ORGANIC SUBSTRATE HAVING OPTICAL LAYERS DEPOSITED BY MAGNETRON SPUTTERING AND METHOD FOR PREPARING IT

Abstract: An organic substrate having optically-active layers deposited by magnetron sputtering and a preparation process for it are provided. Gas pressure used for carrying out better adhesion by sputtering is high, comprised between 0.8 and 5.0 Pa. Sputtering is particularly suitable for targets of Si, Ti, Zr and organic substrates with or without anti-abrasive coating. Improved adhesion of thin films is obtained. Use for providing optically-active layers, for example anti-reflective layers, using magnetron sputtering of metallic layers, with subsequent oxidation or treatment in a reactive atmosphere.

Description: ORGANIC SUBSTRATE HAVING OPTICAL LAYERS DEPOSITED BY MAGNETRON SPUTTERING AND METHOD FOR PREPARING IT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an organic substrate having optical layers deposited by magnetron sputtering, and to a method for preparing it. In the ophthalmic field, substrates in transparent organic materials obtained, for example, by polymerizing acrylic, allylic, methacrylic or vinylic monomers are in everyday use. Deposition of thin films on lenses, such as ophthalmic lenses, in such organic materials or in inorganic materials is also in common use. This for example makes it possible to provide anti-reflective treatment, by successive deposition of different thin films. It is necessary, in such applications, to accurately control the nature and thickness of the various layers deposited. Conventionally, deposition of thin anti-reflective layers on ophthalmic lenses is done by vacuum evaporation. An organic substrate to be coated, with or without an anti-abrasive layer, is placed in a vacuum chamber and the material to be deposited is thermally evaporated by heating or by electron bombardment. In order to improve adhesion of the thin films obtained, the substrates to be coated are heated. In the case of an organic material, the substrate must not be heated beyond 100°C. Such a technique suffers from disadvantages. It is difficult to automate and does not allow continuous flow coating of substrates. Furthermore, stability and reproducibility of the method are not strictly guaranteed. The layers of the anti-reflective stack can also be deposited by radiofrequency oxide sputtering, but the low rate of deposition renders this technique barely suitable for industrial use. Moreover, this type of method is poorly adapted to the use of targets of large dimensions, thereby limiting the size of the coated substrates. As against this, cathodic sputtering, which is readily automated, makes it possible to coat substrates of varying dimensions, using continuous or semi- continuos flow, while simultaneously ensuring the process is stable. It has thus been proposed to deposit thin films using magnetron sputtering at direct current (DC). This technique consists in vaporizing a solid target which has been brought to a negative potential by the action of a plasma, typically of an inert gas such as argon. Particles detached from the target are deposited on the surface to be coated at a rate, and density, which are far superior to those obtainable with low temperature vacuum deposition. The presence of a magnetic field close to the target, having lines of force parallel to the surface of the target, improves deposition rate by increasing the number of atoms that are vaporized; magnets are used for creating such a field close CONFIF- ATIOϋCQPY 2 to the target. The operation is performed in an enclosure under high vacuum, and is called magnetron sputtering. The technique of magnetron sputtering is well suited to the deposition of metals. In optical applications, it is necessary to deposit layers such as Zrθ2. SiO2, TiO2, Nb2O5, A12O3, Ta2O5, HfO2, Pr2O3, Sb2θ5, Y2O3, WO3, In2θ3. SnO2, Cr2O3 and mixtures thereof. However, these materials, which are non conducting, are poorly adapted to direct current magnetron sputtering. It has thus been suggested to use a metal target and a plasma consisting not only of argon, but also of oxygen, so that the metal atoms detached from the target become oxidized. This reactive sputtering technique is difficult to implement, notably in view of the difficulty of accurately maintaining constant the amount of oxygen in the plasma. Correct operating equilibrium is unstable and contamination of the target causes deposition rate to diminish. In order to improve stability of the system, it is also been proposed to apply an alternating voltage to the cathode, rather than a DC voltage, of a sinewave or square wave type. On the positive half-cycle, the cathode is discharged. This technique is known as pulsed magnetron sputtering (PMS) and is disclosed in patent DE-A-37 00 633. In order to still further improve operation of such a system, patent DD-A-252 205 or DE-A-38 02 852 discloses the use of two cathodes. An AC voltage is applied to each cathode, one cathode discharging while the other is being charged up under the effect of