Abstract: A hybrid film, comprising a first polymer film having a plasma-treated surface and a second polymer film having first and second surfaces, with the first surface of the second polymer film being disposed along the first plasma-treated surface of the first polymer film, has superior thermal and mechanical properties that improve performance in a number of applications, including food packaging, thin film metallized and foil capacitors, metal evaporated magnetic tapes, flexible electrical cables, and decorative and optically variable films. One or more metal layers may be deposited on either the plasma-treated surface of the substrate and/or the radiation-cured acrylate polymer. A ceramic layer may be deposited on the radiation-cured acrylate polymer to provide an oxygen and moisture barrier film.

Abstract: A highly reliable member for a semiconductor device, in which a high melting point metallizing layer, which consists mainly of a high melting point metal such as W and/or Mo, and an intervening metal layer, which has a melting point of not greater than 1,000° C. and consists mainly of at least one selected from among Ni, Cu and Fe, are provided on an AlN substrate material in this order on the AlN substrate material, and a conductor layer consisting mainly of copper is directly bonded to the intervening metal layer without intervention of a solder material layer. A semiconductor element or the like is mounted on the member for a semiconductor device, thereby fabricating a semiconductor device. The high melting point metallizing layer is formed on an aluminum nitride substrate by post-fire or co-fire metallization.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel thermal spray process for the deposition of coatings with a graded or layered composition and the coated articles produced thereby. More particularly, the invention relates to feeding mixtures of coating materials to a thermal spray device and continuously or intermittently changing the composition of the deposited coatings by changing the thermal spray operating parameters. The continuous or intermittent change in the composition of the coating material during deposition creates a graded or layered coating structure.

Abstract: A cast slab has a negative segregation zone composed of a multilayer structure of negative segregation layers disposed between dendrite or crystalline layers. The dendrite or crystalline layers are a deflection structure caused by vibration during formation of the cast slab. The negative segregation layers have a distance between them of not more than 2 mm and the number of negative segregation layers is not less than 3. The cast slab has an equi-axed crystal ratio of not less than 50% inside the multilayer negative segregation zone.

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 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: A different materials bonded member includes a ceramic base material and a metallic member which are bonded together through an Au solder material. The solder material is disposed on a bonding surface of the ceramic base through a given active metal layer or a given metalized layer and the solder material is heated and melted to form a pre-coat layer adhering to the bonding surface, the metallic member is disposed on a surface of the pre-coat layer through a barrier layer having a given function. A bonded part is formed by solidifying the pre-coat layer after it has been heated and melted under given temperature conditions to bond the ceramic base and the metallic member to one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to an armoured shaped body comprising a multi-layer composite plate, which has a layer made of high-strength steel and a layer made of titanium or a titanium alloy as well as a layer made of a hard material of great hardness deposited on the titanium or titanium-alloy layer. The production of such an armoured shaped body takes place in such a way that composite plates, which are cut to length from the composite strip made of steel and titanium or a titanium alloy produced by roll-bonding, are shaped into shaped bodies, onto whose titanium or titanium-alloy layer the hard-material layer in the form of powder is then deposited in particular by means of flame spraying. Such a shaped body has a high gunfire resistance, because in the event of gunfire the hard-material layer enlarges the impact area of the bullet, so that the kinetic energy of the bullet is distributed over a large area on the shaped body.

Abstract: There is provided a laminated structure having a silicon carbide coating layer formed by sputtering on an alloy substrate, and the silicon carbide has a light transmittance of 70% or greater. It is preferable that the alloy substrate is a magnetic alloy or a phase-changing alloy, the impurity ratio on the surface of the silicon carbide coating layer is 1.0×1012 atoms/cm2 or less and the thickness of the silicon carbide coating layer is 10 to 100 nm. Since the laminated structure has a silicon carbide coating layer which is excellent in oxidation resistance, chlorine resistance, humidity resistance, and which has high refractive index, high light transmittance and the like, it is suitable for an optical disk recording medium such as a CD-RW, a DVD-RAM or the like.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating having a bronze color. The coating comprises a nickel 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.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating having a bronze color. The coating comprises a nickel 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.

Abstract: A group of alloys suitable for use in a high-temperature, oxidative environment, a protective coating system comprising a diffusion barrier that comprises an alloy selected from the group, an article comprising the diffusion barrier layer, and a method for protecting an article from a high-temperature oxidative environment comprising disposing the diffusion barrier layer onto a substrate are presented.

