Multi-coated metallic products and methods of making the same

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a coated jewelry article or a coated component of a jewelry article, comprising a jewelry article or a component of a jewelry article, a first metallic coating, and a second metallic coating.

1 . An article comprising:
 a substrate;   a first coating deposited over the substrate, wherein the first coating comprises at least one of a metal, a metal compound, a material comprising a metallic property, a metallic compound, a metal alloy, or a compound comprising a metallic property; and   an external metallic coating such that the external metallic coating is outermost, wherein the external metallic coating comprises at least one member from at least one of a first group or a second group,   wherein the first group comprises at least one of chromium-titanium nitride (CrTiN), aluminum-titanium nitride (AlTiN), aluminum-titanium-chromium nitride (AlTiCrN), tungsten nitride (WN), tungsten carbide, tungsten, zirconium, cobalt chrome, cobalt chromium, nitinol, aluminum carbide, vanadium, copper, brass, bronze, tungsten copper, zinc, tin, German silver, niobium, molybdenum, hafnium, chromium, a steel alloy, silver nitride, aluminum nitride, vanadium nitride, tantalum nitride, tantalum carbide, or cobalt chrome molybdenum, or any combination thereof, but excludes titanium carbide, titanium nitride, titanium boride, hafnium carbide, hafnium nitride, hafnium boride, zirconium carbide, zirconium nitride, zirconium boride, and stainless steel,   wherein the second group comprises at least one of cobalt, tantalum, iron, or nickel, wherein the second group excludes titanium carbide, titanium nitride, titanium boride, hafnium carbide, hafnium nitride, hafnium boride, zirconium carbide, zirconium nitride, zirconium boride, gold and platinum.   
     
     
         2 . A method for making an article comprising a substrate, a first coating comprising at least one of a metal, a metal compound, a material comprising a metallic property, a metallic compound, a metal alloy, or a compound comprising a metallic property, and an external metallic coating, the method comprising:
 forming the substrate into a desired shape;   depositing the first coating onto the substrate; and   depositing the external metallic coating onto the first coating such that the external metallic coating is outermost, wherein the external metallic coating comprises at least one member from at least one of a first group or a second group,   wherein the first group comprises at least one of chromium-titanium nitride (CrTiN), aluminum-titanium nitride (AlTiN), aluminum-titanium-chromium nitride (AlTiCrN), tungsten nitride (WN), tungsten carbide, tungsten, zirconium, cobalt, cobalt chrome, cobalt chromium, nitinol, aluminum carbide, vanadium, copper, brass, bronze, tungsten copper, zinc, tin, German silver, niobium, molybdenum, hafnium, rhenium, tantalum, chromium, a steel alloy, silver nitride, aluminum nitride, vanadium nitride, tantalum nitride, chromium carbide, tantalum carbide, cobalt chrome molybdenum, or any combination thereof, but excludes titanium carbide, titanium nitride, titanium boride, hafnium carbide, hafnium nitride, hafnium boride, zirconium carbide, zirconium nitride, zirconium boride, and stainless steel,   wherein the second group comprises at least one of cobalt, tantalum, iron, or nickel, wherein the second group excludes titanium carbide, titanium nitride, titanium boride, hafnium carbide, hafnium nitride, hafnium boride, zirconium carbide, zirconium nitride, zirconium boride, gold and platinum.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first coating is deposited onto the substrate by physical vapor deposition. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the external metallic coating is deposited onto the first coating using electroplating, PVD or CVD. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first coating is titanium nitride (TiN), titanium(2) nitride (Ti 2 N), titanium carbo-nitride (TiCN), titanium-aluminum nitride (TiAlN), titanium-aluminum carbo-nitride (TiAlCN), chromium nitride (CrN), zirconium nitride (ZrN), chromium-titanium nitride (CrTiN), aluminum-titanium nitride (AlTiN), aluminum-titanium-chromium nitride (AlTiCrN), tungsten nitride (WN), titanium diboride (TiB 2 ), gold nitride, silver nitride, aluminum nitride, vanadium nitride or tantalum nitride. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first coating is titanium nitride. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the external metallic coating further comprises platinum, rhodium, palladium, ruthenium, gold, a gold alloy, silver, a silver alloy, zirconium, tungsten nitride, tungsten carbide, chrome, cobalt, tungsten, titanium, titanium carbide, tantalum, iridium, iron, stainless steel, 316 stainless steel, cobalt chrome, cobalt chromium, nickel, nitinol, aluminum, aluminum carbide, vanadium, copper, tungsten copper, zinc, tin, German silver, niobium, molybdenum, rhenium, hafnium, alloys of each of the foregoing or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the external metallic coating comprises rhodium. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the external metallic coating comprises rhodium. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the article is an item of jewelry. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the item of jewelry is a ring, pendant, dog tag, hairclip, chain, watchcase, pin, bracelet, necklace, earring, charm, ornamental ring, engagement ring, toe ring, watch, armlet, brocade, clip, fob, ornamental piercing, nose ring, amulet, bangle bracelet, cuff bracelet, link bracelet, cuff link, key chain, money clip, cell phone charm, signet ring, class ring, friendship ring or purity ring or a component any of the foregoing. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the item of jewelry is a finger ring.