Abstract: Golden bronze appearance article, multiple-layer substrate, related methods and uses thereof, particularly for coinage blanks. Methods of producing an article having a golden bronze appearance include annealing a multiple-layer substrate at an annealing temperature for an annealing residence time. The multiple-layer substrate includes a core, contiguous to a copper layer and subsequent tin layer. The annealing temperature and annealing residence time are controlled in accordance with each other for allowing diffusion of the tin layer into the copper layer and producing an annealed substrate comprising an inter-diffused outer bronze layer having a golden appearance. The tin layer thickness is in accordance to the copper layer thickness such that the inter-diffused outer bronze layer has a tin content between about 8% wt. and about 15.8% wt. The core has a sufficiently low content of nickel to reduce or prevent formation of intermetallic compound comprising tin and nickel proximate to the core during annealing.

Abstract: A method of treating aluminum or aluminum alloy includes providing an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate; depositing a first zincating layer on the substrate by zincate immersion; stripping off the first zincating layer; depositing a second zincating layer on the substrate by zincate immersion; stripping off the second zincating layer; and depositing a third zincating layer on the substrate by zincate immersion.

Abstract: Golden bronze appearance article, multiple-layer substrate, related methods and uses thereof, particularly for coinage blanks. Methods of producing an article having a golden bronze appearance include annealing a multiple-layer substrate at an annealing temperature for an annealing residence time. The multiple-layer substrate includes a core, contiguous to a copper layer and subsequent tin layer. The annealing temperature and annealing residence time are controlled in accordance with each other for allowing diffusion of the tin layer into the copper layer and producing an annealed substrate comprising an inter-diffused outer bronze layer having a golden appearance. The tin layer thickness is in accordance to the copper layer thickness such that the inter-diffused outer bronze layer has a tin content between about 8% wt. and about 15.8% wt. The core has a sufficiently low content of nickel to reduce or prevent formation of intermetallic compound comprising tin and nickel proximate to the core during annealing.

Abstract: A method of treating aluminum or aluminum alloy includes providing an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate; depositing a first zincating layer on the substrate by zincate immersion; stripping off the first zincating layer; depositing a second zincating layer on the substrate by zincate immersion; stripping off the second zincating layer; and depositing a third zincating layer on the substrate by zincate immersion.