Patent ID: 7144637

Claim:
A black, chrome-free, multilayer, corrosion-resistant finish, the corrosion-resistant finish for application to a metal substrate, the corrosion-resistant finish comprising at least three layers, the three layers including: a zinc-iron substrate layer, the zinc-iron substrate layer being electroplated to a select substrate, the zinc-iron substrate layer being electroplated to the select substrate from a select, non-cyanide, alkaline-based electroplating process; a phosphate crystal conversion layer, the phosphate crystal conversion layer being non-electrolytic and formed upon the zinc-iron substrate layer using an orthophosphoric acid bath, the zinc-iron substrate layer and the phosphate crystal conversion layer thus forming a zinc-iron-phosphate-crystal substrate; and a select sealer coating layer, the select sealer coating layer being black in color and chrome-free, the select sealer coating layer coating the zinc-iron-phosphate-crystal substrate, the coated zinc-iron-phosphate-crystal substrate thus forming the multilayer, corrosion-resistant finish.