Abstract: Titanium architectural panels (20) are provided which have recrystallized surface portions on at least the outer surface (22) thereof to give a decorative appearance to the panels (20). Surface recrystallization is obtained by subjecting the panels (20) to multiple oven heating steps (H1, H2) with intermediate cooling steps (C1, C2), wherein during each heating step (H1, H2) maximum temperature ranges (TH1, TH2) are established and maintained for predetermined periods. The intermediate cooling steps (C1, C2) involve injection of an inert cooling gas (e.g., argon) into the oven to rapidly lower the temperature to minimum temperature ranges (TL1, TL2). Preferably, the individual panels (20) are framed using molybdenum frame assembly (42), and are then suspended on a graphite and molybdenum hanger assembly (72).

Abstract: A coated cubic boron nitride (cBN) sintered body most suitable for a cutting tool having excellent resistance to wear and heat in the high-speed cutting of steel has been developed. The sintered body comprises (a) a base material made of a sintered body comprising at least 99.5 vol. % cBN and (b) a hard coating 0.1 to 10 &mgr;m in thickness formed on at least part of the surface of the base material by the PVD method. It is desirable that the hard coating comprise at least one compound layer consisting mainly of (a) at least one metal element selected from Al and the IV a-group elements and (b) at least one element selected from C, N, and O. It is desirable to provide between the base material and the hard coating an intermediate layer comprising a compound consisting mainly of boron and at least one metal element selected from the IV a-group elements.

Abstract: A glass pane is provided with a multilayer system having metallic reflection and a high thermal resistance. The multilayer system comprises a dielectric base layer, a metal layer having a high reflection, made of chromium or a metal alloy containing at least 45 wt % chromium, and a nitride top layer. The dielectric base layer is composed of at least one oxide partial layer made of SnO2, ZnO and/or TiO2, close to the surface of the glass, and a nitride partial layer, close to the metal layer.

Abstract: A hybrid film, comprising a first polymer film having a plasma-treated surface and a second polymer film having first and second surfaces, with the first surface of the second polymer film being disposed along the first plasma-treated surface of the first polymer film, has superior thermal and mechanical properties that improve performance in a number of applications, including food packaging, thin film metallized and foil capacitors, metal evaporated magnetic tapes, flexible electrical cables, and decorative and optically variable films. One or more metal layers may be deposited on either the plasma-treated surface of the substrate and/or the radiation-cured acrylate polymer. A ceramic layer may be deposited on the radiation-cured acrylate polymer to provide an oxygen and moisture barrier film.

Abstract: There is provided an electroless Ni—B plating liquid for forming, a Ni—B alloy film on at least part of the interconnects of an electronic device having an embedded interconnect structure, the electroless Ni—B plating liquid comprising nickel ions, a complexing agent for nickel ions, a reducing agent for nickel ions, and ammonums (NH4+). The electroless Ni—B plating liquid can lower the boron content of the resulting plated film without increasing the plating rate and form a Ni—B alloy film having an FCC crystalline structure.

Abstract: A symmetric van der Pauw disk of homogeneous nonmagnetic semiconductor material, such as indium antimonide, with an embedded concentric conducting material inhomogeneity, such as gold, exhits room temperature geometric extraordinary magnetoresistance (EMR) as high as 100%, 9,100% and 750,000% at magnetic fields of 0.05, 0.25 and 4.0 Tesla, respectively. Moreover, for inhomogeneities of sufficiently large cross section relative to that of the surrounding semiconductor material, the resistance of the disk is field-independent up to an onset field above which the resistance increases rapidly. These results can be understood in terms of the field-dependent deflection of current around the inhomogeneity.

Abstract: A multi-layer coating including a polymeric basecoat layer wherein the polymer of the basecoat layer is cured at subatmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An erosion-resistant article for use as a component in plasma process chamber. The erosion-resistant article comprises a support and an oxide coating comprising yttrium, which is disposed over the support. The support and the oxide coating preferably have material compositions that differ from one another in coefficient of thermal expansion by no more than 5×10−6/K. Preferred oxide coating compositions include yttria and yttrium aluminum garnet. Preferred supports include alumina supports and aluminum-silicon carbide supports.

Abstract: A heat treatable coated article including an infrared (IR) reflecting layer (e.g., of or including Ag), the coated article being able to attain a &Dgr;E* (glass side) no greater than about 3.0, more preferably no greater than 2.5, and even more preferably no greater than 2.0, following or due to heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering). Accordingly, low-E (i.e., low emissivity) coated articles of certain embodiments of this invention appear from the glass side thereof visually similar to the naked eye both before and after heat treatment. Coated articles herein may be used in the context of insulating glass (IG) window units, vehicle windshields, or any other suitable applications. In certain embodiments of this invention, an exemplary layer stack includes: glass/Si3N4/NiCr/Ag/NiCr/Si3N4. Other materials may instead be used without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the instant invention which is a low-E matchable product.

