Method of making a stabilized colloidal silica, compositions comprising the same, and coated articles including the same

1 . A method of making a stabilized colloidal silica solution, the method comprising:

forming a solution by mixing at least colloidal silica, a solvent, and a stabilizing agent, wherein the stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of siloxane-based stabilizers, polysorbate-based stabilizers, non-ionic surfactant based stabilizers, and acrylic polymer-based flow-enhancing stabilizers; and

agitating the solution.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent comprises less than 10 wt % of the solution.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent comprises less than 2 wt % of the solution.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a particle size of silica in the solution comprising colloidal silica is no more than 100 nm, more preferably no more than 75 nm, and even more preferably no more than 50 nm.

5 . A method of making a stabilized colloidal silica solution, comprising:

forming a solution by serially adding the following ingredients: a first solvent; acetone; a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of siloxane-based stabilizers, polysorbate-based stabilizers, non-ionic surfactant based stabilizers, and acrylic polymer-based flow-enhancing stabilizers; an intermediate, wherein the intermediate was formed by serially mixing a first silane, a phenone, a triethlyamine, and a second solvent; a second silane; a color stock, wherein the color stock was formed by mixing a third solvent, acetone, a colorant, and a colloidal silica; acetic acid; and water.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the stabilizing agent comprises less than 10 wt % of the solution.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the stabilizing agent comprises less than 5 wt % of the solution.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the stabilizing agent comprises less than 1 wt % of the solution.

9 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first silane comprises 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane.

10 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the second silane comprises phenyl triethoxysilane, tetraethoxysilane, or both phenyl triethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane.

11 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first solvent, second solvent, and/or third solvent comprise an alcohol.

12 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the phenone comprises 2,2,4,4 tetrahydroxybenzophenone.

13 . The method of claim 5 , wherein a particle size distribution of silica in the solution comprising colloidal silica has a lower limit and an upper limit between 2 and 40 nm, preferably between 4 and 30 nm.

14 . A composition comprising a colloidal silica, a solvent, and a stabilizing agent, wherein the stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of siloxane-based stabilizers, polysorbate-based stabilizers, non-ionic surfactant based stabilizers, and acrylic polymer-based flow-enhancing stabilizers.

15 . The composition of claim 14 , wherein the stabilizing agent comprises less than 10 wt % of the solution.

16 . The composition of claim 14 , wherein the stabilizing agent comprises less than 2 wt % of the solution.

17 . The composition of claim 14 , wherein a particle size of silica in the composition is no more than 100 nm, more preferably no more than 75 nm, and even more preferably no more than 50 nm.

18 . A coated article comprising:

a glass substrate;

a UV-blocking film provided on the glass substrate;

wherein the film comprises a stabilizing agent for stabilizing colloidal silica, wherein the stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of siloxane-based stabilizers, polysorbate-based stabilizers, non-ionic surfactant based stabilizers, and acrylic polymer-based flow-enhancing stabilizers.

19 . The coated article of claim 18 , wherein the coated article is used in a window unit.