Heat treatable, durable, ir-reflecting sputter-coated glass and method of making same

A heat treatable, durable and chemically resistant layer system for glasses used for automotive and architectural purposes includes a metallic layer of nickel or alloy thereof overcoated with silicon nitride (Si3N4). The layer system may include an undercoat of silicon nitride (Si3N4) and the metallic layer may also include silicon nitride. The metallic layer may be partially oxidized or surrounded by layers of stoichiometric oxides of the metal. The metallic layer, however, should not contain a nitride. <IMAGE> <IMAGE>