the voltage applied for vaporizing the target. This technique, called Double Magnetron Sputtering (DMS) or Twin Mag, makes it possible to avoid electric arcs. In order to avoid excessive contamination of the target by oxygen, during sputtering, and to ensure sufficient oxidation of the layer at substrate level, it has also been proposed in patent DD-A-239 810 to regulate the oxygen throughput in the enclosure, as a function of the intensity of a spectral line of the plasma. The intensity of the spectral line emitted by the excited atoms, removed from the target, is proportional to the state of oxidation of the target. This technique is known as Plasma Emitting Monitoring (PEM). Another method for controlling oxygen flow consists in adjusting the voltage applied to the cathode with respect to a set value. This technique is described in patent DE-A-4106513 or EP-A-501016. It has been proposed, for example in US-A-4,572,842, to introduce the reactive gas only close to the surface to be coated, thereby avoiding contamination of the target to be vaporized. US-A-4,572,842 discloses the use of a septum separating the process cavity into two zones; this patent discloses an example of anti-reflective 3 deposition on a glass substrate; the high inert gas pressure, used in conjunction with a septum, makes it possible to obtain the best reduction of contamination of the metal target by oxygen. Thus, this patent makes it possible to increase deposition rate while still ensuring operation. Patent DD-A-21 48 65 discloses a method for on-line treatment using high inert gas pressure to avoid contaminating the metal target. It has also been proposed to proceed sequentially with the deposition of a thin metal layer using sputtering followed by oxidation thereof; this technique of sputtering followed by oxidation makes it possible to deposit a metal film under an inert gas such as argon, while preserving rate of deposition. The practical difficulty in implementing this technique is that of preventing contamination of the metal target by the oxygen used for oxidising the metal layer. An apparatus for implementing such a sequential method is disclosed in US-A-4,420,385: separation of the deposition and oxidation zones which are adjacent, is achieved by means of baffles. Another apparatus is disclosed in EP-A-0,428,358. This apparatus is marketed by Optical Coating Laboratory Inc. (OCLI) under the trade name MetamodeTM. The deposition and oxygen zones are elongate zones parallel to the axis of the drum carrying the surfaces to be coated. A further apparatus is disclosed in VvO-A-92 131 14 in the name of Applied Vision Ltd. This apparatus is marketed by the company under the trade name Plasmacoat ARxlOTM. Oxidation is achieved using a plasma source. The invention concerns the new problem of adhesion of thin films deposited on a transparent organic material substrate, optionally having received an anti-abrasive treatment, with use of a magnetron sputtering technique. It applies to techniques in which oxidation is sequential as well as to those using sputtering in a reactive atmosphere. EP-A-0,428,358 mentions, in example 2, "Glass Eyeglass Lenses" that the sequential deposition and oxidation method makes it possible to obtain anti-reflective films having good abrasion resistance, for surfaces to be treated in inorganic glass. It does not mention results of tests for example 4, corresponding to anti-reflective deposition on an ophthalmic lens in organic material. WO-A-92 131 14 does not mention the problem of adhesion. The invention proposes, in a surprising fashion, to increase the gas pressure during sputtering of the metallic or semi-conducting target in order to improve adhesion of thin films deposited on a transparent organic material substrate, having optionally an anti-abrasive layer. A prejudice exists against increasing inert gas pressure for sputtering. In one of the reference works of this subject, Deposition Technologies for Films and Coatings, by Rointain F. Bunshah, it is explained, on page 80, that if a 4 film is deposited by sputtering deposition, atoms removed from the target have energies much higher than thermal energies and may be implanted into the surface to an appreciable depth. The physically incorporated atoms may then act as nucleating and bonding sites for further atom deposition. This passage encourages the person skilled in the art to use high energy atoms for favouring implantation and thus adhesion. On page 229 of the same work, it is stated that the relatively high energies of the sputtered atoms in magnetron sputtering sources operating at low pressure and in ion beam systems may act to some degree act to promote adhesion by mechanisms similar to those in plasma bombardment. Here again, this general teaching in the relevant art, which would urge skilled worker to chose atoms of high energy. These teachings incite the skilled worker to chose, for magnetron sputtering, low pressures; indeed, it is known that the energy of vaporized atoms decreases when inert