Colored metal clay and colored metals

Abstract

A composition for forming metal objects includes (a) first particles containing a jewelry-metal, and (b) second particles containing a refractory metal oxide. The composition allows the preparation of jewelry-metal in a large variety of colors.

1 . A composition for forming metal objects, comprising: 
 (a) first particles comprising a jewelry-metal, and    (b) second particles comprising a refractory metal oxide.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said jewelry-metal is selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, and platinum.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said first particles consist essentially of a member selected from the group consisting of fine silver, sterling silver, 24 karat gold, 18 karat gold, 14 karat gold, and 10 karat gold.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 2 , further comprising (c) a binder.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 2 , further comprising (d) a solvent.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 2 , further comprising (e) a surface-active agent.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 2 , further comprising (f) an adhesion-preventing agent.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 2 , further comprising (g) third particles comprising another refractory metal oxide.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said first particles have an average particle diameter of at most 1000 μm, and said second particles have an average particle diameter of at most 300 μm.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 4 , further comprising a solvent, and wherein said refractory metal oxide is stable in air at a temperature of at least 1976° F.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein said solvent is water, and said binder is a cellulose binder.  
     
     
         12 . A method of making the composition of  claim 1 , comprising mixing together ingredients, said ingredients comprising 
 (a) said first particles, and    (b) said second particles.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said ingredients further comprise (c) a binder and (d) a solvent.  
     
     
         14 . A method of making the composition of  claim 10 , comprising: 
 mixing together ingredients, said ingredients comprising    (a) said first particles,    (b) said second particles,    (c) said binder and    (d) said solvent.    
     
     
         15 . A metal object, comprising: 
 (a) a jewelry-metal, and    (b) second particles comprising a refractory metal oxide, in said jewelry-metal.    
     
     
         16 . The metal object of  claim 15 , wherein said second particles are in a subsurface of said metal object.  
     
     
         17 . The metal object of  claim 16 , wherein said second particles are present throughout said metal object.  
     
     
         18 . The metal object of  claim 15 , wherein said jewelry-metal is selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, and platinum.  
     
     
         19 . The metal object of  claim 18 , wherein said jewelry-metal comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of fine silver, sterling silver, 24 karat gold, 18 karat gold, 14 karat gold, and 10 karat gold.  
     
     
         20 . The metal object of  claim 15 , further comprising (g) third particles comprising another refractory metal oxide.  
     
     
         21 . The metal object of  claim 15 , wherein said second particles have an average particle diameter of at most 300 μm.  
     
     
         22 . The metal object of  claim 15 , wherein said refractory metal oxide is stable in air at a temperature of at least 1976° F.  
     
     
         23 . A method of making a metal object, comprising: 
 sintering the composition of  claim 1 .    
     
     
         24 . A method of making a metal object, comprising: 
 sintering the composition of  claim 2 .    
     
     
         25 . A method of making a metal object, comprising: 
 sintering the composition of  claim 3 .    
     
     
         26 . A method of making a metal object, comprising: 
 sintering the composition of  claim 9 .    
     
     
         27 . A method of making a metal object, comprising: 
 sintering the composition of  claim 10 .    
     
     
         28 . A method of making a metal object, comprising: 
 sintering the composition of  claim 11 .    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said sintering is at a temperature of at least 1470° F.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said sintering is at a temperature of at least 1470° F.