Coated article having ceramic paint modified surface(s), and/or associated methods

Abstract

Certain example embodiments relate to heating a ceramic paint applied to a portion of a coated article in order to at least partially eat through the underlying coating, with any remaining materials being removable by washing, and associated articles. In certain example embodiments, the coatings are multilayer sputter-deposited coatings formed on a glass or other substrate. The heat may be provided in connection with conventional heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering) and/or heat bending processes that otherwise would be performed on the coated article.

Claims

1. A method of making a coated article including a sputter-deposited coating supported by a glass substrate, the method comprising: applying a coating-dissolving material comprising ceramic paint over and contacting the sputter-deposited coating in one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed, wherein the ceramic paint comprises oxides of phosphorous and sodium; heating the glass substrate with the coating-dissolving material comprising ceramic paint applied over and contacting the sputter-deposited coating at a temperature of 580-650 degrees C. for no more than 10 minutes, the heating causing the sputter-deposited coating under the coating-dissolving material to be at least partially damaged in the one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed but not causing undesired damage to the sputter-deposited coating in other areas; and following the heating, washing the glass substrate to remove excess material(s) from the glass substrate in the one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed, in making the coated article, wherein the coating comprises a plurality of dielectric layers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sputter-deposited coating is a multilayer silver-inclusive low-emissivity coating comprising at least first and second Ag-based layers, a first set of dielectric layers being located between the first Ag-based layer and the substrate, a second set of dielectric layers being located between the first and second Ag-based layers, and a third set of dielectric layers being located over the second Ag-based layer; and wherein the first, second, and third sets of dielectric layers differ from one another in terms of number and/or types of layers therein.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sputter-deposited coating is an antireflective coating.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sputter-deposited coating blocks and/or reflects UV light.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed include peripheral edges of the glass substrate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed at least partially define one or more electrically isolating regions of the glass substrate.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating is performed in connection with bending of the glass substrate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the coating is non-conductive and lacks any layers comprising ITO.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating is performed in connection with thermal tempering of the glass substrate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features and advantages may be better and more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description of exemplary illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the drawings, of which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example process for removing portions of a coating using a ceramic paint, in accordance with an example embodiments;

(3) FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing another example process for removing portions of a coating using a ceramic paint, in accordance with an example embodiments;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a coated article including an example low-emissivity (low-E) coating that can be at least partially removed using the techniques of certain example embodiments;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a coated article including another example low-E coating that can be at least partially removed using the techniques of certain example embodiments;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a coated article including an example highly-reflective solar control coating that can be at least partially removed using the techniques of certain example embodiments;

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a coated article including an example highly-reflective dielectric mirror coating that can be at least partially removed using the techniques of certain example embodiments;

(8) FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a coated article having peripheral edges of the coating thereof removed using the techniques of certain example embodiments;

(9) FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a coated article having areas of the coating thereof removed in order to create electrically isolated areas, in accordance with certain example embodiments;

(10) FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a coated article having areas of the coating thereof removed in order to support the mounting of features thereon, in accordance with certain example embodiments;

(11) FIG. 10 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an insulating glass unit including a coated article having peripheral edges of the coating thereof removed using the techniques of certain example embodiments; and

(12) FIG. 11 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a vacuum insulating glass unit including a coated article having peripheral edges of the coating thereof removed using the techniques of certain example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(13) Certain example embodiments relate to improved techniques for selectively removing a portion or portions of a coating supported by a substrate. The coating may in some instances be a sputter-deposited coating comprising one or more thin film layers, and the substrate may in some instances be a glass substrate. Once the film is removed from the desired area(s), the resulting coated article can be used in a variety of architectural, technical/electrical, automotive, and/or other applications. For instance, the example techniques may be used in connection with insulating glass units (IGUs or IG units), e.g., where it would be desirable to provide a clean edge for a peripheral spacer; vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units, e.g., where it would be desirable to provide a clean edge for a frit bonding the units together; structural glazing units, e.g., where it would be desirable to provide a clean edge for a frame or other mounting feature(s); decorative designs; bird protection units, e.g., where it would be desirable to imprint a pattern for a bird to see; for electrical segmentation (e.g., for radar dampening, HF radiation dampening and/or transmitting), e.g., to create electrically isolating areas; in automotive or related applications, e.g., where it would be desirable to provide rails, latches, and the like, e.g., for sliding windows (e.g., for trucks, tractors, and the like, as well as for toll booths and other applications); etc.

