Metal transaction cards containing ceramic having selected coloring and texture

A card body for an RFID-enabled smartcard comprising:

• a metal core comprising at least one layer of a metallic material having an opening for a transponder chip module and a slit extending from the opening to a peripheral edge of the metal layer to enable the metal layer to function as a coupling frame;
• a support layer comprising a polymer disposed on a front surface of the metal core;
• and
• a layer of ultra-thin flexible ceramic material or flexible glass disposed on the polymeric support layer;
• wherein:
• the ceramic material comprises 3 mol % Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (3YSZ).

A method for making an RFID-enabled smartcard comprising:

• providing a thick metal core layer having first and second surfaces and having a discontinuity to function as a coupling frame, the thick metal core layer forming a supporting body of said transaction card, wherein the thick metal core layer has a thickness in the range of 250 microns to 500 microns;
• providing a thin decorative layer, on a front surface of the metal core, having a flexible polymeric backing layer, wherein the thin decorative layer and the polymeric layer together have a thickness in a range of 100 microns to 250 microns;
• and
• attaching said thin decorative layer with the polymeric backing layer to at least one of the surfaces of the thick metal core layer.

A method for making RFID-enabled metal transaction cards comprising:

• providing a core layer for supporting and forming a body of the card, said core layer having first and second surfaces, the core layer comprising a metal layer having a discontinuity;
• providing a decorative layer comprising anodized aluminum having a discontinuity;
• and
• attaching the decorative layer to the core layer.