Solar control glazing

1. A solar control panel comprising a glazing substrate and a solar control coating in which the solar control panel exhibits a luminous transmittance of less than 70%, a direct energy transmittance of less than 40% and a dominant wavelength in reflection of less than 510 nm and in which the solar control coating comprises, in sequence from the glazing substrate at least:

a first antireflective layer adjacent;

a first infra-red reflecting layer;

a first barrier layer;

a second antireflective layer;

a second infra-red reflecting layer;

a second barrier layer; and

a third antireflective layer;

characterized in that the solar control coating comprises at least one additional light absorbing layer spaced from each of the barrier layers.

2. A solar control panel in accordance with claim 1 in which the additional light absorbing layer comprises titanium in metallic form.

3. A solar control panel in accordance with claim 1 in which the additional light absorbing layer has a geometrical thickness of at least 5 Å.

4. A solar control panel in accordance with claim 1 in which the additional light absorbing layer is positioned in the solar control coating such that it directly underlies one of the infra-red reflecting layers.

5. A solar control panel in accordance with claim 4 in which the additional light absorbing layer is positioned in the solar control coating such that it underlies the second infra-red reflecting layer.

6. A solar control panel in accordance with claim 1 in which the additional light absorbing layer is responsible for a reduction in the luminous transmittance of the panel of at least 4% and a reduction in the direct energy transmittance of the panel of at least 3%.

7. A solar control panel in accordance with claim 1 in which the solar control coating has no more than two spaced infra-red reflecting layers.

8. A solar control panel in accordance with claim 1 in which at least one of the antireflective layers comprises at least one layer of a metal oxide.

9. A laminated glazing unit comprising a solar control panel in accordance with claim 1 in combination with at least one additional glazing panel.

10. A multiple glazing unit comprising a solar control panel in accordance with claim 1 in combination with at least one additional glazing panel.

11. A method of manufacturing a solar control panel that exhibits a luminous transmittance of less than 70%, a direct energy transmittance of less than 40% and a dominant wavelength in reflection of less than 510 nm, comprising the steps of:

providing a glazing substrate;

providing a solar control coating on said glazing substrate, in which the solar control coating comprises, in sequence from the glazing substrate at least;

a first antireflective layer adjacent;

a first infra-red reflecting layer;

a first barrier layer;

a second antireflective layer;

a second infra-red reflecting layer;

a second barrier layer; and

a third antireflective layer;

and in which the solar control coating comprises at least one additional light absorbing layer spaced from each of the barrier layers.

12. A solar control panel in accordance with claim 1 in which the at least one additional light absorbing layer has a thickness in the range of about 5 Å to about 30 Å.

13. A solar control panel in accordance with claim 1 in which the first and third antireflective layers have a thickness in the range of about 200 Å to about 400 Å, the second antireflective layer has a thickness in the range of about 400 Å to about 800 Å, and the first and second infra-red layers have a thickness in the range of about 50 Å to about 200 Å.

14. A solar control panel in accordance with claim 13 in which the at least one additional light absorbing layer has a thickness in the range of about 5 Å to about 30 Å.

15. A method in accordance with claim 11 in which the at least one additional light absorbing layer has a thickness in the range of about 5 Å to about 30 Å.

16. A method in accordance with claim 11 in which the first and third antireflective layers have a thickness in the range of about 200 Å to about 400 Å, the second antireflective layer has a thickness in the range of about 400 Å to about 800 Å, and the first and second infra-red layers have a thickness in the range of about 50 Å to about 200 Å.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 in which the at least one additional light absorbing layer has a thickness in the range of about 5 Å to about 30 Å.

18. A solar control panel in accordance with claim 1 , in which the solar control panel exhibits a luminous transmittance of less than 67% and a direct energy transmittance of less than 39%.

19. A solar control panel in accordance with claim 1 , in which the solar control panel exhibits a luminous transmittance of less than 64% and a direct energy transmittance of less than 37%.

20. A solar control panel in accordance with claim 1 , in which the solar control panel exhibits a luminous transmittance of less than 58% and a direct energy transmittance of less than 34%.

21. A solar control panel in accordance with claim 4 , in which the additional light absorbing layer is positioned in the solar control coating such that it underlies the first infra-red reflecting layer.

22. A solar control panel in accordance with claim 10 , in which the solar control panel exhibits a luminous transmittance of less than 62% and a direct energy transmittance of less than 32%.

23. A solar control panel in accordance with claim 10 , in which the solar control panel exhibits a luminous transmittance of less than 58% and a direct energy transmittance of less than 30%.

24. A solar control panel in accordance with claim 10 , in which the solar control panel exhibits a luminous transmittance of less than 53% and a direct energy transmittance of less than 28%.