Embodiments of a scratch-resistant and optically transparent material comprising silicon, aluminum, nitrogen, and optionally oxygen are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the material exhibits an extinction coefficient (k) at a wavelength of 400 nm of less than about 1×10.sup.−3, and an average transmittance of about 80% or greater, over an optical wavelength regime in the range from about 380 nm to about 780 nm, as measured through the material having a thickness of about 0.4 micrometer. In one or more embodiments, the material comprises an intrinsic maximum hardness of about 12 GPa or greater as measured on a major surface of the material having a thickness of about 400 by a Berkovich Indenter Hardness Test along an indentation depth of about 100 nm or greater, low compressive stress and low roughness (Ra). Articles and devices incorporating the material are also disclosed.

An anti-fog glass includes a glass body configured as a single layer or a multilayer stack; an active anti-fog layer disposed on the glass body and heating up when being provided with power; and a passive anti-fog layer disposed on the glass body and inhibiting fog from forming on the passive anti-fog layer. The passive anti-fog layer is a super hydrophobic coating and/or hydrophilic coating. Both the active anti-fog layer and the passive anti-fog layer are simultaneously disposed on the glass body to inhibit fog from forming. In this way, in a region of the glass body not covered by the active anti-fog layer, the anti-fog function is achieved by the passive anti-fog layer to a certain degree; in addition, in a region where the passive anti-fog layer itself cannot provide a desired anti-fog level, the active anti-fog layer together with the passive anti-fog layer provide a better anti-fog effect.

A low-reflection coated glass sheet of the present invention includes a glass sheet and a low-reflection coating formed on at least a portion of a principal surface of the glass sheet. The low-reflection coating contains 60 mass % to 100 mass % of a silica material having a continuous structure. The low-reflection coated glass sheet of the present invention maintains a large transmittance gain even when scraping against foreign matters.

An article is described herein that includes: a substrate having a glass, glass-ceramic or a ceramic composition and comprising a primary surface; and a protective film disposed on the primary surface. The protective film comprises a thickness of greater than 1.5 microns and a maximum hardness of greater than 15 GPa at a depth of 500 nanometers, as measured on the film disposed on the substrate. Further, the protective film comprises a metal oxynitride that is graded such that an oxygen concentration in the film varies by 1.3 or more atomic %. In addition, the substrate comprises an elastic modulus less than an elastic modulus of the film.

Antireflective nanoparticle coatings and methods of forming the coatings on substrates are disclosed. One method for forming an antireflective coating includes depositing a nanoparticle coating layer on a substrate, wherein the nanoparticle coating layer includes a colloidal solution of nanoparticles and a solidifying material. The solidifying material includes a silica precursor. The method further includes curing the solidifying material to form silica inter-particle connections between adjacent nanoparticles and between at least some of the nanoparticles and the substrate to bind the nanoparticles to each other and to the substrate to form the antireflective coating.

The present invention provides an organic-inorganic composite resin, which is derived from: (A) an inorganic portion comprising (a.sub.1) one or more siloxane monomers of formula (R.sup.1).sub.nSi(OR.sup.2).sub.4-n, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and n are as defined in the specification; (a.sub.2) an acidic catalyst, (a.sub.3) silica, and (a.sub.4) a siloxane oligomer; and (B) an organic portion comprising (b.sub.1) one ore more acrylic monomers; wherein the weight ratio of the inorganic portion to the organic portion ranges from 2:8 to 8:2. The present invention also provides a coating composition comprising the aforementioned organic-inorganic composite resin and a hardener. The present invention further provides a reinforced substrate coated with the aforementioned coating composition.

There are provided a liquid composition capable of forming a coating film securing colorless transparency, being excellent in weather resistance, suppressing occurrence of bleedout, and having sufficiently ultraviolet absorbing function and the infrared absorbing function, and a glass article having a coating film formed by this composition. A liquid composition for forming a coating film contains an infrared absorbent selected from a tin-doped indium oxide, an antimony-doped tin oxide, and a composite tungsten oxide; an ultraviolet absorbent selected from a benzophenone-based compound, a triazine-based compound, and a benzotriazole-based compound; predetermined amount of a dispersing agent having a molecular weight of 1,000 to 100,000; predetermined amount of a chelating agent relative forming a complex with the infrared absorbent and having a molecular weight of 1,000 to 100,000, the complex exhibiting substantially no absorption with respect to light having a visible wavelength; a binder component; and a liquid medium.

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.

Compositions and methods for improved materials and material laminates with graphitic or inorganic/organic nanomaterials are presented. Graphitic or inorganic/organic nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, graphenes or graphene oxides, are introduced into an aqueous composition as fillers to provide a graphitic or inorganic/organic nanocomposite. Such composition may be used as laminates to improve adhesion between a film and a layer of material or between layers of materials and to increase not only strength properties, but also to provide other desired properties such as electronic properties, UV absorbing/blocking, optical-limiting, anti-reflective, fire-retardant, conducting, anti-microbial properties or pigmentation to say material. By tailoring the composite formulations with multiple graphitic or organic/inorganic nanomaterials, the resulting materials laminates become multifunctional and can be used for a variety of applications.

The invention relates to an object having a coating arranged on at least one surface of the object, which comprises at least one antimicrobially active layer having an antimicrobial agent, wherein the agent comprises a copper (I) compound and/or a copper (II) compound.