Process for producing anodic films exhibiting colored patterns and structures incorporating such films
US5277982A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 24, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jan 11, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 24, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/31
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process for producing a structure including an anodic film exhibiting a colored pattern, and the resulting structures. The process involves anodizing a surface of a metal substrate or article made of or coated with aluminum or an anodizable aluminum alloy to produce an anodic film preferably having pores extending from the film surface inwardly towards the underlying metal. A semi-reflective layer of a non-noble metal is then deposited on or within the pores of the film in order to generate a color by effects including light interference. Limited areas of the resulting film are then contacted with a solution of a noble metal compound (e.g. Pd, Au or Pt) by a procedure which avoids the use of an adhering mask. The noble metal from the solution at least partially replaces the non-noble metal in the contacted areas and creates a different color in these areas. The non-noble metal in the remaining areas may be fully or partially leached out, if desired, or the color in the contacted areas may be changed by carrying out further anodization of the article, in which case the non-noble metal is also partially or fully leached away. The result is a patterned anodized article in which the …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.