Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer decorative and protective coating having the appearance of stainless steel. The coating comprises one or more electroplated layers on the surface of said article and vapor deposited on the electroplated layers a color layer comprised of the reaction products of refractory metal or refractory metal alloy, nitrogen and oxygen wherein the total nitrogen and oxygen content is from about 4 to about 32 atomic percent with the nitrogen content being at least about 3 atomic percent.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer decorative and protective coating having the appearance of stainless steel. The coating comprises one or more electroplated layers on the surface of said article and vapor deposited on the electroplated layers a stack layer containing layers of refractory metal or metal alloy alternating with layers containing the reaction products of refractory metal or refractory metal alloy, nitrogen and oxygen wherein the total nitrogen and oxygen content of these reaction products is from about 4 to about 32 atomic percent with the nitrogen content being at least about 3 atomic percent.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating having improved chemical and oxidation resistance. The coating comprises a polymeric layer on the article surface, a refractory metal or refractory metal alloy strike layer on the polymeric layer and a protective layer containing a refractory metal oxide or refractory metal alloy oxide.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating having scratch resistance, abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance and improved chemical and oxidation resistance. The coating comprises an electroplated layer or layers on the article surface, a refractory metal or refractory metal alloy strike layer on the electroplated layer or layers, and a protective layer containing a refractory metal oxide or refractory metal alloy oxide on the strike layer.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating having a stainless steel color. The coating comprises an electroplated layer or layers on the article surface, a refractory metal or refractory metal alloy strike layer on the electroplated layer or layers, a color layer containing a refractory metal oxide or refractory metal alloy oxide having a substoichiometric oxygen content on the strike layer, and a refractory metal oxide or refractory metal alloy oxide having a substantially stoichiometric oxygen content layer on said color layer.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating having a stainless steel color. The coating comprises a polymeric layer on the article surface, a refractory metal or refractory metal alloy strike layer on the polymeric layer, a color layer containing a refractory metal oxide or refractory metal alloy oxide having a substoichiometric oxygen content on the strike layer, and a refractory metal oxide or refractory metal alloy oxide having a substantially stoichiometric oxygen content layer on said color layer.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer decorative and protective coating having the appearance of stainless steel. The coating comprises one or more electroplated layers on the surface of said article and vapor deposited on the electroplated layers a refractory metal nitride, refractory metal alloy nitride, or reaction products of refractory metal or refractory metal alloy, nitrogen and oxygen wherein the nitrogen content of the refractory metal nitride, refractory metal alloy nitride or reaction products of refractory metal or refractory metal alloy, nitrogen and oxygen is from about 3 to about 22 atomic percent.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer decorative and protective coating having the appearance of stainless steel. The coating comprises one or more electroplated layers on the surface of said article and vapor deposited on the electroplated layers a stack layer containing layers of refractory metal or metal alloy alternating with layers containing refractory metal nitrogen containing compounds and refractory metal alloy nitrogen containing compounds wherein the nitrogen content of the refractory metal nitrogen containing compounds and refractory metal alloy nitrogen containing compounds is from about 3 to about 22 atomic percent.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer decorative and protective coating having the appearance of stainless steel. The coating comprises one or more electroplated layers on the surface of said article and vapor deposited on the electroplated layers a stack layer containing layers of refractory metal or metal alloy alternating with layers containing the reaction products of refractory metal or refractory metal alloy, nitrogen and oxygen wherein the total nitrogen and oxygen content of these reaction products is from about 4 to about 32 atomic percent with the nitrogen content being at least about 3 atomic percent.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer decorative and protective coating having the appearance of stainless steel. The coating comprises a polymeric layer on the surface of said article and vapor deposited on the polymeric layer a stack layer containing layers of refractory metal or metal alloy alternating with layers containing the reaction products of refractory metal or refractory metal alloy, nitrogen and oxygen wherein the total nitrogen and oxygen content of these reaction products is from about 4 to about 32 atomic percent, with the nitrogen content being at least about 3 atomic percent.