Patent ID: 8007928

Claim:
A coated article having a black color comprising a substrate having a surface and having on at least a portion of the surface a multi-layer coating comprising in order: a first layer of a refractory metal oxycarbide having an oxygen content and a carbon content wherein the oxygen content is greater than the carbon content wherein the refractory metal oxycarbide of the first color layer is 30 to 40 atomic percent oxygen, 10 to 20 atomic percent carbon and 50 to 60 atomic percent refractory metal, a second color layer on top of the first color layer, wherein the second color layer comprises a layer of refractory metal oxycarbide having an oxygen content and a carbon content wherein the oxygen content is greater than the carbon content; and wherein the oxygen content and the carbon content of the second color layer is greater than the oxygen content and the carbon content of the first color layer wherein the refractory metal oxycarbide of the second color layer is 30 to 50 atomic percent oxygen, 10 to 30 atomic percent carbon and 30 to 50 atomic percent refractory metal; and a refractory metal oxide layer on top of the second color layer.