Silicate glass coatings, applications

The book focuses mainly on subtractive methods, i.e. the removal of material, and on thermal reshaping methods as well as techniques that allow for the manipulation of locally confined properties. We do not discuss ion or electron beam structuring, because of their limited application in industry nor do we discuss additive methods such as the deposition of powders or coatings. Silicate glasses form the centre of discussion of the book. We also exclude special microoptics and photonics made from glasses because excellent specialist books are already available, and the reader is referred to them the processing associated with their manufacture is, however, described in different sections of the book. 

Much research effort is focusing on the synthesis and application of silicate sols and gels in glasses, ceramics, ceramers, protective coatings for glass, adhesives for glass surfaces, semiconductive films and fibers " . 

Scratchproof coatings on poly(methyl methacrylate) can be produced by application of a 50 50 mixture of poly(silicic acid) and poly(tetrafluoro-ethylene-co-hydroxyalkyl vinyl ether). It is not known why coatings as scratchproof as glass can be produced in this manner. 

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