Article having a decorative and protective coating simulating brass

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is directed to a metallic substrate having a multi-layer coating disposed or deposited on its surface.
More particularly, it is directed to a metallic substrate, particularly brass, having deposited on its surface multiple superposed metallic layers of certain specific types of metals or metal compounds.
The coating is decorative and also provides corrosion and wear resistance.
The coating provides the appearance of polished brass, i.
e.
has a brass color tone.
Thus, an article surface having the coating thereon simulates a polished brass surface.
A first layer deposited directly on the surface of the substrate is comprised of nickel.
The first layer is preferably comprised of a bright nickel layer.
Disposed over the nickel layer is a layer comprised of tin-nickel alloy.
Over the tin-nickel alloy layer is a top layer comprised of a non-precious refractory metal compound such as a zirconium compound, titanium compound, hafnium compound or tantalum compound, preferably a titanium compound or a zirconium compound such as zirconium nitride.
The nickel and tin-nickel alloy layers are applied by electroplating.
The refractory metal compound such as zirconium compound layer is applied by vapor deposition such as reactive sputter ion deposition.