Vacuum IG unit with alkali silicate edge seal and/or spacers

摘要

A vacuum insulating glass (IG) unit. In certain embodiments, the peripheral or edge seal may include an alkali silicate, thereby enabling low cure temperatures to be used in forming the seal. This allows tempered glass substrates to retain a significant portion of their original temper strength, even after the seal is formed. In certain alternative embodiments, at least one spacer/pillar of the vacuum IG unit may be made of or include an alkali silicate.