gas pressure increases. In the context, see for example, the article by W.D. Westwood, Calculation of Deposition Rates in Diode Sputtering Systems, Journal of Vacuum Science Technology, 15(1), 1978. In the state of the art, it is suggested to carry out sputtering at gas pressures of the order of 25 to 80 mTorr, equivalent to 3.3 to 10.64 Pa. In this context, see the work by Bunshah, page 230, for the case of plane diodes and DC current. For such diodes, as there is no plasma confinement by means of the magnetic field, a high inert gas pressure is employed, of the order of 2 to 10 Pa, in order to preserve an intense plasma. This teaching does not apply to magnetron sputtering, for which current pressures are of the order of 0.1 to 0.5 Pa. In EP-A-0,428,358 in the name of OCLI, it is suggested to operate under an argon pressure of 2.0 micron, equivalent to 2.66.10-1 Pa, for deposition of SiO2 and TiO2 on a glass substrate (example 1, table 1). For a substrate in inorganic glass, and films of SiO2 and Ta2O5, it is suggested to operate under an argon pressure of 2.5 micron equivalent to 3.33.10-1 Pa (example 2, table 2). For a substrate in organic glass and the same films the proposed argon pressure is also 2.5 micron equivalent to 3.33.10-1 Pa (example 2, table 3). The Applied Vision Ltd. apparatus marketed under the trade name Plasmacoat AR10TM suggest working under an argon pressure of 5.10-3 mbar, equivalent to 5.10-1 Pa for depositing Si, with an argon throughput of 12 seem. For Zr deposition, it is proposed to operate at a pressure of 8.10-3 mbar, equivalent to 8.10-1 Pa, with an Ar throughput of 17 seem. US-P-5 ,170,291 to Leybold discloses a sputtering performed with a magnetron in a reactive gas atmosphere composed of a mixture of Ar and O2 . The target materials were Ti, Al, and Si. The pressure during the sputtering was as follows: sputtering from the Ti-target: 5 10-3 mbar 5 sputtering from the Al-target: 8 10-3 mbar sputtering from the Si-target: 1,2 10-2 mbar Thus, the optical layer that is deposited at high pressure is in this case the low refractive index layer. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention proposes, contrary to this practice and teaching, to operate at much higher pressures. It turned out, completely surprisingly, that one can thus improve adhesion of thin films on an organic substrate having optionally an anti- abrasive layer. Also, according to one embodiment, the distance between the substrate and the magnetron is at least 90 mm, preferably between 90 mm and 200 mm. especially between 90 mm and 150 mm. This greater distance between magnetron and substrate allows a lower substrate temperature, which can be highly advantageous, for example when coating temperature-sensitive substrates. Moreover, the layer uniformity, especially on curved substrates, can be further enhanced. If the method of the invention is applied for an inorganic substrate, the excellent results obtained by thermal evaporation are maintained. More precisely, the invention provides an organic substrate having an optically-active stack on at least one side thereof, characterized in that said optically- active stack comprises at least one optical layer having a high refractive index and at least one optical layer having a low refractive index, at least one of said layers being deposited by magnetron sputtering at high pressure, for example between 0.8 to 5.0 Pa, especially above 1.0 Pa. Notably, the invention is directed towards an organic substrate having an optically-active stack on at least one side thereof, characterized in that said optically- active stack comprises at least one optical layer having a high refractive index and at least one optical layer having a low refractive index, said at least one high refractive index layer being deposited by magnetron sputtering at high pressure. Very surprisingly, the adhesion is greatly improved when (only) the high refractive index layer(s) is(are) deposited at high pressure. Notably, the invention is directed towards an organic substrate having an optically-active stack on at least one side thereof, characterized in that said optically- active stack comprises at least one optical layer having a high refractive index and at least one optical layer having a low refractive index, said at least one high refractive index layer and said at least one low refractive index layer being deposited by magnetron sputtering at high pressure. Notably, the invention is directed towards an organic substrate having an optically-active stack on at least one side thereof, characterized in that said optically- active stack comprises at least one optical layer having a high refractive index and at least one optical layer having a low refractive index, at least one of said layers being deposited by magnetron sputtering at high pressure between 0.8 to 5.0 Pa, especially above 1.0 Pa, preferably between 1.5 to 3.5 Pa, said sputtering being carried out with the substrate being located at least at 90 mm from the magnetron, preferably