초록 ▼

A substrate is coated with a layer(s) or coating(s) that includes, for example, amorphous carbon in a form of diamond-like carbon (DLC). In certain embodiments, the DLC inclusive layer may be doped with at least one polar inducing dopant (e.g., Boron, Nitrogen, and/or any other suitable polar induci

A substrate is coated with a layer(s) or coating(s) that includes, for example, amorphous carbon in a form of diamond-like carbon (DLC). In certain embodiments, the DLC inclusive layer may be doped with at least one polar inducing dopant (e.g., Boron, Nitrogen, and/or any other suitable polar inducing dopant) in order to make the layer more polar and thus more hydrophilic so as to have a lower contact angle θ. In other embodiments, where such doping is optional, the DLC may be exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in a manner sufficient to cause the contact angle θ of the DLC layer to drop into a hydrophilic range (e.g., less than or equal to about 20 degrees).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of making a coated article, the method comprising:ion beam depositing a diamond-like carbon (DLC) inclusive layer on a substrate; andexposing the DLC inclusive layer to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in a manner sufficient to cause a contact angle θ of the DLC inclusive layer to decrea

1. A method of making a coated article, the method comprising:ion beam depositing a diamond-like carbon (DLC) inclusive layer on a substrate; andexposing the DLC inclusive layer to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in a manner sufficient to cause a contact angle θ of the DLC inclusive layer to decrease by at least about 20%. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said exposing of the DLC inclusive layer to UV radiation causes the contact angle θ of the DLC inclusive layer to decrease by at least about 30%, and wherein the layer has an average hardness of at least 10 GPa. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said exposing of the DLC inclusive layer to UV radiation causes the contact angle θ of the DLC inclusive layer to decrease by at least about 50%. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said exposing of the DLC inclusive layer to UV radiation causes the contact angle θ of the DLC inclusive layer to decrease by at least about 70%. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying water to the DLC inclusive layer in a manner which causes contact angle decreasing to proceed faster than if no water was applied to the DLC inclusive layer. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the exposing to UV radiation is performed by a UV source prior to significant exposure of the DLC inclusive layer to ambient atmosphere including sun and rain. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein after at least part of the UV exposure the contact angle θ of the DLC inclusive layer is less than or equal to 20 degrees. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the DLC inclusive layer has an average hardness of at least 10 GPa. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the DLC inclusive layer has an average hardness of at least 20 GPa. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein after UV exposure the contact angle θ of the DLC inclusive layer is less than or equal to 15 degrees. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein after UV exposure the contact angle θ of the DLC inclusive layer is less than or equal to 10 degrees. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein said exposing of the DLC inclusive layer to UV radiation causes a top portion of the DLC inclusive layer to become oxidized thereby forming a top portion of the DLC inclusive layer comprising carbon oxide.