# US 10,372,083 B2 · Method for treating a surface of a timepiece component, and timepiece component obtained from such a method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,372,083 B2 - Document ID: US10372083B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/412,845 - Filed: 2013-07-08 - Published: 2015-07-02 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-06 - Assignees: Rolex SA - Applicants: Rolex SA - Inventors: Susana del Carmen Tobenas Borron - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10372083B2 ## CPC - G04B 17/066: {Manufacture of the spiral spring (locking of the spiral spring by the regulating lever G04B18/026; spiral spring with temperature compensation G04B17/227; fixation of the spiral spring on the collet G04B17/32; mainspring G04B1/14)} - C23C 16/32: Carbides - C23C 16/34: Nitrides {(C23C16/303 takes precedence)} - C23C 16/40: Oxides - C23C 16/45525: {Atomic layer deposition [ALD]} - Y10T 428/24942: including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree - G04B: MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS (spring- or weight-driven mechanisms in general F03G; electromechanical clocks or watches G04C; electromechanical clocks with attached or built-in means operating any device at pre-selected times or after predetermined time intervals G04C23/00; clocks or watches with stop devices G04F7/08) - C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method for treating a surface (2) of a base (1) of a timepiece component (10), in particular a balance spring, e.g. a balance spring made of a paramagnetic NbZr alloy, includes: a first step of depositing a first layer (41) of a first oxide or first nitride or first carbide; and a second step of depositing a second layer (51) of a second oxide or second nitride or second carbide. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for treating a Nb—Zr alloy surface of a base of a timepiece component which is an oscillator component, the process comprising: a first step of depositing by atomic deposition a first layer of a first material which is Al2O3; and a second step of depositing by atomic deposition on the first layer a second layer of a second material which is TiO2, wherein a combination of the first layer and second layer has a negative thermoelastic coefficient. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oscillator component is a hairspring. ### Claim 3 A timepiece component which is an oscillator component having a treated surface obtained by performing a process for treating a Nb—Zr alloy surface of a base of the timepiece component, the process comprising: a first step of depositing by atomic deposition a first layer of a first material which is Al2O3; and a second step of depositing by atomic deposition on the first layer a second layer of a second material which is TiO2, wherein a combination of the first layer and second layer has a negative thermoelastic coefficient. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The timepiece component as claimed in claim 3, wherein the oscillator component is a hairspring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The timepiece component as claimed in claim 3, wherein the process is a phase of forming a double layer comprising the first layer and the second layer, and the treated surface is obtained by repeating the phase comprising the first step and the second step, so as to obtain a coating comprising a plurality of double layers. ### Claim 6 A timepiece component which is an oscillator component comprising a base and a coating on a Nb—Zr alloy surface of the base, the coating including: a first layer deposited by atomic deposition of a first material which is Al2O3; and on the first layer, a second layer deposited by atomic deposition of a second material which is TiO2, wherein a combination of the first layer and second layer has a negative thermoelastic coefficient. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The timepiece component as claimed in claim 6, wherein the coating comprises: a first group of superposed layers including the first layer and the second layer, and a second group of superposed layers including a third layer and a fourth layer, the third layer being a layer deposited by atomic deposition of a first material which is Al2O3; and the fourth layer being a layer deposited on the third layer by atomic deposition of a second material which is TiO2, the second group being superposed on the first group. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The timepiece component as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first layer and the second layer form a double layer, and the coating comprises a plurality of double layers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The timepiece component as claimed in claim 7, wherein the coating further comprises: a third group of superposed layers including a fifth layer and a sixth layer, the fifth layer being a layer deposited by atomic deposition of a first material which is Al2O3; and the sixth layer being a layer deposited on the fifth layer by atomic deposition of a second material which is TiO2, the third group being superposed on the second group. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The timepiece component as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first layer and the second layer each have a thickness in a range of from 2 nm to 15 nm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The timepiece component as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first layer, the second layer, the third layer and the fourth layer each have a thickness in a range of from 2 nm to 15 nm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The timepiece component as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, the fourth layer, the fifth layer and the sixth layer each have a thickness in a range of from 2 nm to 15 nm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The timepiece component as claimed in claim 6, wherein the oscillator component is a hairspring. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) A timepiece item comprising a timepiece component as claimed in claim 3. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) A timepiece item comprising a timepiece component as claimed in claim 6.