Abstract: A coated substrate includes a base substrate and a base layer disposed over the substrate. Typically, the base layer is composed of a component selected from the group consisting of zirconium carbonitrides, zirconium oxycarbides, titanium carbonitrides, titanium oxycarbides, and combinations thereof. One or more copper-containing antimicrobial layers are disposed over the base layer such that each of the one or more copper-containing antimicrobial layers includes copper atoms in the +1 oxidation state and/or the +2 oxidation state.

Abstract: A coating system includes a coating chamber having a peripheral chamber wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall. The peripheral chamber wall defines a chamber center. A plasma source is positioned at the chamber center. The coating system also includes a sample holder that holds a plurality of substrates to be coated which is rotatable about the chamber center at a first distance from the chamber center. A first isolation shield is positioned about the chamber center at a second distance from the chamber center, the first isolation shield being negatively charged.

Abstract: An arc coating system includes a coating chamber having a peripheral chamber wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall. The peripheral chamber wall, the top wall, and the bottom wall define a coating cavity and a chamber center. A plasma source is positioned at the chamber center wherein the plasma source comprises a central cathode rod and a plurality of cathode rods surrounding the central cathode rod. The coating system also includes a sample holder that holds a plurality of substrates to be coated. Characteristically, the sample holder rotatable about the chamber center at a first distance from the chamber center.

Abstract: An arc coating system includes a coating chamber having a peripheral chamber wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall. The peripheral chamber wall, the top wall, and the bottom wall define a coating cavity and a chamber center. A plasma source is positioned at the chamber center wherein the plasma source comprises a central cathode rod and a plurality of cathode rods surrounding the central cathode rod. The coating system also includes a sample holder that holds a plurality of substrates to be coated. Characteristically, the sample holder rotatable about the chamber center at a first distance from the chamber center.

Abstract: A coating system includes a coating chamber having a peripheral chamber wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall. The peripheral chamber wall defines a chamber center. A plasma source is positioned at the chamber center. The coating system also includes a sample holder that holds a plurality of substrates to be coated which is rotatable about the chamber center at a first distance from the chamber center. A first isolation shield is positioned about the chamber center at a second distance from the chamber center, the first isolation shield being negatively charged.

Abstract: A method for producing an article having a decorative coating includes depositing at least a first coating layer onto at least a portion of a substrate using a physical or chemical vapor deposition method in a vacuum chamber at sub-atmospheric pressure, the first coating layer comprising a first material having a first color. The method also includes patterning the first coating layer using a non-uniform patterning process to form a patterned coating layer having penetrations through which a portion of an underlying surface is visible, the underlying surface comprising a second material and having a second color that is visually contrasting to the first color. The patterned first coating layer comprises a decorative pattern comprising features distinguishable by an unaided human eye.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating having a bronze color. In a preferred embodiment, the coating comprises a nickel or polymer basecoat layer, and a color and protective stack layer comprised of layers of carbon-rich refractory metal or refractory metal alloy carbonitride alternating with layers of nitrogen-rich refractory metal or refractory metal alloy carbonitride. In another embodiment, the alternating layers of the color stack layer may comprise layers of carbon-rich refractory metal carbides or carbon-rich refractory metal alloy carbides alternating with layers of nitrogen-rich refractory metal nitrides or nitrogen-rich refractory metal alloy nitrides.

Abstract: A method for producing an article having a decorative coating includes depositing at least a first coating layer onto at least a portion of a substrate using a physical or chemical vapor deposition method in a vacuum chamber at sub-atmospheric pressure, the first coating layer comprising a first material having a first color. The method also includes patterning the first coating layer using a non-uniform patterning process to form a patterned coating layer having penetrations through which a portion of an underlying surface is visible, the underlying surface comprising a second material and having a second color that is visually contrasting to the first color. The patterned first coating layer comprises a decorative pattern comprising features distinguishable by an unaided human eye.

Abstract: An article having a decorative, visibly-patterned, multi-colored surface appearance includes a substrate and a first coating provided by vapor deposition above at least a portion of the substrate, the coating comprising a first material having a first color. The coating comprises a random arrangement of penetrations through which a portion of an underlying surface is visible, the underlying surface comprising a second material having a second color that differs from the first color. The penetrations form a decorative pattern comprising features distinguishable to an unaided human eye.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating having a bronze color. In a preferred embodiment, the coating comprises a nickel or polymer basecoat layer, and a color and protective stack layer comprised of layers of carbon-rich refractory metal or refractory metal alloy carbonitride alternating with layers of nitrogen-rich refractory metal or refractory metal alloy carbonitride. In another embodiment, the alternating layers of the color stack layer may comprise layers of carbon-rich refractory metal carbides or carbon-rich refractory metal alloy carbides alternating with layers of nitrogen-rich refractory metal nitrides or nitrogen-rich refractory metal alloy nitrides.

Abstract: An article is coated with a coating having a dark gray or bronze color. In a preferred embodiment, the coating comprises a nickel or polymer basecoat layer, and a color and protective stack layer comprised of layers of oxygen-rich refractory metal oxycarbides. The preferred dark grey, oxygen rich color layer is zirconium oxycarbide. A refractory metal adhesion layer and a refractory metal oxide top coat layer also may be used.