An article (10), e.g. a casing, is disclosed as including a substrate (12) made of a metal or a metal alloy, such as stainless steel, and a coating (14) deposited on the substrate (12), the coating (14) including a base layer (16) of titanium (Ti) or chromium (Cr) doped with silicon (Si) or boron (B) deposited on the substrate (12), a transition layer (18) of titanium nitride (TiN) deposited on the base layer (16), and an outer decorative coloured layer (20) deposited on the transition layer (18).

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to trim components having textured surfaces that support physical vapor deposition (PVD) deposited thin film coatings, and/or methods of making the same. A plastic substrate has a surface to be coated that is textured so that PVD-deposited layers formed thereon are generally conformal thereto and provide a desired matte or glossy aesthetic for the trim component. An adhesion promoting base layer and an overcoat sandwich a metal-inclusive layer, and each of these layers may be PVD-deposited on the textured plastic substrate surface. The adhesion promoting base layer and the overcoat are optional. Layers of metal, transition element, and/or other materials may be used to provide the desired coloration in certain example embodiments. The trim components may be used for interior and/or exterior vehicle or other applications, e.g., in connection with functional and/or decorative elements.

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to trim components having textured surfaces that support physical vapor deposition (PVD) deposited thin film coatings, and/or methods of making the same. A plastic substrate has a surface to be coated that is textured so that PVD-deposited layers formed thereon are generally conformal thereto and provide a desired matte or glossy aesthetic for the trim component. An adhesion promoting base layer and an overcoat sandwich a metal-inclusive layer, and each of these layers may be PVD-deposited on the textured plastic substrate surface. The trim components may be used for interior and/or exterior vehicle or other applications, e.g., in connection with functional and/or decorative elements.

A decorative product includes a transparent member formed from an acrylic resin and a decorative layer arranged on a rear surface of the transparent member. A processed layer is located between the transparent member and the decorative layer. The processed layer is formed by performing a plasma treatment on the rear surface of the transparent member. The decorative layer is a metal layer formed on the processed layer formed by performing sputtering. The processed layer has the thickness L of less than or equal to 260 nm.

An electronic device may include conductive structures such as conductive housing structures. A high-brightness, visible-light-reflecting coating may be formed on the conductive structures. The coating may have adhesion and transition layers and an uppermost coloring layer on the adhesion and transition layers. At least the uppermost coloring layer may be deposited using a high impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) process. The uppermost coloring layer may include a TiCrN film, a TiCrCN film, a TiCN film, or a metal nitride film that contains Ti, Zr, Hf, or Cr. The coating may exhibit a high-brightness gold color.

The present invention relates to a decorative part, comprising an electroplated layer array applied to a plastic substrate. On the electroplated layer array, a PVD layer array having an adhesive layer, a mixed layer and a color-providing cover layer is provided, wherein the mixed layer provides for durability, in particular corrosion protection, and the necessary hardness of the surface.

An article is coated with a coating having a vivid primary color. In a preferred embodiment, the coating comprises a nickel or polymer basecoat layer, and a first color layer comprised of oxygen-rich refractory metal oxycarbides, a second color layer comprising oxygen-rich refractory metal oxycarbides and a top layer of refractory metal oxides.

A treatment method for modifying the reflected color of a sapphire material surface comprising bombardment by a single- and/or multi-charged gas ion beam so as to modify the reflected color of the treated sapphire material surface, wherein the ions are selected from ions of the elements from the list consisting of helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), boron (B), carbon (C), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), fluorine (F), silicon (Si), phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S).

A multi-layer coating of alternating titanium nitride (TiN) and titanium carbo nitride (TiCN) layers is applied to at least part of a dental device for use in attaching crowns, overdentures, and the like in a patient's jaw, where the outermost layer is TiCN with a predetermined percentage of carbon to produce a pink color. The pink outermost layer is of sufficient thickness to conceal the color of the underlying layers, and is very hard and resistant to wear and damage in use. At the same time, the outermost TiCN layer is of a color consistent with the gingival anatomy, and is very hard and resistant to wear and damage in use.

The disclosure relates to a treatment method for coloring a metal that includes a) bombardment of the metal with a beam of singly- or multiply-charged gas ions produced by an electron cyclotron resonance source; b) heat treatment in ambient air so as to color the implanted metal using a temperature between 100 C. and 400 C. and an exposure time of between 1 minute and 4 hours.