Wheels Having Oxide Coating And Method of Making The Same

Abstract

In one embodiment, an article includes a surface; a metallic layer including a first metal and contacting the surface; and an oxide layer including an oxide of a second metal different from the first metal and contacting the metallic layer. The article may further include a polymer layer contacting the surface of the oxide layer directed away from the article surface. In certain instances, the article is a vehicle wheel.

1 . An article comprising:
 a substrate including a surface;   a metallic layer including a first metal and contacting the surface; and   an oxide layer including an oxide of a second metal different from the first metal and contacting the metallic layer surface directed away from the article surface.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic layer includes a first metallic surface contacting the oxide layer, a second metallic surface, and a metallic bulk between the first and second metallic surfaces, the first metallic surface including a higher concentration of polar groups than the second metallic surface. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic layer includes less than 5 percent by weight of oxygen. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the oxide layer includes no less than 5 percent by weight of oxygen. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the oxide layer has a thickness of 1 to 5 nanometers. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising a polymer layer such that the oxide layer is positioned between the metallic layer and the polymer layer. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 6 , wherein the polymer layer includes a first polymer surface contacting the oxide layer, a second polymer surface, and a polymer bulk spacing apart the first and second polymer surfaces, the first polymer surface includes an increased concentration of polar groups relative to the second polymer surface. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 6 , wherein the polymer layer has a thickness of 50 to 100 micrometers. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising a first primer layer positioned between the article surface and the metallic layer. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9 , further comprising a second primer layer chemically different from the first primer layer, the second primer layer positioned between the first primer layer and the metallic layer. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic layer includes a metal alloy of the first metal. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate includes a metal, a polymer, or both. 
     
     
         13 . An article comprising:
 a substrate including a surface;   a first primer layer contacting the surface;   a metallic layer including a first metal and contacting the first primer layer;   an oxide layer including an oxide of a second metal different from the first metal and contacting the metallic layer surface directed away from the article substrate; and   a polymer layer contacting the oxide layer surface directed away from the article surface.   
     
     
         14 . A method of coating a surface, comprising:
 forming an oxide layer on a surface with a metallic layer, the metallic layer including a first metal and the oxide layer including an oxide of a second metal different from the first metal.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of forming is carried out in a vacuum. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising forming the metallic layer in a vacuum. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising forming a first primer layer positioned between the article surface and the metallic layer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising forming a second primer layer positioned between the first primer layer and the metallic layer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising subjecting the surface to a plasma treatment prior to forming the metallic layer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising forming a polymer layer subsequent to the step of forming the oxide layer.