Surface-Energy Determinations Of Tin Oxide-Coated (Freon) Soda-Lime-Silica Glass

The dispersive and polar surface-energy components, as well as the total surface energy, of tin oxide coatings on soda-lime-silica glass were determined by the Owens-Wendt method. The total surface energy of tin oxide is greater than soda-lime-silica glass and, more importantly, exhibits significantly more-dispersive and less-polar character. These results indicate that tin oxide is significantly more covalent than soda-lime-silica glass. It is postulated that the more-covalent tin oxide coatings increase the bond strength of organic coatings to soda-lime-silica glass. These effects improve the friction-damage resistance of glass surfaces coated with metal oxides and organics, compared with glass surfaces coated with organics only.