Patent ID: 6013333
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: C03C,C04B,C08J

Abstract:
A method of strengthening a brittle oxide substrate consisting essentially of the steps of:a) providing a brittle oxide substrate, and coating directly onto the brittle oxide substrate to be strengthened or onto a metal oxide layer in contact with said brittle oxide substrate, an aqueous solution comprising a silane-based composition in the substantial absence of an organic solvent, and in a sufficient amount to cause said strengthening, wherein the silane-based composition upon being hydrolyzed in the aqueous solution has the formula:(OH).sub.3 SiR""with R"" being an organofunctional group; andb) curing the coating to form a transparent layer;wherein R"" in the silane-based composition is selected so that the strength of the brittle oxide substrate having the cured coating is substantially improved compared to the strength of the brittle oxide substrate prior to the coating step, and (ii) the cured coating does not interfere with the labelability of the brittle oxide substrate.