Articles having a colored metallic coating with special properties

• US 6,420,053 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2000
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nickel Rainbow Limited
• Original Assignee: Nickel Rainbow Limited
• Inventors: Levinson, Leonid
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, John J.
• Application Number:
  US09/600,229
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 428/615, 428/658, 428/663, 428/680, 428/935, 148/518, 205/181, 205/182, 205/196, 205/210, 205/227, 205/238, 205/258, 205/246
• US Class Current: 428/658
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 3/562 containing more than 50% by weight of iron or nickel or cobalt
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 3/565 containing more than 50% by weight of zinc
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 5/12 at least one layer being of nickel or chromium
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 5/48 After-treatment of electroplated surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 5/617 Crystalline layers
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 5/627 Electroplating characterised by the visual appearance of the layers, e.g. colour, brightness or mat appearance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/935 Electroplating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12792 Zn-base component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12826 Group VIB metal-base component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12944 Ni-base component

Abstract

An article includes a bi-colored metallic coating electrodeposited directly on a metallic cathode, such that a planar surface of the coating exhibits a visual first color when viewed from a first angle to the surface and a visual second and different color when viewed at a second angle to the surface. The electrode position is carried out from a bath which comprises ions selected from the group consisting of molybdenum(VI)-containing ions and (Ni(II)−+Zn(II))− containing ions, wherein the parameters ionic concentration, pH, bath temperature current density and current quantity are so selected that a bi-colored coating is obtained, provided that a current density is applied to the underplate as cathode within the range of 0.005 to 0.5 A/dm².

Claims

1. An article which includes a bi-colored metallic coating electrodeposited directly on a metallic cathode, such that where the article comprises a substantially planar surface, said coating possesses a visual first color when viewed from a first angle to said surface and it possesses a visual second and different color when viewed at a second angle to said surface:

said article having been made by a process which includes the step of electrodepositing said coating on a suitable metallic cathode from an electrolyte bath which comprises ions selected from the group consisting of molybdenum(VI)-containing ions and (Ni(II)−

+Zn(II))−

containing ions, wherein the parameters ionic concentration, pH, bath temperature current density and current quantity are selected so that a bi-colored coating is obtained, subject to the condition that a current density is applied to said cathode within the range of 0.005 to 0.5 A/dm².

2. An article according to claim 1, wherein said first color is apparent to the viewer at 90°

to said planar surface and said second color is apparent to the viewer at 142°

to said planar surface.

3. An article according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte from which said coating is electrolytically deposited comprises molybdenum(VI)-containing ions.

4. An article according to claim 1, wherein said electrolyte bath comprises also (PO₄)³⁻

ions.

5. An article according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte from which said coating is electrolytically deposited comprises both Ni(II)−

and Zn(II)−

containing ions.

6. An article according to claim 1, wherein the metallic cathode on which said coating is electrolytically deposited directly, is selected from the group consisting of bright nickel, matt nickel or brass.

7. An article according to claim 1, wherein said cathode is an underplate which has been electrolytically deposited on a substrate.

8. An article according to claim 7, wherein said underplate has a thickness of at least five microns.

9. An article according to claim 7, wherein said underplate had been deposited on a substrate immediately before deposition of said colored coating or alternatively prior to electrodeposition of said colored coating said underplate had been pretreated in order to ensure substantial absence from the underplate of oxide film, absorbed gases and organic matter.

10. An article according to claim 9, wherein said underplate has a thickness of at least five microns.

11. An article according to claim 1, wherein said bi-colored coating has a thickness within the range of 0.05-2 microns.

12. An article according to claim 1, which has been subjected to an after treatment comprising at least one of the following two treatments, namely:

heating the article at a temperature of 120-250°

C. for a period within the range 0.1-2.0 hours;

application of a thin layer of oil or grease.

13. An article according to either claim 12, wherein said bi-colored coating is provided with a transparent protective film of thickness in the range of from 1 to 30 microns.

14. An article according to claim 1, wherein said bi-colored coating is provided with a transparent protective film of thickness in the range of from 1 to 30 microns.

15. A process for manufacturing an article which includes a bi-colored metallic coating electrodeposited directly on a metallic cathode, such that where the article comprises a substantially planar surface, said coating possesses a visual first color when viewed from a first angle to said surface and it possesses a visual second and different color when viewed at a second angle to said surface;

which process includes the step of electrodepositing said coating on a suitable metallic cathode from an electrolyte bath which comprises ions selected from the group consisting of molybdenum(VI)-containing ions and (Ni(II)−

+Zn(II))−

containing ions, wherein the parameters ionic concentration, pH, bath temperature current density and current quantity are selected so that a bi-colored coating is obtained, subject to the condition that a current density is applied to said cathode within the range of 0.005 to 0.5 A/dm².

16. Process according to claim 15, wherein said cathode is an underplate which has been deposited on a substrate immediately before deposition of said bi-colored coating or alternatively said underplate has been pretreated in order to ensure substantial absence therefrom of oxide film, absorbed gases and organic matter.

17. Process according to claim 16, wherein said underplate has a thickness of at least five microns.

18. Process according to claim 17, which includes the additional step of providing the colored coating with a transparent protective film of thickness in the range of from 1 to 30 microns.

19. Process according to claim 16, wherein said underplate is supported on a metallic substrate.

20. Process according to claim 19, wherein said metallic substrate is selected from the group consisting of nickel, steel, copper and brass.

21. Process according to claim 20, which includes the additional step of providing the colored coating with a transparent protective film of thickness in the range of from 1 to 30 microns.

22. Process according to claim 19, which includes the additional step of providing the colored coating with a transparent protective film of thickness in the range of from 1 to 30 microns.

23. Process according to claim 16, which includes the additional step of providing the colored coating with a transparent protective film of thickness in the range of from 1 to 30 microns.

24. Process according to claim 15, wherein the electroplating step is terminated when the bi-colored coating has a thickness within the range of 0.05-2 microns.

25. Process according to claim 24, which includes the additional step of providing the colored coating with a transparent protective film of thickness in the range of from 1 to 30 microns.

26. Process according to claim 15, wherein the electroplating step is terminated when the bi-colored coating has a desired preselected color combination.

27. Process according to claim 26, which includes the additional step of providing the colored coating with a transparent protective film of thickness in the range of from 1 to 30 microns.

28. Process according to claim 15, wherein the bi-colored coating is subjected to an after treatment comprising at least one of the following two treatments, namely:

heating the article at a temperature of 120-250°

C. for a period within the range 0.1-2.0 hours;

application of a thin layer of oil or grease.

29. Process according to claim 28, which includes the additional step of providing the colored coating with a transparent protective film of thickness in the range of from 1 to 30 microns.

30. Process according to claim 15, which includes the additional step of providing the colored coating with a transparent protective film of thickness in the range of from 1 to 30 microns.