Method for gloss coating articles

• US 6,068,890 A
• Filed: 07/31/1997
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Kaumle, Fritz, Separautzki, Reinhold, Goedicke, Klaus, Fietzke, Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): PIANALTO, BERNARD D
• Application Number:
  US08/903,746
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 427/576, 427/404, 427/294, 427/180, 427/355, 427/534, 427/535, 204/192.27, 204/192.14, 204/192.32
• US Class Current: 427/534
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/068 achieved by multilayers B05D5/066 takes precedence
• 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 28/32 including at least one pure metallic layer
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 28/345 with at least one oxide layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/923 Physical dimension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/925 Relative dimension specified
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/926 Thickness of individual layer specified
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/936 Chemical deposition, e.g. electroless plating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/938 Vapor deposition or gas diffusion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12007 Component of composite having metal continuous phase interengaged with nonmetal continuous phase
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12028 Composite; i.e., plural, adjacent, spatially distinct metal components [e.g., layers, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12986 Adjacent functionally defined components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/26 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31511 Of epoxy ether
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31529 Next to metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31551 Of polyamidoester [polyurethane, polyisocyanate, polycarbamate, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31605 Next to free metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31609 Particulate metal or metal compound-containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31678 Of metal

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for gloss coating articles or a portion of an article'"'"'s surface and articles produced from this method. A corrosion-inhibiting polishing base coat is applied in a known fashion, after which a high-gloss layer produced by atomization, preferably magnetron atomization, is applied. Then, a transparent, wear-resistant top coat layer is applied in a known fashion. The articles can also be pretreated, if desired, and given a protective or other layers. By using this method, parts for vehicles, especially vehicle wheels, can be produced in a great variety of colors and with improved qualities.

Claims

1. A method for gloss coating at least a portion of the surface of an article, comprising:

applying a corrosion-inhibiting base coat to the article;

atomizing a target selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, and a metal compound using a magnetron in a vacuum, thereby applying a high-gloss coat on the corrosion-inhibiting base coat; and

applying a transparent, wear-resistant top coat to the high-gloss coat.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising applying a corrosion-inhibiting primer paint layer made of a powdered stoving paint after said applying of the paint powder layer.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein pigments are added to the transparent top coat layer.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the top coat is applied in a CVD process.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising pretreating the article in a vacuum before the high-gloss layer is applied, wherein the pretreatment comprises heating and/or etching in an inert or reactive gas plasma.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising pretreating the article in a vacuum before the high-gloss layer is applied, wherein the pretreatment comprises applying an adhesion-promoting layer.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising moving the article relative to targets of the magnetron.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising adding a gas or gas mixture comprising one or more of oxygen, nitrogen, or a low-molecular weight hydrocarbon, to the vacuum.

10. A method according to claim 2, wherein the high-gloss layer is applied by direct-current atomization or pulsed-magnetron atomization in an inert or reactive gas atmosphere.

9. A method for gloss coating at least a portion of the surface of an article, comprising:

providing an article;

applying a chromate layer to the article;

applying a corrosion-inhibiting base coat to the chromate layer;

applying a high-gloss layer comprising a metal, a metal alloy, or a metal compound using a magnetron in a vacuum to the base coat; and

applying a transparent wear-resistant top coat comprising a pigment or paint to the high-gloss layer.

11. A method for gloss coating at least a portion of the surface of an article, comprising:

providing an article;

applying a chromate layer to the article;

applying a powdered paint layer to the chromate layer;

applying a corrosion-inhibiting base coat to the powdered paint layer;

applying a high-gloss layer comprising a metal, a metal alloy, or a metal compound using a magnetron in a vacuum to the corrosion-inhibiting base coat; and

applying a transparent wear-resistant top coat comprising a pigment or paint to the high-gloss layer.

12. A method for gloss coating of a part by application of a layer system comprising:

providing a part;

applying a chromate layer to the surface of the part;

applying a paint powder layer to the chromate layer;

sputtering a target selected from the group consisting of a metal alloy and a metal compound by means of a magnetron in a vacuum, thereby applying a high-gloss coat on the paint powder layer; and

applying a transparent, wear-resistant coating paint layer to the high-gloss layer.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said parts are parts for vehicles.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said parts for vehicles are wheels.

15. A method for gloss coating at least a portion of the surface of an article, comprising:

providing an article;

mechanically smoothening the article or a portion of the surface of the article;

applying a chromate layer to the article;

applying a corrosion-inhibiting base coat to the chromate layer;

applying a high-gloss layer comprising a metal, a metal alloy, or a metal compound using a magnetron in a vacuum to the base coat; and

applying a transparent wear-resistant top coat comprising a pigment or paint to the high-gloss layer.

16. A method for gloss coating at least a portion of the surface of an article, comprising:

providing an article;

mechanically smoothening the article or at least a portion of the surface of the article;

applying a chromate layer to the article;

applying a powdered paint layer to the chromate layer;

applying a corrosion-inhibiting base coat to the powdered paint layer;

applying a high-gloss layer comprising a metal, a metal alloy, or a metal compound using a magnetron in a vacuum to the corrosion-inhibiting base coat; and

applying a transparent wear-resistant top coat comprising a pigment or paint to the high-gloss layer.

17. A method for gloss coating of a part by application of a layer system comprising:

providing a part;

mechanically smoothening a surface of the part;

applying a chromate layer to the surface of the part;

applying a paint powder layer to the chromate layer;

sputtering a target selected from the group consisting of a metal alloy and a metal compound by means of a magnetron in a vacuum, thereby applying a high-gloss coat on the paint powder layer; and

applying a transparent, wear-resistant coating paint layer to the high-gloss layer.