A foodware article having a thermally stable color, tarnish-resistant
ceramic coating that enables direct contact with a heat source, such as a
gas flame or the heating element of an electric stove. The foodware
article of the present invention includes a metal foodware article having
an inner food-contacting surface and an outer heat source-contacting
surface, a bonding layer deposited on a portion of the outer heat
source-contacting surface, and a first ceramic layer deposited adjacent
to a portion of the bonding layer, the first ceramic layer selected from
(Ti,Al)N, (Ti,Al)CN, (Ti,Al,X)N, or (Ti,Al,X)CN. A top layer of TiCN can
be deposited adjacent to the first ceramic layer. There may optionally be
alternating layers of a third ceramic selected from (Ti,Al)N, (Ti,Al)CN,
(Ti,Al,X)N, or (Ti,Al,X)CN and a fourth ceramic selected from TiN, TiCN,
XN or XCN deposited adjacent to the bonding layer and below the first
ceramic layer. The alternating layers can be repeated as many times as
desired. A method of making such a foodware article is also disclosed.
