In this work innovative antiscratch sol–gel coating films deposited on a soda–lime glass substrate are examined. Sol–gel coatings of different composition (TiO 2 , TiO 2 /B 2 O 3 , ZrO 2 and ZrO 2 /B 2 O 3 ) were prepared starting from Titanium, Zirconium and Boron alkoxides and from boron oxide. Coatings were obtained at room temperature and at atmospheric pressure by dip-coating using common soda lime silicate glass slides as substrates. Densification was carried out at 550 °C for 2 h in air. The morphology of the coatings has been studied by Atomic Force Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and with a profilometer. Roughness grows with thickness and with boron addition. The mechanical properties of the films were evaluated by micro scratch at fixed and variable load. The scratch hardness numbers of ZrO 2 and ZrO 2 /B 2 O 3 coatings reach 6 GPa (glass value = 1.9 GPa), whereas the best value for the critical load is 16.7 N (glass value = 9 N).
