Method of manufacturing multi-layer thin film, member including the same and electronic product including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9845535-B2
Application number	US-201414291652-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2014
Priority date	May 31, 2013
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method of forming a multilayer thin film by depositing target particles, detached from a target by plasma discharge of inert gas, on a metal object using a multilayer thin film deposition apparatus and a multilayer thin film formed by the method. More specifically, a sputtering deposition apparatus is used as the multilayer thin film deposition apparatus. The method includes coating a metal object with a coating layer, depositing at least one hardness-enhancing layer on the coating layer, and depositing a color layer on the at least one hardness-enhancing layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing a multi-layer thin film, the method comprising:
coating a metal object with a coating layer;
depositing at least one hardness-enhancing layer on the coating layer;
depositing a color layer on the at least one hardness-enhancing layer, and
depositing a protective layer on the color layer;
wherein the depositing the at least one hardness-enhancing layer on the coating layer consists of:
depositing a first hardness-enhancing layer comprising chromium (Cr) on the coating layer; and
depositing a second hardness-enhancing layer on the first hardness-enhancing layer, the second hardness-enhancing layer comprising at least one material selected from a group consisting of titanium nitride (TiN), chromium nitride (CrN) and aluminum nitride (AlN).

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the coating the metal object with the coating layer comprises creating a substantially smooth surface with the coating layer.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the coating the metal object with the coating layer comprises forming the coating layer to a thickness of about 1 to about 30 micrometers.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the coating the metal object with the coating layer comprises using one of a stoving paint, a UV paint and a powdered paint.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the coating layer comprises at least one of an acrylic resin, a melamine resin and an epoxy resin.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the color layer comprises at least one material selected from a group consisting of chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), copper (Cu), gold (Au) and titanium nitride (TiN).

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the protective layer consists of at least one material selected from a group consisting of Teflon and silicon.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each of the coating the metal object with the coating layer, the depositing the at least one hardness-enhancing layer, and the depositing the color layer comprise using at least one of a pulsed direct current power source and a radio frequency power source.

9. A metal member comprising:
a metal object;
a coating layer coated on the metal object;
at least one hardness-enhancing layer disposed on the coating layer;
a color layer deposited on the at least one hardness-enhancing layer; and
a protective layer disposed on the color layer;
wherein the at least one hardness-enhancing layer consists of:
a first hardness-enhancing layer comprising chromium (Cr) disposed on the coating layer; and
a second hardness-enhancing layer, disposed on the first hardness-enhancing layer, the second hardness-enhancing layer comprising at least one material selected from a group consisting of titanium nitride (TiN), chromium nitride (CrN) and aluminum nitride (AlN).

10. The metal member according to claim 9 , wherein the coating layer comprises a substantially surface which is smoother than a surface of the metal object on which the coating layer is coated.

11. The metal member according to claim 9 , wherein the coating layer has a thickness of about 1 to about 30 micrometers.

12. The metal member according to claim 9 , wherein the coating layer comprises at least one material selected from a group consisting of a stoving paint, a UV paint and a powdered paint.

13. The metal member according to claim 9 , wherein the coating layer comprises at least one of an acrylic resin, a melamine resin and an epoxy resin.

14. The metal member according to claim 9 , wherein the color layer comprises at least one material selected from a group consisting of chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), copper (Cu), gold (Au) and titanium nitride (TiN), and wherein the color layer is different from the second hardness-enhancing layer.

15. The metal member according to claim 9 , wherein the protective layer consists of at least one material selected from a group consisting of Teflon and silicon.

16. An electronic product comprising:
a housing comprising a metal component; and
a multi-layer thin film bonded to an entirety or a part of a surface of the housing,
wherein the multi-layer thin film consists of:
a coating layer bonded to the entirety or part of the surface of the housing;
at least one hardness-enhancing layer bonded to the coating layer;
a color layer bonded to the at least one hardness-enhancing layer; and
a protective layer bonded to the color layer, and

wherein the at least one hardness-enhancing layer consists of:
a first hardness-enhancing layer, comprising chromium (Cr) disposed on the coating layer; and
a second hardness-enhancing layer, disposed on the first hardness-enhancing layer, the second hardness-enhancing layer comprising at least one material selected from a group consisting of titanium nitride (TiN), chromium nitride (CrN) and aluminum nitride (AlN).

17. The electronic product according to claim 16 , wherein the housing comprises an accessory.

18. The electronic product according to claim 16 , wherein the metal component comprises at least one material selected from a group consisting of aluminum (Al), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), steel use stainless (SUS), stainless steel (STS) and steel.

19. The electronic product according to claim 16 , wherein the color layer comprises at least one material selected from a group consisting of chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), copper (Cu), gold (Au) and titanium nitride (TiN), and wherein the color layer is different from the second hardness-enhancing layer.

20. The electronic product according to claim 16 , wherein the protective layer consists of at least one material selected from a group consisting of Teflon and silicon.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Jin Sub
• Yoo Hyong Jun
• Jung Min Chul
• Jung Hyun Jun
• Cho Jin Hyun

Classifications

• Y10T428/31544

  Addition polymer is perhalogenated · CPC title

• Y10T428/31681

  Next to polyester, polyamide or polyimide [e.g., alkyd, glue, or nylon, etc.] · CPC title

• C23C14/0015

  characterized by the colour of the layer · CPC title

• C23C14/3485

  using pulsed power to the target · CPC title

• Y10T428/31678

  Of metal · CPC title