Electroplated metals with silvery-white appearance and method of making
US7296370B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 2004 |
| Grant date | Nov 20, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 9, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/12917
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Metals having a silvery-white appearance and methods of producing the same. In one embodiment, the composite material of the present invention comprises a metallic core, a first layer, and a second layer. The first layer encases the external surfaces of the metallic core and is produced by electroplating copper or copper alloy from a first bath containing copper ions. The second layer encases the first layer and is produced by electroplating white bronze from a second bath containing copper and tin ions. According to one embodiment of the method of the present invention, the first layer is electroplated on the metallic core and the second layer is electroplated on the first layer. In another embodiment of the composite material and method of the present invention, the material comprises only the metallic core and a first layer of white bronze. The resulting composite has a silvery-white appearance and does not include exposed nickel so that persons allergic to nickel metals are not affected by the composite. The composite material may be configured by standard processing methods to finished products such as coins, tokens, and medallions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.