between 90 mm and 200 mm, especially between 90 mm and 150 mm, Specific embodiments correspond to claims 3, 4 and 6 to 18. Specific high sputtering pressure is 1.5 to 3.5 Pa. The invention applies to substrates having an anti-reflective effect as well as a mirror effect. One or the other effect is obtianed by varying the thicknesses of the layers. The high refractive index is conventionally comprised between 2.0 and 2.6, for example between 2J and 2.3, whereas the low refractive index is conventionally comprised between 1.35 and 1.52, for example between 1.35 and 1.46; optionally, the ratio between these two refractive indexes is comprised between 1.5 and 2, for example between 1.5 and 1.7. The invention also provides a method for producing an organic substrate having an optically-active stack on at least one side thereof, characterized in that said optically-active stack comprises at least one optical layer having a high refractive index and at least one optical layer having a low refractive index, said method comprising the step of depositing at least one of said optical layers by magnetron sputtering at a pressure from 0.8 Pa to 5.0 Pa, for example above 1.0 Pa, preferably 1.5 to 3.5 Pa. The distance between magnetron and the substrate is at least 90 mm, preferably comprised between 90 and 200 mm, especially between 90 mm and 150 mm, this distance being defined as the distance measured between the target and the substrate surface to be coated. Specific embodiments correspond to claims 20 to 35. In the reactive sputtering in an argon-oxygen mixture embodiment at a pulse rate of from 10 to 100 kHz, the PMS technique as described above may be used. In the pulsed voltage alternating between two neighboring magnetrons embodiment, the DMS technique as desribed above may be used. When adjusting the oxygen content of said optical layers by measuring the optical characteristics of the plasma emission, and controlling the oxygen supply as a function of a corresponding signal, the PEM technique as described above may be used. When adjusting the oxygen content of said optical layers by measuring the voltage of the reactive magnetron discharge, and controlling the oxygen supply as a function of a corresponding signal, the method employing comparison with a set value may be used. The method according to the invention is suitable for the preparation of a substrate according to the invention. The invention also relates to the use of this method for improving adhesion on thin films deposited on an organic material substrate. The invention relates finally to the substrate obtained by the method according to the invention, especially to an ophtalmic lense. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more clear from the description which follows of some embodiments of the invention provided solely by way of example. Example 1 (Sequential Sputtering and Oxidation) The examples given below were carried out using a Plasmacoat AR10 machine by Applied Vision Ltd., using sequential sputtering and oxidation, of the type described in WO-A-92 13114. Reference should be made to this document for more details regarding the structure of the machine. In this machine, for thin SiO2 and Zr02 films, the following argon pressures are envisaged for sputtering of metal films: - argon pressure for depositing Si: 4.5J0-3 mbar, equivalent to 0.45 Pa, - argon pressure for deposition Zr: 6.5J0-3 mbar, equivalent to 0.65 Pa. These values correspond to an argon throughput of : - 12 sc cm for Si deposition - 17 sc cm for Zr deposition. According to the invention, thin films have been deposited, using the following argon pressures: - argon pressure for depositing Si: 0.9J0-2 mbar, equivalent to 0.9 Pa, - argon pressure for depositing Zr: 1 J J 0-2 mbar, equivalent to 1 J Pa. These values correspond to argon throughputs of: - 20 sc cm for Si deposition - 25 sc cm for Zr deposition. The oxygen pressure for oxidation of the thin film deposited was not modified. This corresponds to an increase in gas pressure of 140% and 100% in the respective cases of Si and Zr. More generally, an increase of for example 50% to 200% makes it possible to achieve satisfactory results. The distance between the magnetron and the substrate was 120 mm. By way of a test, anti-reflective coating was carried out on an organic substrate marketed by the applicant under the Orma trademark, on which a varnish was applied. The varnish was of the type disclosed in FR-A-2,702,486 in the name of the applicant. Such a varnish comprises a matrix obtained by polymerization of an optionally hydrolized silane; generally, an epoxysilane is used such as glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, optionally in combination with one or several alkyltrialkoxysilane(s) or tetralkoxysilane. Fillers are added to this matrix, these being for example metal oxides or colloidal silica as well as a catalyst. A varnish based on acrylates or methacrylates can also be used. Pre-cleaning of the ophthalmic lens was carried out using an argon plasma. Following