Abstract: A ceramic composite made by compacting a starting powder blend. The composite includes between about 50 volume percent and about 99 volume percent of a ceramic matrix; and between about 1 volume percent and about 50 volume percent as-processed silicon carbide whiskers. The ceramic composite having a fracture toughness (KIC) of greater than about 4.0 MPam1/2. The ceramic has a silicon carbide whisker density as measured in whiskers per square millimeter equal to or less than about 1500 times the volume percent of silicon carbide whiskers, but in a density sufficient for the ceramic composite to have the fracture toughness.

Abstract: A weldable structural steel product having fine complex precipitates of TiN and CuS is provided which contains, in terms of percent by weight, 0.03 to 0.17%C, 0.01 to 0.05% Si, 0.4 to 2.0% Mn, 0.005 to 0.2% Ti, 0.0005 to 0.1% Al, 0.008 to 0.030% N, 0.0003 to 0.01% B, 0.001 to 0.2% W, 0.1 to 1.5% Cu, at most 0.03% P, 0.003 to 0.05% S, at most 0.005% O, and balance Fe and incidental impurities while satisfying conditions of 1.2≦Ti/N≦2.5, 10≦N/B≦40, 2.5≦Al/N≦7, 6.5≦(Ti+2Al+4B)/N≦14, and 10≦Cu/S≦90, and having a microstructure essentially consisting of a complex structure of ferrite and pearlite having a grain size of 20 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: There is provided a metal/ceramic circuit board capable of eliminating discrepancy during mounting of parts to improve the reliability of mounting of the parts. The metal/ceramic circuit board has a ceramic substrate 10, and a metal circuit plate (a copper plate 14) bonded to the ceramic substrate 10, the metal circuit plate having a thickness of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, and the metal circuit plate having a skirt spreading length (a dimensional difference between the bottom and top portion of the peripheral edge portion of the metal circuit plate) of less than 50 &mgr;m.

Abstract: Chain parts and other steel articles are provided with hard, wear-resistant carbide coatings by tumbling them in a heated retort with a particulate mix which includes a source of vanadium and/or niobium. The steel substrate comprises a steel having at least 0.2% carbon, preferably 0.7-1.2%. Where the chromium content of the steel is 4-12%, preferably 4-8%, the chemical deposition process includes drawing a small amount of chromium from the steel substrate into the vanadium or niobium carbide coating, where it is distributed substantially homogeneously, helping to provide adhesion strength to the coating.

Abstract: The invention concerns a wear-resistant coating on rotary metal-cutting tools such as drill bits, countersinks, milling cutters, screw taps, reamers, etc. The coating according to the invention consists essentially of nitrides of Cr, Ti and Al with a unusually high share of Cr atoms, namely 30 to 60% referred to the totality of metal atoms. In multilayer coatings and even more in coatings made of homogeneous mixed phases, this high Cr share results in particularly large tool life distances for the tools hardened with these coatings. These tools exhibit their superiority particularly during dry use without cooling lubricants or with minimal lubrication.

Abstract: A decorative article with a whitish gold color that can retain an exceptionally beautiful appearance over a long period of time, a surface processing method manufacturing such decorative articles, and a timepiece having such decorative parts. The surface processing method includes forming a primary coat on at least part of a surface of base material, and forming a film composed of an Au—Pd—Fe—In alloy containing about 0.1 to about 10 wt % Pd, about 0.1 to about 8 wt % Fe, and about 0.1 to about 10.0 wt % In using a dry plating method. The primary coat preferably is, or includes, a buffer layer for buffering the potential difference between the base material and the film. The film is preferably formed in a dry plating method using multiple targets of different metal compositions.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive thin-film magnetic element including a composite comprising an antiferromagnetic layer, a pinned magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic conductive layer, a free magnetic layer; hard bias layers for orienting the magnetic vectors of the free magnetic layer in a direction substantially orthogonal to the magnetization vector of the pinned magnetic layer; and a conductive layer for supplying a sense current is provided. The hard bias layers are provided at the two sides of the free magnetic layer. The hard bias layers and the free magnetic layers are in contact with each other at least partly. Bias underlayers are provided at the bottom of the hard bias layers.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer decorative and protective coating. The coating contains a polymeric basecoat layer containing (i) an epoxy urethane resin or (ii) the reaction products of a polyamine and an epoxy urethane resin. Over the polymeric basecoat layer is a vapor deposited chromium, chromium compound, refractory metal compound or refractory metal alloy compound decorative and protective layer.

