Low pressure coated article having the appearance of stainless steel

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. Over the stack layer is a vapor deposited color layer, deposited at relatively low pressures of below about 8 millitorr, containing refractory metal nitrogen containing compounds or 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

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.