The aesthetic enhancement or modification of articles or components made of non-ferrous metals
US5503691A · kind A · utility
0Cited by
2References
11Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 2, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 1, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC08L2201/12
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method of enhancing the appearance of a polished surface of an artifact is provided in which the artifact is formed from a non-ferrous alloy, in particular, but not exclusively, a precious metal alloy, chosen to exhibit a martensitic and a parent phase structure. The surface, or relevant part thereof, is polished in one of the phases, usually the parent phase, followed by heat treatment to effect a phase transformation, generally to the martensitic phase. This phase change causes a visible surface effect to the polished surface which may be described as a spangle effect.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.