Oxide coatings that reduce or eliminate the appearance of thin film interference coloring are described. In some embodiments, the oxide coatings are configured to reduce the appearance of fingerprints. In some cases, the oxide coatings are sufficiently thick to increase the optical path difference of incident light, thereby reducing any inference coloring by the fingerprint to a non-visible level. In some embodiments, the oxide coatings have a non-uniform thickness that changes the way light reflects off of interfaces of the oxide coating, thereby reducing or eliminating any thin film interference coloring caused by the oxide coatings themselves or by a fingerprint.

Cards made in accordance with the invention include a decorative layer attached to a core layer, where the decorative layer is designed to provide selected color(s) and/or selected texture(s) to a surface of the metal cards. At least one of the decorative layers is a layer derived from plant matter (e.g., wood). The cards may be dual interface smart cards that can be read in a contactless manner and/or via contacts.

Provided are: a support frame for pellicle that has both low dust generation property and high light resistance, and further has an ion elution amount which is reduced to the utmost limit to an extent that haze is not generated even when a short wavelength laser is used for exposure light source, a pellicle using the support frame for pellicle, and a method for efficiently manufacturing the support frame for pellicle, support frame for pellicle which comprises a frame member comprising aluminum or aluminum alloy and an inorganic coating layer formed on the surface of the frame member, wherein the main chain of the inorganic coating layer is constituted by a SiOSiO bond. An anodized film is preferably formed between the frame member and the inorganic coating layer.

Cards made in accordance with the invention include a decorative layer attached to a core layer, where the decorative layer is designed to provide selected color(s) and/or selected texture(s) to a surface of the metal cards. At least one of the decorative layers is a layer derived from animal matter (e.g. leather). The cards may be dual interface smart cards configured to be read in a contactless manner and/or via contacts.

This application relates to an anodized part. The anodized part includes a metal substrate and an anodized layer overlaying and formed from the metal substrate. The anodized layer includes (i) an external surface that includes randomly distributed light-absorbing features that are capable of absorbing visible light incident upon the external surface, and (ii) pores defined by pore walls, where color particles are infused within the pores. The anodized layer is characterized as having a color having an L* value using a CIE L*a*b* color space that is less than 10.

A method of providing a workpiece with an anodised aluminium surface with varying colour. The anodised surface is added colour, such as evenly, so that a colour concentration profile exists through the depth, where after a portion of the outer layer is removed to arrive at colour corresponding to a particular depth.

A method for anodizing and dying metal using a fluorescent anodization dye includes cleaning a metallic object to remove grease, chemicals, impurities and existing anodization; performing an anodization procedure on the metallic object; submerging the metallic object within a fluorescent dye bath; and sealing the fluorescent dye and anodization to the metallic object surface.

Anodized substrates having laser markings and methods for forming the same are described. According to some embodiments, the methods involve forming a feature on a substrate using a laser prior to anodizing. The laser energy and pulse width can be chosen so as to provide a particular topology to a surface of the substrate that, after anodizing, absorbs incoming light and imparts a dark appearance to the feature. In some cases, the methods involve forming a coarse oxide layer, which is removed prior to anodizing. Since the laser marking is performed prior to anodizing, the anodized substrates are free from laser-induced cracks, thereby making the anodized substrates more corrosion resistant than conventional laser-marked anodized substrates. The techniques are well suited for forming features on consumer products that may be exposed to water or other corrosion-inducing agents.

A transaction card includes a monolithic ceramic card body having one or more pockets, and at least one of a magnetic stripe, a barcode, and a laser signature portion. The one or more pockets may be configured to receive at least one of the magnetic stripe, the barcode, a contact chip module, a contactless chip module, a dual interface chip module, a booster antenna, a hologram or commercial indicia. A transaction card may also include a substrate layer having a first side and a second side. A first ceramic layer is connected to the first side of the substrate layer.

Sealed anodic coatings that are resistant to leaching of nickel and nickel-containing products and methods for forming the same are described. Methods involve post-sealing thermal processes to remove at least some of the leachable nickel from the sealed anodic coatings. In some embodiments, the post-sealing thermal processes involve immersing the sealed anodic coating within a heated solution so as to promote diffusion of the leachable nickel out of the sealed anodic coatings and into the heated solution. The resultant sealed anodic coating is pre-leached of nickel and is therefore well suited for many consumer product applications. In some embodiments, a post-sealing thermal process is used to further hydrate and seal the sealed anodic coating, thereby repairing structural defects within the sealed anodic coating.