composite structures composed of a coating applied to a substrate and provided, along with a process for applying a coating to a substrate to form the composite structure. Coatings described herein provide at least one of the following properties: nano-sized surface roughness; enhanced hydrophobic function; high transmittance; improved hardness; improved scratch resistance; and desirable bending properties. The coating method includes mixing coating particulates having an average particle diameter of 1 μm or less with a transfer gas, transferring the mixture to an application nozzle, and spraying coating particulates on the substrate under low pressure conditions to form a coating having an average particle diameter of 100 nm or less.

A coated article includes a substrate having a major surface, and an optical coating disposed on the major surface of the substrate. At least a portion of the optical coating includes a residual compressive stress of about 50 MPa or more. The coated article has strain-to-failure of about 0.5% or more as measured by a Ring-on-Ring Tensile Testing Procedure. The coated article has an average photopic transmission of about 80% or greater.

To provide a glass laminate of which an increase of the peel strength between a glass substrate and a silicone resin layer is suppressed even after a high temperature heat treatment, and from which the glass substrate can readily be separated. A glass laminate comprising a support substrate, a silicone resin layer and a glass substrate in this order, with a peel strength at the interface between the support substrate and the silicon resin layer higher than the peel strength at the interface between the silicone resin layer and the glass substrate, wherein a silicone resin in the silicone resin layer is a cured product obtained by reacting an alkenyl-group containing organopolysiloxane (A) and a hydrogen polysiloxane (B) having a hydrosilyl group, and the mixing molar ratio of the hydrosilyl groups in the hydrogen polysiloxane (B) to the alkenyl groups in the alkenyl group-containing organopolysiloxane (A) (that is, number of mols of hydrosilyl groups/number of mols of alkenyl groups) is from 0.15/1 to 0.65/1.