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer decorative and protective coating having the appearance of stainless steel. The coating comprises a polymer layer on the surface of said article and vapor deposited on the polymer layer a protective and decorative layer comprised of the reaction products of refractory metal or refractory metal alloy, nitrogen and oxygen wherein the nitrogen and oxygen content of the reaction products are each from about 4 to about 32 atomic percent with the nitrogen content being at least about 3 atomic percent.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer decorative and protective coating having the appearance of stainless steel. The coating comprises one or more electroplated layers on the surface of said article and vapor deposited at relatively low pressure on the electroplated layers a color layer comprised of the reaction products of refractory metal or refractory metal alloy, nitrogen and oxygen wherein the total nitrogen and oxygen content is from about 4 to about 32 atomic percent with the nitrogen content being at least about 3 atomic percent.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer decorative and protective coating having the appearance of stainless steel. The coating comprises a polymer basecoat layer on the surface of said article and vapor deposited at relatively low pressure on the polymer layer a protective and decorative color layer comprised of the reaction products of refractory metal or refractory metal alloy, nitrogen and oxygen wherein the nitrogen and oxygen content of the reaction products are each from about 4 to about 32 atomic percent with the nitrogen content being at least about 3 atomic percent.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating having the appearance of stainless steel. The coating comprises a polymeric basecoat layer on the surface of said article and vapor deposited on the polymeric basecoat layer a protective and decorative color layer of a refractory metal nitride, refractory metal alloy nitride or the reaction products of a refractory metal or a refractory metal alloy, nitrogen and oxygen, where the nitrogen content of the refractory metal nitride, refractory metal alloy nitride, or reaction products of a refractory metal or refractory metal alloy, nitrogen and oxygen is from about 3 to about 22 atomic percent.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer decorative and protective coating having the appearance of stainless steel. The coating comprises a polymeric basecoat layer on the surface of said article and vapor deposited on the polymeric basecoat layer a stack layer containing layers of refractory metal or refractory metal alloy alternating with layers containing the reaction products of refractory metal or refractory metal alloy, nitrogen and oxygen. Over the stack layer is vapor deposited at relatively low pressures a protective color layer comprised of the reaction products of refractory metal or refractory metal alloy, oxygen and nitrogen wherein the total nitrogen and oxygen content of these reaction products is from about 4 to about 32 atomic percent, with the nitrogen content being at least about 3 atomic percent.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer decorative and protective coating having the appearance of stainless steel. The coating comprises one or more electroplated layers on the surface of said article and vapor deposited on the electroplated layers a color layer comprised of the reaction products of refractory metal or refractory metal alloy, nitrogen and oxygen wherein the total nitrogen and oxygen content is from about 4 to about 32 atomic percent with the nitrogen content being at least about 3 atomic percent.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer decorative and protective coating having the appearance of stainless steel. The coating comprises one or more electroplated layers on the surface of said article and vapor deposited on the electroplated layers a stack layer containing layers of refractory metal or metal alloy alternating with layers containing the reaction products of refractory metal or refractory metal alloy, nitrogen and oxygen, and on said stack layer vapor deposited at relatively low pressure a decorative and protective color layer comprised of the reaction products of a refractory metal or refractory metal alloy, nitrogen and oxygen wherein the total nitrogen and oxygen content of these reaction products is from about 4 to about 32 atomic percent with the nitrogen content being at least about 3 atomic percent.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer decorative and protective coating having the appearance of stainless steel. The coating comprises a polymeric layer on the surface of said article and vapor deposited on the polymeric layer a stack layer containing layers of refractory metal or metal alloy alternating with layers containing refractory metal nitrogen containing compounds and refractory metal alloy nitrogen containing compounds wherein the nitrogen content of the refractory metal nitrogen containing compounds and refractory metal alloy nitrogen containing compounds is from about 3 to about 22 atomic percent.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating having the appearance of nickel. The coating comprises one or more electroplated layers on the surface of said article and vapor deposited on the electroplated layers a refractory metal or metal alloy nitride where the nitrogen content of said nitride is from about 6 to about 45 atomic percent.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating having the appearance of nickel. The coating comprises one or more electroplated layers on the surface of said article, and vapor deposited on the electroplated layers a stack layer comprised of alternating layers of refractory metal compound or refractory metal alloy compound alternating with refractory metal or refractory metal alloy, and on said stack layer a refractory metal or metal alloy nitride color layer where the nitrogen content of said nitride is from about 6 to about 45 atomic percent.