Transparent conducting, anti-static and anti-static-anti-glare coatings on plastic substrates

In (2)O(3):Sn (ITO) sols made of crystalline nanoparticles, fully redispersable in an ethanol solution containing hydrolyzed organosilanes, have been developed to deposit conducting transparent and anti-glare coatings on plastic (PMMA, polycarbonate) and glass substrates by spin, dip and spray coating processes. The coatings are cured by UV irradiation and/or by a low temperature heat treatment(T= 130 degreesC) in air or reducing atmosphere. The electrical, optical, textural and mechanical properties of the coatings are reported. A stable sheet resistance as low as 5 k Omega (rectangle) was obtained with a single 500-nm thick transparent layer. Anti-glare-anti-static coatings exhibiting a 40-k Omega (rectangle), sheet resistance, a gloss of 60-70 GU, a clarity of 75-90% and an optical resolution > 8 lines/mm were obtained by a room temperature spraying process. The abrasion resistance of both coatings is in agreement with DIN 58196-H25-class 1. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.