Coating of Low Viscocity Liquids on Glass

My first choice would be a spray gun just like paint. There are multiple systems to spray very low viscosity materials.

The other alternative is to visit a totally different technology and that is "Vacuum deposition"

For vacuum deposition, the process would normally apply a base coat then a matalic coating (for reflective purposes like headlight interiors) then another clear coating to protect the metal (usually aluminium.) from the environment.

The liquid coating materials are very precisely dosed into the chambers and cover every surface at thicknesses that are measured in atomic thicknesses rather than microns.

The process is used to coat mirrors in observatories and I saw one that was 16m diameter.

There have been some othere threads here about vacuum metalising that you might want to search for.

I have some experience dip coating 1/2 OZ copper foil sheets with very thin coatings.

Unless you are only coating one side, I think this process has merit. Even with large surfaces.

Next might be a doctor blade application if only coating one side.

Ink jets and atomization are problematic, unless you can coat both sides at once.

But, not enough information to proceed.

Good luck.

I don't know much on this specialized coating. Since a thin coating is required. you may do the ink jet printing on transfer paper, then heat transfer using suitable means on glass. Consult transfer print paper people, who may be of suited help.

I have done flood coating in submicron level of silica using sol-gel based very thing solution which had viscosity of water. and silica was still as polymerized silicon ethoxide in solution.

Coating came out pretty good after heat treatment of the glass at 500C. Same system can be used for other solution.

I just do not want to bore reader with this technology but if you like to learn more we can discuss this

have you considered ultrasonic application?

I am aware of this being done with anti-stat coatings on platic containers. The equipment uses ultrasonic frequencies to create a "fog" within a chamber that you pass the substrate through. This is very similar to the ultrasonic humidifiers that are for home use.

Hi Guest,

If the resin adheres to a well cleaned glass and you want to apply sub-micron thickness, dilute the material enough - up to a few % of solids - to be able to apply by spraying - better with automatic sprayer - in thin and uniform way, the dried film will be very thin. The spraying process, the evaporation of acetone, and the drying time cannot be changed. Only the dilution makes changes. Also, the dilution determines the final "dry film thickness" of the coating. Good luck and let us know how it worked out, Gil.

Have you considered a slot die? Depending on the quantity and width of the panes you wish to coat; slot dies are used in thin-film solar solution applications. I don't know off-hand what qualifies an 'architectural glass size', but depending on the sheets' flatness it may be problematic achieving a sub-micron coat over such a span utilizing a slot die. I also assume the acetone solution goes through a drying phase, any possibility of diluting the solution to allow for a greater than 'sub-micron' coating thickness, letting the excess solvent evaporate during the drying?