this, the following films were successively deposited under the operating conditions set out for the AR10 machine (below: standard ophthalmic lenses) and then under the operating conditions described above (below: ophthalmic lenses according to the invention): - first film : ZrO2 16 nm - second film : SiO2 20 nm - third film : ZrO2 : 108 nm - fourth film : SiO2 : 84 nm Tests carried out in the conditions under which they will be worn, practised on standard ophthalmic lenses and on ophthalmic lenses according to the invention showed that wear was more pronounced in the case of standard ophthalmic lenses. Additionally, qualitative tests were carried out on standard ophthalmic lenses and on ophthalmic lenses according to the invention, using the procedure known as the "nlO blow test". This procedure makes it possible to evaluate adhesion of a film deposited on a substrate, such as an ophthalmic lens. The substrate to be tested was cleaned with alcohol and placed in a holder. A SELVYTTM doth supplied by Bergeon & Cie, CH 2400 Le Locle, was placed on the glass. A graduated eraser was brought into contact with the rag. The graduated eraser was subject to a constant force. The eraser and the substrate to be tested were then moved one with respect to the other, using an alternating movement. A cycle means 10 successive to-and-fro movements. The operator checked the state of the substrate every 3 cycles, by visually inspecting the substrate. He noted the cycle number through which a defect appeared for the first time. The table that follows gives the results of the "nlO blow test" on the convex face of the standard ophthalmic lens and of the ophthalmic lens according to the invention. In all, nine runs were used, each comprising 10 standard ophthalmic lenses and 10 ophthalmic lenses according to the invention. For each run, two standard ophthalmic lenses and those according to the invention were tested after 24 hours; two standard ophthalmic lenses and ophthalmic lenses were tested after one month. For the test, a PVC eraser plastified with dioctyl phtalate in the following proportions was employed: PVC : 47.3% by weight DOP : 47.3%o by weight alumina : 2.8% by weight Syloid 378 : 1.9% by weight Plastolein : 0.5% by weight Uvitex OBP : 0.2%) by weight. The eraser had dimensions of 30 x 25 x 16 mm, a Shore A hardness of 65, and was obtained by extrusion, such a eraser can be obtained from Maped Mallat, BP 14, 74371 Pringy, France. The face of the 16 x 25 eraser was in contact with the lens. Run Standard Invention Standard Invention 24 h 24 h 1 month 1 month 1 -> 12 -- J 12 2 12 12 3 6 6 4 20 J 15 5 J 9 J 12 6 9 J nd 7 6 J 20 8 9 J 30 9 J 12 3 6 Mean 3.00 10.56 3.00 14.13 Standard 0.00 4.25 0.00 7.86 deviation (nd: not determined) The result in the table show that the defect appears in the standard glass starting from cycle three. However, on the glass according to the invention, the defects always appear for a number of cycles greater or equal to 6. This table confirms the surprising results of the invention. Similar results are obtained with a Siθ2-Tiθ2 stack. Results of the same order could have been obtained on using abrasion or adhesion tests according to the MIL-C-675 standard. The invention provides better adhesion, in the case of magnetron sputtering and successive oxidation. The invention also makes it possible to obtain greater adhesion when using magnetron sputtering in a reactive atmosphere. In this type of treatment, according to the invention, the sputtering is done under pressures of 0.8 to 5 Pa, preferably 1.5 to 3.5 Pa. Example 2 (Reactive Magnetron Sputtering) The coatings were deposited in an inline sputtering machine equipped with double magnetrons which work at frequencies of 100 KHz as described in patents DD 252 205 and DE 3 802 852. For example, we obtained excellent results for a Tiθ2-Siθ2-4-layers stack: Tiθ2: l l ,4 nm SiO 2 :30,2 nm T1O2: 101,5 nm SiO 2 :80,3 nm The pressure during Siθ2 deposition was 2 Pa and 3,2 Pa for Tiθ2- The magnetron-to-substrat distance was 90 mm. With these parameters, the following n 10 blow test results have been achieved: Three lenses were coated per run. Run Standard 24h Invention 24h Standard Invention 1 month 1 month 1 50/15/12 3 25/9/25 2 50/20/15 3 15/25/25 n 3 25/9/25 r ->> 12/25/12 4 r> 25/20/20 r> 25/25/15 Mean 23.83 3 19.83 Standard 0.00 13.26 0.00 6.56 Deviation Similar results have been obtained at a Siθ2 pressure of 2 Pa and a lower Tiθ2 pressure of 2 Pa, but with higher magnetron-to-substrat distance of 150 mm. Higher magnetron-to-substrat distance leads to better thickness uniformity on curved substrat. In either case, it is advantageous to clean the substrate prior to sputtering. For cleaning of the substrate, a cold plasma, generated by direct current, microwave or radiofrequency can be used. A typical gas pressure of 10-2 to 100 Pa ensures correct 1 1 cleaning of the substrate. The plasma used in cleaning can be an argon, oxygen plasma or yet again a plasma obtained from a mixture of these two gasses. A mirror-like stack is obtained in a similar way, with the same materials as above, with the same indexes, by varying the thickness of each layer. Example 3 (Reactive Magnetron Sputtering) In the same machine used for example 2, runs with. Nb2U5 instead of Tiθ2 as high index material were carried out. For example, we obtained excellent results for a Nb2θ5-Siθ2-4-layers stack: Nb2O 5 : l l .