(14) FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example process for removing portions of a coating using a ceramic paint, in accordance with an example embodiments. As will be appreciated from FIG. 1, certain example embodiments relate to a method of making a coated article including a sputter-deposited coating supported by a glass substrate, and/or a corresponding coated article. In step S102, the coating is formed on the substrate. The coating in this instance may include a plurality of dielectric and/or other layers. In some instances, the coating may include a layer comprising ITO, and it may lack any layers comprising ITO in other instances. In step S104, a coating-dissolving material is applied over and contacting the sputter-deposited coating in one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed.

(15) The coating-dissolving material may be a paint, e.g., a ceramic paint, in certain example embodiments. Ferro's TDF9283AAL product is a lead free flux paste for dissolution of conductive ITO-based coatings on glass during firing. The firing layer is removed with water. The flux system in this product comprises P.sub.2O.sub.5Na.sub.2O. Ferro's product is envisioned as being used as a paste, mixed from a powder, useful in removing ITO and ITO-inclusive coatings after firing at 690-710 degrees C. for 3 minutes. By contrast, certain example embodiments render this material as a paint and use it to remove different types of coatings at lower temperatures. For example, by rendering the material as a paint and applying it to a multilayer sputter-deposited thin film coating, certain example embodiments are able to remove the underlying coating at a temperature range that is typically used in heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering) and/or heat bending of glass. The application of paint can be performed automatically, e.g., with programmably-controllable robots. Advantageously, the need for an edge deletion table and/or other removal apparatus can be removed, as the paint can be activated to remove the underlying areas through apparatuses that are already likely to form part of a commercial line. The operating temperatures are compatible with existing processes, which is further advantageous in terms of ease of integration into an already functional line. Furthermore, the ceramic paint can eat through thick dielectric layers, through functional layers, through additional thick dielectric layers, etc., completely removing coatings of many different kinds (including, for example, low-E, AR, conductive, UV-blocking, reflective, solar control, etc.). Thus, instead of merely exposing certain layers for electrical contact and/or isolation, certain example embodiments destroy coatings and enable resulting debris to be simply washed off so that the surface of the substrate is exposed.

(16) Referring once again to FIG. 1, step S106 involves heating the glass substrate with the coating-dissolving material applied over and contacting the sputter-deposited coating at a temperature of 500-700 degrees C. (more preferably 500-680 degrees C., still more preferably 580-650 degrees C. for thermal tempering) for no more than 10 minutes. The heating causes the sputter-deposited coating under the coating-dissolving material to be at least partially damaged in the one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed, but the heating does not cause undesired damage to the sputter-deposited coating in other areas. Following the heating, in step S108, the glass substrate is washed (e.g., using DI water and/or the like) to remove excess material(s) from the glass substrate in the one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed, in making the coated article.

(17) It will be appreciated that the example techniques disclosed herein may be scaled up so as to work with stock sheets from which intermediate coated articles can be produced. In that regard, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing another example process for removing portions of a coating using a ceramic paint, in accordance with an example embodiments. The FIG. 2 flowchart is similar to the FIG. 1 flowchart. For example, in step S102, a coating is formed on the large stock sheet, e.g., via sputtering or the like. In step S104, the ceramic paint is applied to the stock sheet in areas where the coating is to be removed. Coated articles, or intermediate coated articles that may be further processed, are cut in step S202, e.g., with the paint thereon. Then, the coated articles can be heated, e.g., in connection with a heat treatment and/or bending process, in step S106, in order to damage and substantially remove the underlying coating. In step S108, the coated articles are washed to remove residual debris and/or the like.

