Hard, gold-colored under layer for a gold or gold-containing surface layer and an article therewith

US4791017A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Leybold-Heraeus GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Dieter Hofmann · Augsburg, DE
• Klaus-Jurgen Heimbach · Hattersheim, DE
• Helmut Petersein · Gelnhausen, DE
• Wolf-Dieter Munz · Somborn, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 31, 1986
• Grant date: Dec 13, 1988
• Expiry date: Dec 31, 2006

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/265
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

An underlayer of at least one a carbonitride of titanium, zirconium, hafnium or vanadium or hafnium nitride may be under a surface layer at least containing gold or on a still-undermore decorative article, and preferably both. It has a brilliance approximating that of gold so that, when appropriately color matched to the surface layer, it disguises spots of the surface layer worn away in use of the article. The underlayer and surface layer may be deposited in a cathode vaporization process from corresponding metallic cathode targets in appropriate neutral or reactive atmospheres.