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 110.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.

The glass body according to the present invention includes a plate-like glass plate having a first surface and a second surface; and an antibacterial film that is formed on the first surface and in which copper ions are dispersed.

The present invention is directed to a coating composition containing metal particles, in particular noble metal particles, to the use of such a coating composition for the production of attractive metallic decorative elements on articles having an outer silicatic surface such as of porcelain, ceramic, china, bone china, glass or enamel, to metallic coatings on such substrates and to a process for the production of coatings of this kind.

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 110.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.

The present invention is directed to metal preparations containing metal particles, in particular noble metal particles, to the use of such metal preparations for the production of attractive metallic decorative elements on articles having an outer silicatic surface such as of porcelain, ceramic, china, bone china, glass or enamel, to metallic coatings on such substrates and to a process for the production of coatings of this kind.

The present invention provides a lamination system comprising a substrate and a highly reflective layer, which is formed on the substrate and has a reflective index of 2.0 or greater and a thickness of 70 nm or less.

An aqueous composition including: a) at least one epoxy silane containing at least one epoxy group and at least one hydrolysable group bound to Si, b) at least one non-ionic wetting agent and either c1) between 0.2 and 2 wt. % of at least one mercapto silane containing at least one mercapto group and at least one hydrolysable group bound to Si, and as many water-soluble acids as required for the pH of resulting composition to be between 1 and 6, on the condition that epoxy silane content amounts to between 0.2 and 1 wt. %, or c2) between 0.1 and 1 wt. % of a water-soluble organotitanate, in relation to entire weight of aqueous composition, and as many water-soluble bases as required for the pH of resulting composition to be between 8 and 14, on the condition that the epoxy silane content amounts to between 0.2 and 0.5 wt. %.

A lightweight composite pane is provided that includes a mineral glass or glass-ceramic pane and an organic layer. The weight per unit area of the lightweight composite pane is in the range from 0.5 kg/m.sup.2 to 5.5 kg/m.sup.2, the ratio of the thickness of the mineral glass pane to the thickness of the organic layer is 1:0.01 to 1:1, and the thickness of the organic layer is less than or equal to 500 m. The lightweight composite pane meets the thermal safety requirements of aerospace authorities and has a Total Heat Release, measured in compliance with JAR/FAR/CS 25, App. F, Part IV & AITM 2.0006, of less than 65 kWmin/m.sup.2 and a flame time, after removal of the flame in the Vertical Bunsen Burner Test, measured in compliance with FAR/JAR/CS 25, App. F, Part 1 & AITM 2.0002A, is less than 15 seconds.

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.

Provided are gold-coated flat silver particles, a dispersion including the gold-coated flat silver particles and a dispersion medium, a method of the dispersion, a coating film including the gold-coated flat silver particles, and an antireflection optical member. The gold-coated flat silver particles include flat silver particles and a gold coating layer, in which an average thickness of the gold coating layer on principal planes of the particles is 0.1 nm to 2 nm, and a ratio of the average thickness of the gold coating layer on the principal planes of the particles to an average thickness of the gold coating layer on edge surfaces of the particles is 0.02 or higher.