(18) It will be appreciated from the above that the example techniques described herein may be used in connection with a variety of coatings and coating types. Several example coatings are shown in, and described in connection with, FIGS. 3-6. However, it will be appreciated that these example coatings, and these example coating types, are provided by way of example and without limitation, unless expressly claimed.

(19) FIG. 3 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a coated article including an example low-emissivity (low-E) coating that can be at least partially removed using the techniques of certain example embodiments. The FIG. 3 substrate 302 supports first and second layers comprising silver 304a and 304b. Directly under and contacting the first and second layers comprising silver 304a and 304b are first and second layers comprising zinc oxide (which may also include aluminum) 306a and 306b, which may help promote good Ag growth thereon, and directly over and contacting the first and second layers comprising silver 304a and 304b are layers 308a and 308b comprising Ni, Cr, and/or Ti, which may be oxided in certain example embodiments. A silicon inclusive layer 310 (e.g., a layer comprising silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and/or silicon oxinitride) is provided on the glass 302 and may serve as a sodium blocking layer and/or assist with optics of the stack as a whole. Another silicon inclusive layer 312 may be provided as an uppermost layer in the stack and may help protect the underlying layers, e.g., from mechanical wear, during heat treatment, etc. First and second layers comprising tin oxide 314a and 314b may be provided over the first and second layers 308a and 308b, e.g., to serve as caps of breakers. Another layer comprising silicon may in essence be split into two layers 316a and 316b and separated by another layer 318 comprising Ni, Cr, and/or Ti, which may be oxided, which may further protect the lower layer stack. Another layer comprising tin oxide 320 may be provided between the split layer comprising silicon. It will be appreciated that some or all of the layers comprising zinc oxide may also include aluminum and/or tin, etc. Example layer materials and thicknesses for the FIG. 3 example coated article are provided in the table below:

(20) TABLE-US-00001 Preferred More Preferred Example Layer Thickness (nm) Thickness (nm) Thickness (nm) Si.sub.3N.sub.4 (312) 165-255 190-230 210 SnO.sub.2 (314b) 115-175 130-160 145 NiCrOx (308b) 20-30 22-28 25 Ag (304b) 120-185 135-1670 155 ZnAlOx (306a) 80-120 90-110 100 SnO.sub.2 (320) 50-80 60-75 65 Si3N4 (316b) 95-145 105-135 120 NiCrOx (318) 8-14 9-12 10 Si.sub.3N.sub.4 (316a) 95-145 108-132 120 SnO.sub.2 (314) 390-590 440-545 490 NiCrOx (308a) 20-30 22-28 25 Ag (304a) 60-90 67-85 75 ZnAlOx (306a) 80-120 90-110 100 Si.sub.3N.sub.4 (310) 170-255 190-235 215 GLASS (302) N/A N/A N/A

(21) FIG. 4 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a coated article including another example low-E coating that can be at least partially removed using the techniques of certain example embodiments. The substrate 402 supports a first silicon-inclusive layer 404 and a layer comprising titanium oxide 406, which together help provide for desirable optics in the overall stack. The coating includes first, second, and third layers comprising Ag 408a, 408b, and 408c. Each layer comprising Ag has below it, either in direct or near-direct contact therewith, a layer comprising zinc oxide 410a 410b, and 410c, respectively. The layers comprising zinc oxide 410a 410b, and 410c may include Al and/or Sn in certain example embodiments. Over and contacting the Ag layers are layers 412a-412c comprising Ni, Cr, and/or Ti, which may be oxided in certain example embodiments, and over each of these layers 412a-412c is a layer comprising tin oxide 414a-414c. A thin layer comprising Ni, Cr, and/or Ti 416 may be provided under the topmost layer comprising Ag 408c, e.g., to aid in heat treatability of the overall coating. An uppermost silicon-inclusive layer 418 may be provided to help protect the coating. A layer comprising zinc stanate 420 may be provided between the lower and middle layers comprising Ag 408a and 408b, e.g., as a breaker layer. Additional layers comprising Si 422a-422b may be provided to help protect the underlying layers during subsequent processing, to provide desired optical properties, and/or the like. Example layer materials and thicknesses for the FIG. 4 example coated article are provided in the table below:

