Colored Razor Blades

Abstract

Colored razor blades are provided. Methods for manufacturing such blades are also provided, including methods involving depositing an oxide coating prior to heat treatment of the blade material and heat treating under conditions selected to enhance the color of the coating.

1 . A razor blade for use in a wet shaving system, comprising:
 a blade formed of a stainless steel sheet material and having a sharpened cutting edge wherein said material has been a) heated to a high temperature, b) austenized under a forming gas, and c) while still under the forming gas, its temperature lowered prior to oxidation;   and   a colored coating disposed on at least a portion of the blade wherein said colored coating is formed from oxidizing and quenching the material and wherein said coating comprises a metallic oxide and/or a metallic oxynitride.   
   
   
       2 . The razor blade of  claim 1  wherein said colored coating covers substantially the entire blade. 
   
   
       3 . The razor blade of  claim 2  wherein said oxidized colored coating consists of titanium oxide, and/or other transition metal oxides including zirconium, aluminum, silicon, tungsten, tantalum, niobium, iron, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The razor blade of  claim 1  wherein said stainless steel comprises martensitic stainless steel. 
   
   
       5 . The razor blade of  claim 1  wherein said coating has a color selected from the group consisting of gold, violet, green and blue. 
   
   
       6 . The razor blade of  claim 1  wherein said coating has a thickness of from about 300 to 10,000 Angstroms. 
   
   
       7 . The razor blade of  claim 6  wherein said coating has a thickness of from about 600 to 2400 Angstroms. 
   
   
       8 . A wet shaving system, comprising: a razor including a blade formed of a stainless steel sheet material and having a sharpened cutting edge wherein said material has been a) heated to a high temperature, b) austenized under a forming gas, and c) while still under the forming gas, its temperature lowered prior to oxidation, the blade having a colored coating disposed on at least a portion of the blade wherein said colored coating is formed from oxidizing and quenching the material and wherein said coating comprises a metallic oxide and/or a metallic oxynitride. 
   
   
       9 . The shaving system of  claim 8  wherein said colored coating covers substantially the entire blade. 
   
   
       10 . The shaving system of  claim 8  wherein said oxide consists of titanium oxide, and/or other transition metal oxides including zirconium, aluminum, silicon, tungsten, tantalum, niobium, iron, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       11 . The shaving system of  claim 8  wherein said stainless steel comprises martensitic stainless steel. 
   
   
       12 . The shaving system of  claim 8  wherein said coating has a color selected from the group consisting of gold, violet, green and blue. 
   
   
       13 . The shaving system of  claim 12  wherein said coating has a thickness of from about 300 to 10,000 Angstroms. 
   
   
       14 . The shaving system of  claim 13  wherein said coating has a thickness of from about 600 to 2400 Angstroms.