Metal Product, Method of Manufacturing a Metal Product and Use Thereof

• US 20080038579A1
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mikael Schuisky, Ulrika Isaksson
• Original Assignee: Mikael Schuisky, Ulrika Isaksson
• Inventors: Schuisky, Mikael, Isaksson, Ulrika
• Application Number:
  US11/660,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20080038579A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/640
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/0015 characterized by the colour of the layer
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/006 characterized by the colour of the layer
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 28/00 Coating for obtaining at least two superposed coatings either by methods not provided for in a single one of groups C23C2/00 - C23C26/00 or by combinations of methods provided for in subclasses C23C and C25C or C25D
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 28/321 with at least one metal alloy layer
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 28/322 only coatings of metal elements only
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 28/3225 with at least one zinc-based layer
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 28/34 including at least one inorganic non-metallic material layer, e.g. metal carbide, nitride, boride, silicide layer and their mixtures, enamels, phosphates and sulphates
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 28/341 with at least one carbide layer
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 28/345 with at least one oxide layer
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 28/3455 with a refractory ceramic layer, e.g. refractory metal oxide, ZrO2, rare earth oxides or a thermal barrier system comprising at least one refractory oxide layer
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 28/347 with layers adapted for cutting tools or wear applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12667 Oxide of transition metal or Al

Abstract

A metal product having a metallic substrate in the form of a tube, strip, foil wire, fibre or bar has a decorative coating consisting of at least two different layers. One layer is based on a metal or metal alloy and one layer is based on a transparent oxide. The product is produced with the aid of PVD in a continuous process and is used in various customer-related products, such as household equipment, mobile phones, or buttons and zippers in clothing.

Claims

1. Metal product having a substrate and a coating, wherein the substrate is a metallic material, wherein the coating comprises at least two layers, wherein one layer consists of a metal or metal alloy, and one layer consists of a transparent oxide.

2. Metal product according to claim 1, wherein the layer of a metal or metal alloy is selected from the group consisting of Ag, Al, Au, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Si, Sn, Ti, V, W, Zn or Zr, or alloys thereof.

3. Metal product according to claim 1, wherein the transparent oxide is selected from the group consisting of MgO, TiO₂, Al₂O₃ or SiO₂ or a mixture thereof.

4. Metal product according to claim 1, wherein the layer of transparent oxide is thinner than the layer of a metal or metal alloy.

5. Metal product according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is in the form of a strip, foil, wire, fibre, bar or tube.

6. Metal product according to claim 1, wherein the coating comprises a layer of lacquer or paint on top.

10. Use of a product according to claim 1 in the manufacturing of customer related applications, such as outdoor life, sea life and sport applications, household equipment, door handles, camera equipments, mobile phones and other telecom applications, knifes, saws, shaving equipment, or applications for personal belongings and care, like watches, glasses, cosmetic applications, button and zippers in clothing, perfume bottles or the like.

13. The consumer good according to claim 11, wherein the consumer good is household equipment.

15. The consumer good according to claim 11, wherein the consumer good is camera equipment.

7. Method of producing a metal product having a substrate and a coating, wherein the substrate is a metallic material, wherein the coating comprises at least two layers, and wherein one layer consists of a metal or metal alloy, and one layer consists of a transparent oxide, the method comprising:

etching the substrate is and thereafter coating by PVD technique, in a continuous roll-to-roll process with a minimum substrate speed of 10 meters per minute, wherein the etching and the coating is performed in-line.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the speed of the substrate is at least 25 meters per minute during coating.

9. Method according to claim 7, comprising lacquering or painting the substrate with the coating after the coating process.

11. A consumer good comprising a metal product having a substrate and a coating, wherein the substrate is a metallic material, wherein the coating comprises at least two layers, and wherein a first layer consists of a metal or metal alloy and a second layer consists of a transparent oxide.

12. The consumer good according to claim 11, wherein the consumer good is equipment for outdoor life, sea life or sport applications.

14. The consumer good according to claim 11, wherein the consumer good is a door handle.

16. The consumer good according to claim 11, wherein the consumer good is a mobile phone or a telecom device.

17. The consumer good according to claim 11, wherein the consumer good is a knife, saw, or a shaving equipment.

18. The consumer good according to claim 11, wherein the consumer good is part of an article of clothing or an accessory.

19. The consumer good according to claim 18, wherein the accessory includes watches or glasses.

20. The consumer good according to claim 11, wherein the consumer good is a cosmetic packaging or a perfume container.