β nm SiO 2 :31.5 nm Nb 2 O 5 : 1 18 nm SiO 2 :80,3 nm The pressure during Siθ2 deposition was 2.3 Pa. The magnetron-to-substrate distance was 90 mm. The pressure during Nb2U5 deposition was 3.0 Pa and 1.0 Pa respectively. The magnetron-to-substrate distance was 170 mm. With these parameters, the following n 10 blow test results have been achieved (with 3 lenses per run): Run 1 .0 Pa tested 3.0 Pa tested 1.0 Pa tested 3.0 Pa tested after 24h after 24h after 1 month after 1 month 1 12/3/3 >25/>25/>25 6/12/6 >25/>25/>25 2 25/9/25 >25/>25/>25 25/25/12 >25/>25/>25 Mean 12.8 >25 14.8 >25 Standard 10 0 10 0 Deviation While results for the stacks deposited at deposition pressures of 1.0 Pa are good, a much higher pressure improved adhesion drastically Obviously, other embodiments are possible. Equivalent results can be obtained on other machines, like the OCLI machine, for other coatings, or for other types of substrate, as well as for any combination of the conditions described above, for example the pressure and the distance between magnetron and substrate.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1.- An organic substrate having an optically-active stack on at least one side thereof, characterized in that said optically-active stack comprises at least one optical layer having a high refractive index and at least one optical layer having a low refractive index, said at least one high refractive index layer being deposited by magnetron sputtering at high pressure. 2.- An organic substrate having an optically-active stack on at least one side thereof, characterized in that said optically-active stack comprises at least one optical layer having a high refractive index and at least one optical layer having a low refractive index, said at least one high refractive index layer and said at least one low refractive index layer being deposited by magnetron sputtering at high pressure. 3.- The substrate according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said magnetron sputtering is carried out at a pressure ranging from 0.8 Pa to 5.0 Pa, preferably from 1.5 to 3.5 Pa.. 4.- The substrate according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said sputtering is carried out with the substrate being located at least at 90 mm from the magnetron, preferably between 90 mm and 200 mm. 5.- An organic substrate having an optically-active stack on at least one side thereof, characterized in that said optically-active stack comprises at least one optical layer having a high refractive index and at least one optical layer having a low refractive index, at least one of said layers being deposited by magnetron sputtering at high pressure between 0.8 to 5.0 Pa, preferably from 1.5 to 3.5 Pa, said sputtering being carried out with the substrate being located at least at 90 mm from the magnetron, preferably between 90 mm and 200 mm. 6.- The substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said substrate is provided with a scratch resistant hard coating prior to deposition of said optical layers. 7 ' .- The substrate according to claim 6, characterized in that said scratch resistant hard coating comprises a polysiloxane matrix filled with inorganic particles. 13 8.- The substrate according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said scratch resistant hard coating is obtained by UV, thermal or electrom beam polymerization. 9.- The substrate according to any one to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said substrate is firstly exposed to a low pressure plasma of argon, oxygen, nitrogen or a mixture thereof, before depositing said optical layers. 10.- The substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 9. characterized in that said optical layers are based on Siθ2 and Tiθ2- 11.- The substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 9. characterized in that said optical layers are based on SiO2 and ZrO2. 12.- The substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 9. characterized in that said optical layers are based on SiO2 and Nb2O5. 13.- The substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 12. characterized in that the number of optical layers is between 2 and 15, preferably all obtained by magnetron sputtering. 14.- The substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 13. which has an anti- reflective optically-active stack. 15.- The substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 13. which has a mirror- like optically-active stack. 16.- The substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein said substrate is an ophthalmic lens. 17.