(22) TABLE-US-00002 Preferred More Preferred Example Layer Thickness (nm) Thickness (nm) Thickness (nm) Si.sub.3N.sub.4 (418) 120-180 135-165 150 SnO.sub.2 (414c) 110-170 125-155 140 NiCrOx (412c) 20-40 25-35 30 Ag (408c) 85-135 95-125 110 NiCrOx (416) 0.2-1.7 0.5-1.5 1 ZnAlOx (410c) 175-265 195-245 220 Si.sub.3N.sub.4 (422b) 100-160 115-145 130 SnO.sub.2 (414b) 195-295 220-275 245 NiCrOx (412b) 30-50 30-45 40 Ag (408b) 80-125 90-115 100 ZnAlOx (410b) 160-250 180-230 205 Si.sub.3N.sub.4 (422a) 110-170 125-155 140 ZnSnOx (420) 160-240 180-220 200 SnO.sub.2 (414a) 180-280 205-255 230 NiCrOx (412a) 25-40 25-40 35 Ag (408a) 80-130 90-120 105 ZnAlOx (410a) 80-125 90-115 105 TiO.sub.2 (406) 20-40 25-35 30 Si.sub.3N.sub.4 (404) 60-100 70-90 80 GLASS (402) N/A N/A N/A

(23) As will be appreciated from the FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 examples, low-E coatings comprising one, two, three, or more functional Ag and/or other layers may be provided and eaten through using the techniques of certain example embodiments.

(24) FIG. 5 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a coated article including an example highly-reflective solar control coating that can be at least partially removed using the techniques of certain example embodiments. In FIG. 5, the substrate 502 supports a layer 504 comprising Ni, Cr, Ti, and/or combinations thereof. In certain example embodiments, this layer 504 may be oxided and/or nitrided in certain example embodiments and it may be sandwiched between first and second silicon-inclusive layers 506a and 506b (which may include silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, and/or the like). In the FIG. 5 example, the first and second silicon-inclusive layers 506a and 506b comprising silicon nitride (e.g., Si.sub.3N.sub.4 or other suitable stoichiometry). Example layer materials and thicknesses for the FIG. 5 example coated article are provided in the table below:

(25) TABLE-US-00003 Preferred More Preferred Example Layer Thickness (nm) Thickness (nm) Thickness (nm) Si.sub.3N.sub.4 (506b) 220-340 250-310 280 NiCr(Nx) (504) 260-400 295-365 330 Si.sub.3N.sub.4 (506a) 70-110 80-100 90 GLASS (502) N/A N/A N/A

(26) In certain example embodiments a layer comprising zirconium (e.g., ZrO.sub.2 or other suitable stoichiometry) may be provided as a top-most layer, e.g., for enhanced durability. This layer may be 20-100 nm thick in some instances.

(27) FIG. 6 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a coated article including an example highly-reflective dielectric mirror coating that can be at least partially removed using the techniques of certain example embodiments. As shown in FIG. 6, the substrate 602 supports a plurality of layers that alternate between a silicon-inclusive material and a niobium-inclusive material, e.g., in order moving away from the substrate 602 and ending with a niobium-inclusive layer. More particularly, the glass substrate 602 supports a silicon-inclusive layer 604, which may help reduce the incidence of sodium migration from the glass substrate 602, a first niobium-inclusive layer 606a, a first silicon-inclusive alternating layer 608a, a second niobium-inclusive layer 606b, a second silicon-inclusive alternating layer 608b, and a third niobium-inclusive layer 606c. In certain example embodiments, each of the silicon-inclusive layers 604 and 608a-608b may comprise or consist of the same material (e.g., silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, and/or the like). In certain example embodiments, the silicon-inclusive alternating layer 608a-608b may comprise or consist of the same material that is different from the silicon-inclusive layer 604. For instance, the silicon-inclusive alternating layers 608a-608b may comprise silicon oxide (e.g., SiO.sub.2 or other suitable stoichiometry) whereas the silicon-inclusive layer 604 may comprise silicon nitride (e.g., Si.sub.3N.sub.4 or other suitable stoichiometry). In certain example embodiments, each niobium-inclusive layer may alternatively or additionally include zirconium, and/or an oxide of niobium and/or zirconium. Example layer materials and thicknesses for the FIG. 6 example coated article are provided in the table below:

