Friction properties of coated glasses

Many coatings deposited on glass have lubricant properties to preserve functionalities and prevent glass surface damage that may be generated by sliding contacts during the manufacture process or transport. These lubricant properties are achieved by different ways: addition of surfactants (softeners) to organic water based formulations applied on glass filaments, polymer spray on glass bottles, sputtering of thin oxides films on the top of silver based multilayers. Some other coatings such as titanium dioxide films under UV-light develop superlubricity in use. The fundamental mechanisms of lubrication are the subject of studies at the joint CNRS/Saint-Gobain laboratory.