- The substrate according to claim 16, characterized in that said ophthalmic lens is obtained by polymerization of acrylic, allylic, methacrylic or vinylic monomers. 18.- The substrate according to claim 16, characterized in that said ophthalmic lens is obtained by injection of polycarbonate. 19.- A method for producing an organic substrate having an optically-active stack on at least one side thereof, characterized in that said optically-active stack 14 comprises at least one optical layer having a high refractive index and at least one optical layer having a low refractive index, said method comprising the step of depositing at least one of said optical layers by magnetron sputtering at a pressure from 0.8 Pa to 5.0 Pa, preferably from 1.5 to 3.5 Pa. 20.- The method according to claim 19, characterized in that the substrate is located at least at 90 mm of the magnetron, preferably between 90 mm and 200 mm. 21.- The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that said magnetron sputtering is non-reactive magnetron sputtering in argon, followed by an oxidation step in a plasma containing oxygen, said sputtering and oxidation steps being optionally repeated. 22.- The method according to claim 19 or 20. characterized in that said magnetron sputtering is partial reactive magnetron sputtering in argon-oxygen mixture, followed by an oxidation step in a plasma containing oxygen, said sputtering and oxidation steps being optionally repeated. 23.- The method according to claim 19 or 20. characterized in that said magnetron sputtering is reactive sputtering in an argon-oxygen mixture at high pressure, using a voltage pulsed at a pulse rate of from 10 to 100 kHz. 24.- The method according to claim 23, characterised in that said magnetron sputtering employs a pulsed voltage alternating between two neighboring magnetrons of the same type having the same target material, at a pulse rate of from 10 to 100 kHz. 25.- The method according to any one of claims 19 to 24, characterized in that it comprises the step of covering the substrate with a scratch resistant hard coating before depositing said optical layers. 26.- The method according to any one of claims 19 to 25. characterized in that it comprises the step of exposure to a low pressure plasma of argon, oxygen, nitrogen or a mixture thereof, before deposition of said optical layers. 27.- The method according to any one of claims 19 to 26. characterized in that the oxygen content of said optical layers is adjusted by measuring the optical characteristics of the plasma emission, and controlling the oxygen supply as a function of a corresponding signal. 28.- The method according to any one of claims 19 to 26, characterized in that 5 the oxygen content of said optical layers is adjusted by measuring the voltage of the reactive magnetron discharge, and controlling the oxygen supply as a function of a corresponding signal. 29.- The method according to any one of claims 19 to 28, characterized in that 0 it comprises the step of coating a substrate with an optically-inactive interface layer, preferably 2 to 10 nm thick, before deposition of said optical layer, said optically- inactive interface layer being deposited using sputtering technique in a non-reactive or partially reactive mode. 5 30.- The method according to claim 29, characterized in that said interface layer is deposited by magnetron sputtering of silicon. 31.- The method according to claim 29, characterized in that said interface layer is deposited by magnetron sputtering of titanium. 0 32.- The method according to claim 29, characterized in that said interface layer is deposited by magnetron sputtering of zirconium. 33.- The method according to any one of claims 19 to 32, characterized in that 5 said optically-active stack is simultaneously deposited on both sides of said substrate. 34.- The method according to any one of claims 19 to 33, characterized in that said optical layers are based on ZrO2 and deposited at a pressure of at least 1.5 Pa. 0 35.- The method according to any one of claims 19 to 34, for the preparation of a substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 18. 36.- The use of a method according to any one of claims 19 to 35, for improving adhesion on thin films deposited on an organic material substrate. 3 J5 37.- A substrate, especially an ophtalmic lens, obtained by the method according to any one of claim 19 to 35.

Inventors: BOSMANS RICHARD, COMBLE PASCAL, GOEDICKE KLAUS, KELLER GERHARD, KIRCHHOFF VOLKER, LIEBIG JOEM-STEFFEN, BOSMANS, RICHARD, COMBLE, PASCAL, GOEDICKE, KLAUS, KELLER, GERHARD, KIRCHHOFF, VOLKER, LIEBIG, JOEM-STEFFEN
Applicants: BOSMANS RICHARD, COMBLE PASCAL, ESSILOR INT, FRAUNHOFER GES FORSCHUNG, GOEDICKE KLAUS, KELLER GERHARD, KIRCHHOFF VOLKER, LIEBIG JOEM STEFFEN, BOSMANS, RICHARD, COMBLE, PASCAL, ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL, FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V., GOEDICKE, KLAUS, KELLER, GERHARD, KIRCHHOFF, VOLKER, LIEBIG, JOEM-STEFFEN
Application year: 1999
Main classification: C23C14
IPC codes: C23C14, G02B1