This article reports on the effects of substrate quality and long term environmental exposure on the performance of PVD-coated soda-lime-silica glasses for architectural glazing. Coated and uncoated glasses were stored in conditions simulating commercial packing at relative humidities of 5, 45 and 95% for a period of up to 64 weeks, and analysed for surface alterations. The effect of specific stages of substrate corrosion on coating performance was evaluated by applying coatings on pre-corroded samples. Subsequent thermal treatment of as-coated, pre-corroded samples was considered in order to account for the effect of thermal post-processing. The corrosion state of the incoming substrate material is shown to significantly affect the later coating procedure and performance. Critical storage requisites are derived to ensure effective coating deposition.
