Process for preparing a sol-gel solution and use of this solution to form a coating to protect a substrate having a metal surface

摘要

The invention relates to a process for preparing a stable sol-gel solution. The solution may be used to form coating materials for metallic substrates, such as silver-based substrates for use in mirrors. The process includes the steps of preparing a sol-gel solution by bringing one or more molecular metal and/or metalloid precursors into contact with a medium comprising an organic solvent, adding at least one mercaptoorganosilane compound to the solution, hydrolyzing the solution obtained, and then adding one or more complexing agents to the solution.