A method for producing a coated and printed glass panel, includes providing a glass substrate having a metal-containing coating on at least one first surface and a polymeric protective layer arranged on this metal-containing coating, removing the temporary polymeric protective layer and the metal-containing coating only in a predetermined region, applying a ceramic ink in the predetermined region, wherein the removing is carried out with a laser and the polymeric protective layer and the metal-containing coating are intact outside the predetermined region after the removing.

A method for producing a coated and printed glass panel, includes a) providing a glass substrate having a metal-containing coating on a first surface and a polymeric protective layer with a thickness d arranged on this metal-containing coating, b) removing the polymeric protective layer in a first region using a carbon dioxide laser, c) removing the metal-containing coating within the first region only in a second region using a solid-state laser such that an edge region is created, in which the metal-containing coating is intact and in which the polymeric protective layer was removed in step b), d) applying a ceramic ink only in the first region, e) heat treating the glass panel at >600° C., wherein the polymeric protective layer is removed on the entire first surface, in the edge region, the metal-containing coating is dissolved by the ceramic ink lying above it, and the ceramic ink is fired.

A bridge device for measuring the thickness of mainly flat panels to be placed in a panel production line includes a frame having feet for fixing the bridge device to the floor; a plurality of supports that support measuring contact systems, which are slidable perpendicularly to the conveying direction of the panels so to adjust their positions for a transversal measure of the panels; a plurality of measuring contact systems, of which is one is for each longitudinal side of the panels; a photocell detecting the position of the panels and their lengths; blocking knobs for blocking the supports; and a device transmitting the information concerning the actual thickness of each panel to a machine for treating one of the main surfaces of the panel.

A low-reflection film-coated transparent substrate of the present invention includes a transparent substrate and a low-reflection film formed on at least one principal surface of the transparent substrate. The low-reflection film is a porous film including: fine silica particles being solid and spherical and having an average particle diameter of 80 to 150 nm; and a binder containing silica as a main component, the fine silica particles being bound by the binder. The binder further contains an aluminum compound. The low-reflection film contains as components: 55 to 70 mass % of the fine silica particles; 25 to 40 mass % of the silica of the binder; 0.1 to 1.5 mass % of the aluminum compound in terms of Al.sub.2O.sub.3; and 0.25 to 3% of an organic component. The low-reflection film has a thickness of 80 to 800 nm. A transmittance gain is 2.5% or more, the transmittance gain being defined as an increase of average transmittance of the low-reflection film-coated transparent substrate in a wavelength range of 380 to 850 nm relative to average transmittance of the transparent substrate uncoated with the low-reflection film in the wavelength range. The organic component includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a ß-ketoester and a ß-diketone.

An article includes a glass substrate including two main faces defining two main surfaces separated by edges and a temporary protective layer comprising an organic polymer matrix deposited on at least one portion of a main surface of the glass substrate, wherein the temporary protective layer has a rough surface defined by a surface roughness parameter Sa, corresponding to the arithmetic mean height of the profile of the surface, of greater than 0.2 μm.

A glass substrate with a silica film according to the present invention includes a glass substrate and a silica film formed using a silica film-forming composition, in which the composition includes at least one kind selected from the group consisting of a hydrolyzable compound, a hydrolyzate thereof, and a hydrolysis condensation compound thereof, and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of a silica particle and a zirconia particle, the hydrolyzable compound consisting of a tetraalkoxysilane, a compound (compound I) represented by formula I: (R.sub.3-p(L).sub.pSi-Q-Si(L).sub.pR.sub.3-p), optionally a fluoroalkylsilane having a hydrolysable group, and optionally a zirconium compound having a hydrolyzable group, and the contents of the tetraalkoxysilane, the compound I, and the at least one kind selected from the group consisting of a silica particle and a zirconia particle in terms of SiO.sub.2/ZrO.sub.2 fall within specified ranges, respectively.

A thin-film coating applicator assembly is disclosed for coating substrates in outdoor applications. The innovative thin-film coating applicator assembly is adapted to apply performance enhancement coatings on installed photovoltaic panels and glass windows in outdoor environments. The coating applicator is adapted to move along a solar panel or glass pane while applicator mechanisms deposit a uniform layer of liquid coating solution to the substrate's surface. The applicator assembly comprises a conveyance means disposed on a frame. Further disclosed are innovative applicator heads that comprise a deformable sponge-like core surrounded by a microporous layer. The structure, when in contact with a substrate surface, deposits a uniform layer of coating solution over a large surface.

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.

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 process for the manufacture of a colored laminated glazing including at least two glass sheets connected together by a thermoplastic interlayer, includes deposition, by the liquid route, on a first glass sheet, of a polymeric layer including a coloring agent and polymeric compounds, drying and optionally curing of the polymeric layer, assembling of the glass sheet, coated with the colored polymeric layer, with a colorless transparent thermoplastic interlayer and with the second glass sheet, so that the colored polymeric layer is in direct contact with the interlayer, degassing, during which the air trapped between the glass sheets and the thermoplastic interlayer is removed, and heat treatment under pressure and/or under vacuum of the laminated glass at a temperature of between 60 and 200° C., during which the coloring agent present in the polymeric layer migrates toward the thermoplastic interlayer and during which the laminated glazing is assembled.