(28) TABLE-US-00004 Preferred More Preferred Example Layer Thickness (nm) Thickness (nm) Thickness (nm) Nb.sub.2O.sub.5 (606c) 640-960 720-885 800 SiO.sub.2 (608b) 390-580 440-540 490 Nb.sub.2O.sub.5 (606b) 480-720 540-665 600 SiO.sub.2 (608a) 230-345 255-320 290 Nb.sub.2O.sub.5 (606a) 65-100 75-95 85 Si.sub.3N.sub.4(604) 160-240 180-220 200 GLASS (602) N/A N/A N/A

(29) Similar to the discussion of example coatings and coating types above, it will be appreciated that the example techniques described herein may be used in connection with a variety of applications and products/application and product types. Several example products are shown in, and described in connection with, FIGS. 7-11. However, it will be appreciated that these example applications and products, and these example application and product types, are provided by way of example and without limitation, unless expressly claimed.

(30) FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a coated article 700 having peripheral edges P1, P2, P3, and P4 of the coating 704 that is supported by the substrate 702 removed using the techniques of certain example embodiments. As shown in the FIG. 7 example, the left and right peripheral edges P1 and P2 have approximately the same material removed so as to expose a top surface of the substrate 702, and the top and bottom peripheral edges P3 an P4 have approximately the same material removed, but the amount of material removed from the left and right peripheral edges P1 and P2 differs from the amount of material removed from the top and bottom peripheral edges P3 an P4. Thus, as will be appreciated from FIG. 7, the area of the coating 704 removed from the peripheral edges P1, P2, P3, and P4 may be the same or different. In this regard, the area can be controlled simply by applying more or less paint to the areas, e.g., in the desired shape and arrangement relative to what is desired for exposure on the uppermost surface of the substrate 702.

(31) FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, in that FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a coated article 800 having areas of the coating thereof removed in order to create electrically isolated areas, in accordance with certain example embodiments. In this example, the coating is conductive and may, for example, be used in an antenna, vending machine, touch panel, or other application. The coating is removed at peripheral edges P1, P2, P3, and P4, which may be useful for accommodating a frame around the substrate 802. In addition, an electrically isolating area IA is formed approximately in the center of the substrate 802, thereby creating first and second conductive coated areas 804a and 804b. The electrically isolating area IA may be formed anywhere that is desirable for the end product and need not be formed in the center or approximate center of the substrate 802. Similarly, more electrically isolating areas may be formed in different example embodiments, e.g., by painting the areas in the desired configurations prior to heating. This may be useful in creating multiple touch zones, etc.

(32) FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a coated article 900 having areas of the coating thereof removed in order to support the mounting of features thereon, in accordance with certain example embodiments. FIG. 9 also is similar to FIG. 7, in that it shows a substrate 902 with a coating 904 thereon being removed around peripheral edges P1, P2, P3, and P4. The FIG. 9 example may be used in connection with an automotive application, e.g., where it might be desirable to mount a structure on the substrate 902 in an area that otherwise would be covered by the coating 904. In this regard, paint may be applied internal to the outer edges of the coating 904 such that, when heated, the coating material is removed in a mounting area MA. The mounting area MA may, for example, accommodate a rearview mirror and/or other electronics, and the coating 904 may be a conductive coating that received a current in order to heat up and defrost the window. In certain example embodiments, one more mounting areas may be provided in the shown and/or other locations.