Abstract: A highly reliable member for a semiconductor device, in which a high melting point metallizing layer, which consists mainly of a high melting point metal such as W and/or Mo, and an intervening metal layer, which has a melting point of not greater than 1,000° C. and consists mainly of at least one selected from among Ni, Cu and Fe, are provided on an AlN substrate material in this order on the AlN substrate material, and a conductor layer consisting mainly of copper is directly bonded to the intervening metal layer without intervention of a solder material layer. A semiconductor element or the like is mounted on the member for a semiconductor device, thereby fabricating a semiconductor device. The high melting point metallizing layer is formed on an aluminum nitride substrate by post-fire or co-fire matallization.

Abstract: A composite member includes a ceramic base and a metallic member which are bonded to each other. An active metal foil is disposed on the surface of the ceramic base and a solder material including Au or a solder material including an Au—Ag alloy is disposed on the active metal foil. The active metal foil and the solder material are heated to form a bonding layer and the metallic member is disposed on the surface of the bonding layer, and these are pressed and heated to bond the bonding layer and the metallic member through solid phase bonding. Since in this composite member the bonding layer and the metallic member are bonded by solid phase bonding, the composite members can be effectively inhibited from breakage caused by residual stress at the time of bonding and, moreover, is excellent in thermal cycle characteristics and thermal shock characteristics.

Abstract: Magnetic film comprising a substantially crystalline magnetic layer and an intermediate layer alternately formed in contact with each other, wherein the magnetic layer has composition (M1&agr;1X1&bgr;1)100−&dgr;1A1&dgr;1 (&agr;1, &bgr;1, and &dgr;1 represent % by atomic weight; M1 is at least one of Fe, Co, and Ni; X1 is at least one of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Si, Ge, Sn, Al, Ga, and transition metals excluding M1; and A1 is at least one of O and N), wherein: 0.1≦&bgr;1≦12 &agr;1+&bgr;1=100 0<&dgr;1≦10; the intermediate layer has composition (M2&agr;2X2&bgr;2)100−&dgr;2A2&dgr;2 (&agr;2, &bgr;2, and &dgr;2 represent % by atomic weight; M2 is at least one of Fe, Co, and Ni; X2 is at least one of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Si, Ge, Sn, Al, Ga, Ge and transition metals excluding the M2; and A2 is O), wherein: 0.1≦&bgr;2≦80 &agr;2+&bgr;2=100 &dgr;1≦&dgr;2≦67.

Abstract: In a slide member comprising a base member and a slide layer including a first surface fixed to the base member and a second surface being opposite to the first surface in a thickness direction of the slide layer and capable of contacting another member in such a manner that the another member is movable on the second surface, the slide layer includes silver as a main component of the slide layer and a solid lubricant.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed towards a carrier of a motor vehicle. The carrier is formed of a first portion and the second portion. The first portion is made of aluminum having ceramic particles reinforcing the aluminum matrix. The second portion is made of unreinforced aluminum metal or metal alloy. Preferably the second portion is present in form of discrete pockets in the first portion and is adapted to be machined or welded.

Abstract: An ice skate blade is provided which has improved fracture toughness, strength, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance, while at the same time being lighter weight than other materials of manufacture.

Abstract: At least a portion of a free layer structure in a spin valve sensor is composed of nickel iron molybdenum (NiFeMo) so that the free layer structure does not have to be reduced in thickness in order to have a reduced magnetic moment for responding to lower signal fields from smaller bits on a rotating magnetic disk.

Abstract: There is provided a metal/ceramic bonding article which ensures sufficient thermal shock resistance and has a substrate having a small outside dimension and which has both high reliability and compactness. The metal/ceramic bonding article comprises: a ceramic substrate; and a metal plate bonded to the ceramic substrate via a brazing filler metal, wherein the brazing filler metal protrudes from the bottom face of the metal plate by a length which is longer than 30 &mgr;m and which is 250 &mgr;m or less, or wherein the brazing filler metal protrudes from the bottom face of the metal plate by a length which is 25% or more of the thickness of the metal plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the application of a lubricant layer to a frictionally stressed surface of an object, and to a corresponding object, the lubricant layer, in use, containing boric acid. For production, the object is introduced into a reactor and the reactor is evacuated. Then, to produce an adhesion-promoter layer, a process gas is introduced, which contains boron, nitrogen and/or carbon at least in the form of a compound or releases the corresponding element under process conditions, and penetrates into the region of the surface of the object, in particular by diffusion. To produce an intermediate layer containing boron and oxygen, a second precursor material, which contains boron at least in the form of a compound and releases the boron under process conditions, and a first precursor material, which contains oxygen at least in the form of a compound and releases the oxygen under process conditions, are introduced into the depositing gas phase.