(33) FIG. 10 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an IGU 1000 including a coated article 1002a having peripheral edges of the coating 1008 thereof removed using the techniques of certain example embodiments. The example IGU 1000 of FIG. 10 includes first and second substantially parallel, spaced apart substrates 1002a and 1002b. In this arrangement, an air gap 1006 (which may be filled with oxygen and/or an inert gas such as Ar, Kr, Xe, and/or the like) is at least partially defined by the first and second substrates 1002a and 1002b and the edge spacer 1004.

(34) The first substrate 1002a in FIG. 10 may be structured similar to the FIG. 7 example substrate 700, e.g., in that the coating 1008 may be removed proximate to peripheral areas of the substrate 1002a. Doing so may allow the edge spacer 1004 better adhere to the inner surfaces of the first and second substrates 1002a and 1002b than it otherwise would adhere to the inner surface of the second substrate 1002b and the coating 1008. This may help reduce the likelihood of breakage, gas seeping out of the cavity 1006, moisture seeping into the cavity 1006, etc. The coating 1008 in this example may be an antireflective (AR) coating, for example. In certain example embodiments, multiple major surfaces of the IGU 1000 may support a coating such as, for example, an antireflective coating. It will be appreciated from the FIG. 10 example view that the peripheral edges P1 and P2 (and elsewhere) where the coating is removed may be over-deleted, e.g., to provide some additional tolerance for the spacer 1004, thermal and/or wind load induced movement of the substrate(s) relative to one another and/or relative to the spacer, etc.

(35) FIG. 11 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a vacuum insulating glass unit 1100 including a coated article 1102a having peripheral edges of the coating 1108 thereof removed using the techniques of certain example embodiments. FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 10 in that first and second substantially parallel, spaced apart substrates 1102a and 1102b, together with hermetic edge seal 1104, form an gap 1106 therebetween, and in that the first substrate 1102a supports a coating 1108. The gap 1106 is evacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric, and the edge seal 1104 may be formed from a glass frit or other material. A plurality of spacers may help maintain the first and second substrates in substantially parallel, spaced apart relation to one another. Because the presence of the coating 1108 may provide for a weak and/or easily breakable seal, it may be removed from the edges proximate to where the hermetic edge seal 1104 is to be formed.

(36) It will be appreciated that areas of a coating that may be removed may be outside of, in, and/or within, an otherwise continuous and uninterrupted coating so as to form one, two, or more defined areas where the coating is located.

(37) Although certain example embodiments have been described in connection with sputter-deposited thin film coatings, it will be appreciated that the example techniques described herein may be used in connection with coatings formed in other ways. For example, the paint material described herein may be used to remove other physical vapor deposition (PVD) deposited coatings, coatings formed from sol gels, combustion deposition deposited coatings, and/or the like.

(38) The terms heat treatment and heat treating as used herein include heating the article to a temperature sufficient to achieve thermal tempering and/or heat strengthening of the glass inclusive article. This definition includes, for example, heating a coated article in an oven or furnace at a temperature of at least about 550 degrees C., more preferably at least about 580 degrees C., more preferably at least about 600 degrees C., more preferably at least about 620 degrees C., and most preferably at least about 650 degrees C. for a sufficient period to allow tempering and/or heat strengthening. This may be for at least about two minutes, or up to about 10 minutes, in certain example embodiments.

(39) As used herein, the terms on, supported by, and the like should not be interpreted to mean that two elements are directly adjacent to one another unless explicitly stated. In other words, a first layer may be said to be on or supported by a second layer, even if there are one or more layers therebetween.

(40) In certain example embodiments, there is provided a method of making a coated article including a sputter-deposited coating supported by a glass substrate. A coating-dissolving material is applied over and contacting the sputter-deposited coating in one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed. The glass substrate with the coating-dissolving material applied over and contacting the sputter-deposited coating is heated at a temperature of 500-700 degrees C. for no more than 10 minutes, with the heating causing the sputter-deposited coating under the coating-dissolving material to be at least partially damaged in the one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed but not causing undesired damage to the sputter-deposited coating in other areas. Following the heating, the glass substrate is washed to remove excess material(s) from the glass substrate in the one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed, in making the coated article. The coating comprises a plurality of dielectric layers.