Abstract: A method of producing an ohmic contact to p-type silicon carbide comprising two layers, the first one comprising nickel silicide and the second one comprising titanium carbide is disclosed. The deposited layers are annealed to convert at least a part of deposited metals to nickel silicide and titanium carbide. The contact is formed by reaction between the metals and the semiconductor, and thus the in-situ simultaneous formation of metal silicide and carbide suppress the release of excess carbon at the contact interface. Noble metals may be deposited preferably in between titanium and nickel to improve the contact morphology.

Abstract: A ball ring unit, in particular for reverse movement locks and seat belt systems has a plurality of locking balls arranged in a ring. The ring of locking balls has a covering that combines the locking balls to form a module. The ball ring unit can be used in a seat belt pretensioner.

Abstract: An article, particularly a metallic article, is coated with a multi-layer coating having the color or appearance of dark copper. The coating comprises a chromium, refractory metal or refractory metal alloy adhesion promoting layer, a titanium-zirconium alloy nitride or titanium-zirconium alloy carbonitride protective and color layer, and a titanium-zirconium alloy oxide or titanium-zirconium oxynitride color enhancing layer.

Abstract: Coated articles are provided with an anti-reflective (AR) layer(s) system which enables reduced reflection, increased visible transmission, and/or neutral color. In certain embodiments, the AR layer(s) system includes a silicon nitride layer(s), a silicon oxynitride layer, and/or a silicon oxide layer on the substrate over an infrared (IR) reflecting layer(s) such as silver. The AR system surprisingly enables improved visible transmission and/or reflection to be combined with more neutral color.

Abstract: A spin-valve thin-film magnetic element includes a substrate; an antiferromagnetic layer; a pinned magnetic layer in contact with the antiferromagnetic layer, the magnetization direction of the pinned magnetic layer being pinned by an exchange coupling magnetic field with the antiferromagnetic layer; a nonmagnetic conductive layer in contact with the pinned magnetic layer; a free magnetic layer in contact with the nonmagnetic conductive layer, the magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer being aligned in a direction perpendicular to the magnetization direction of the pinned magnetic layer; and a back layer composed of a nonmagnetic conductive material formed in contact with the free magnetic layer at the opposite side of the nonmagnetic conductive layer. The back layer is composed of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ru, Pt, Ir, Rh, Pd, Os, and Cr.

Abstract: The tableware according to the invention comprises Ti or a Ti alloy and has a surface hard layer comprising a first hardened layer which is formed in the region of an arbitrary depth from the surface and in which nitrogen and oxygen are diffused so as to form a solid solution and a second hardened layer which is formed in an arbitrary region deeper than the first hardened layer. The purpose of the process for surface treatment of tableware according to the invention is to form the surface hard layer. The substrate having a hard decorative coating film according to the invention is a substrate comprising Ti or a Ti alloy and having on its surface an internal hardened layer comprising a first hardened layer and a second hardened layer, wherein the hard decorative coating film is formed on the surface of the internal hardened layer. The cutlery according to the invention comprises a working part and a grip, and the grip is provided with a floating means such as a hollow art.

Abstract: A composite raw material is subjected to masking, and then the composite raw material is pretreated. After that, a surface of the composite raw material is activated, and a metal catalyst is applied to a joining surface of the composite raw material and a surface of a masking tape. Subsequently, an electroless plating treatment is performed to form a plating layer on the joining surface of the composite raw material and the surface of the masking tape. It is preferable that the thickness of the plating layer is 5 to 100 &mgr;m. After that, the masking tape which has been stuck to the composite raw material is removed, and then a drying treatment is performed for the composite raw material having the plating layer formed only on the joining surface.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium in which a seedlayer includes an aluminum-containing intermetallic nitride for improved performance.

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 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: Disclosed is a method for reforming hydrocarbons comprising contacting the hydrocarbons with a catalyst in a reactor system of improved resistance to carburization and metal dusting under conditions of low sulfur.

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.