(41) In addition to the features of the previous paragraph, in certain example embodiments, the coating-dissolving material may be a paint, e.g., a ceramic paint.

(42) In addition to the features of either of the two previous paragraphs, in certain example embodiments, the sputter-deposited coating may be a multilayer silver-inclusive low-emissivity coating comprising at least first and second Ag-based layers, with a first set of dielectric layers being located between the first Ag-based layer and the substrate, with a second set of dielectric layers being located between the first and second Ag-based layers, and with a third set of dielectric layers being located over the second Ag-based layer; and the first, second, and third sets of dielectric layers differ from one another in terms of number and/or types of layers therein. Alternatively, in addition to the features of either of the two previous paragraphs, in certain example embodiments, the sputter-deposited coating may be an antireflective coating.

(43) In addition to the features of any of the three previous paragraphs, in certain example embodiments, the sputter-deposited coating may block and/or reflect UV light.

(44) In addition to the features of any of the four previous paragraphs, in certain example embodiments, the one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed may include peripheral edges of the glass substrate.

(45) In addition to the features of any of the five previous paragraphs, in certain example embodiments, the one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed may at least partially define one or more electrically isolating regions of the glass substrate.

(46) In addition to the features of any of the six previous paragraphs, in certain example embodiments, the heating may be performed in connection with bending of the glass substrate.

(47) In addition to the features of any of the seven previous paragraphs, in certain example embodiments, the coating may be non-conductive and/or may lack any layers comprising ITO.

(48) In addition to the features of any of the eight previous paragraphs, in certain example embodiments, the heating may be performed in connection with thermal tempering of the glass substrate.

(49) In addition to the features of any of the nine previous paragraphs, in certain example embodiments, the heating may be performed at a temperature range of 500-680 degrees C., e.g., 580-650 degrees C.

(50) In certain example embodiments, there is provided a method of making a coated article including a sputter-deposited coating supported by a glass substrate. The glass substrate with a coating-dissolving material applied over and contacting the sputter-deposited coating in one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed is heated, with the heating at least partially dissolving the sputter-deposited coating in the one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed but elsewhere not dissolving the sputter-deposited coating, the heating being performed in connection with heat treatment and/or heat bending of the glass substrate. Following the heating, the glass substrate is washed to remove excess material(s) from the glass substrate in the one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed, in making the coated article.

(51) In addition to the features of the previous paragraph, in certain example embodiments, the washing may be performed using water.

(52) In addition to the features of either of the two previous paragraphs, in certain example embodiments, the coating-dissolving material may be a ceramic paint.

(53) In addition to the features of any of the three previous paragraphs, in certain example embodiments, the sputter-deposited coating may be a functional coating comprising multiple thin film layers, e.g., with at least two of the thin film layers potentially comprising Ag.

(54) In certain example embodiments, there is provided a method of making an insulating glass unit, with the method comprising connecting together, in substantially parallel spaced-apart relation to one another, a coated article made according to any of the 14 previous paragraphs and another glass substrate, in connection with a peripheral edge seal. Similarly, in certain example embodiments, there is provided a method of making an automotive component, with the method comprising having a coated article made according to any of the 14 previous paragraphs, with the one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed being bonding area(s); and bonding one or more components to the substrate in the bonding area(s).

(55) In certain example embodiments, there is provided an intermediate coated article, comprising: a glass substrate; a sputter-deposited coating supported by the glass substrate; and a coating-dissolving material applied over and contacting the sputter-deposited coating in one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed, the coating-dissolving material having a composition selected so as to be heatable at temperatures used in heat treatment and/or heat bending of the glass substrate to cause the sputter-deposited coating to dissolve in the one or more areas in which the sputter-deposited coating is to be removed and to thereafter be removable by washing.

(56) In addition to the features of the previous paragraph, in certain example embodiments, the coating-dissolving material may be a ceramic paint that, after heating, is removable by washing with water; and/or the sputter-deposited coating may be a functional coating comprising multiple thin film layers.

(57) While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.