Ceramic-containing and ceramic composite transaction cards

1. A process for making a card, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a core layer having a first surface and a second surface;

(b) disposing an uncured decorative ceramic layer, comprising ceramic particles disposed in a resin binder, over the first surface of the core layer; and

(c) curing the uncured decorative ceramic layer to form a cured decorative ceramic layer;

wherein step (b) comprises spray coating the decorative ceramic layer over the first surface of the core layer.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the spray coating comprises a mixture comprising zirconia dioxide, aluminum disilicide, the pigment, and the binder suspended in a volatile organic carrier solution.

3. The process of claim 1 , further comprising the step of forming one or more pockets in the core layer or the cured decorative ceramic layer.

4. The process of claim 3 , comprising disposing a contact or DI chip module in the pocket such that an exposed outer surface of the contact or DI chip module is smoothly aligned with an exposed outer surface of the cured decorative ceramic layer.

5. The process of claim 1 , comprising forming at least one pocket in the core layer prior to performing steps (b) and (c).

6. A process for making a card, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a core layer having a first surface and a second surface;

(b) disposing an uncured decorative ceramic layer, comprising ceramic particles disposed in a resin binder, over the first surface of the core layer;

(c) curing the uncured decorative ceramic layer to form a cured decorative ceramic layer; and

(d) forming at least one pocket in the core layer prior to performing steps (b) and (c);

wherein performing steps (b) and (c) results in a depression in the ceramic layer overlying the at least one pocket, and the process further comprises disposing a component in the depression such that the component and the cured decorative ceramic layer not overlying the pocket define a smooth surface.

7. A process for making a card, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a core layer having a first surface and a second surface;

(b) disposing an uncured decorative ceramic layer, comprising ceramic particles disposed in a resin binder, over the first surface of the core layer;

(c) curing the uncured decorative ceramic layer to form a cured decorative ceramic layer;

(d) forming at least one pocket in the core layer prior to performing steps (b) and (c); and

(e) disposing a component in the pocket prior to performing steps (b) and (c), such that the component is disposed below the cured decorative ceramic layer after performing steps (b) and (c).

8. The process of claim 7 , wherein the component comprises a booster antenna.

9. The process of claim 1 , comprising forming said at least one pocket in the cured decorative ceramic layer after performing steps (b) and (c).

10. The process of claim 9 , comprising forming said at least one pocket having a depth that extends to said core layer, and securing a component to said core layer within said pocket.

11. The process of claim 1 , further comprising providing an artistic effect on the cured decorative ceramic layer by performing an engraving step, a printing step, or a laser marking step.

12. A process for making a card, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a core layer having a first surface and a second surface;

(b) disposing an uncured decorative ceramic layer, comprising ceramic particles disposed in a resin binder, over the first surface of the core layer; and

(c) curing the uncured decorative ceramic layer to form a cured decorative ceramic layer; and

wherein step (c) comprises a thermal curing step.

13. A process for making a card, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a core layer having a first surface and a second surface;

(b) disposing an uncured decorative ceramic layer, comprising ceramic particles disposed in a resin binder, over the first surface of the core layer; and

(c) curing the uncured decorative ceramic layer to form a cured decorative ceramic layer; and

wherein step (c) comprises an air-curing step.

14. The process of claim 1 , wherein step (c) comprises a UV curing step.

15. A process for making a card, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a core layer having a first surface and a second surface;

(b) disposing an uncured decorative ceramic layer, comprising ceramic particles disposed in a resin binder, over the first surface of the core layer;

(c) curing the uncured decorative ceramic layer to form a cured decorative ceramic layer; and

(d) applying a surface finish to the first surface of the core prior to performing step (b).

16. The process of claim 1 , further comprising conducting at least steps (a)-(c) on a sheet comprising a plurality of cards, and then cutting the sheet into a plurality of card blanks.

17. The process of claim 1 , further comprising providing the card with one or more functional or security features.

18. The process of claim 17 , wherein the one or more functional or security features comprises a magnetic stripe, signature panel, or a hologram.

19. The process of claim 1 , further comprising laser-marking at least one feature on the cured decorative ceramic layer.

20. The process of claim 1 , further comprising removing a portion of the cured decorative ceramic layer to reveal a visible portion of a layer underlying the cured decorative ceramic layer.

21. The process of claim 1 , further comprising creating a design on or in the cured decorative ceramic layer comprising at least two colors or tones different than a color of the cured decorative ceramic layer.

22. A process for making a card, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a core layer having a first surface and a second surface;

(b) disposing an uncured decorative ceramic layer, comprising ceramic particles disposed in a resin binder, over the first surface of the core layer;

(c) curing the uncured decorative ceramic layer to form a cured decorative ceramic layer; and

(d) creating one or more surface features on the first surface of the core layer prior to step (b), wherein the one or more surface features result in depressions in the cured decorative ceramic layer.

23. A card comprising a product of the process of claim 22 .

24. The card of claim 23 , wherein the visible portion revealed by the step of removing the portion of the cured decorative ceramic layer comprises a portion of the core layer.

25. The card of claim 23 , further comprising an intermediate layer having a desired color disposed between the core layer and the cured decorative ceramic layer, wherein the visible portion revealed by the step of removing the portion of the cured decorative ceramic layer comprises a portion of the intermediate layer.

26. The card of claim 23 , wherein one of the core layer, a layer between the core layer and the cured decorative ceramic layer, or a combination thereof, includes a first metal layer and a second metal layer, wherein the visible portion revealed by the step of removing the portion of the cured decorative ceramic layer comprises respective portions of the first metal layer and the second metal layer.

27. A card comprising a product of the process of claim 1 .

28. The card of claim 27 , wherein core layer comprises metal, ceramic, or a combination thereof and forms a bulk of the card.

29. The card of claim 27 , wherein the core layer has a predetermined color and texture, and the cured decorative ceramic layer has one of a different color and different texture relative to the core layer.

30. The card of claim 27 , further comprising a second decorative layer attached to the second surface of the core layer.

31. The card of claim 30 , wherein the second decorative layer comprises a ceramic material.

32. The card of claim 30 , wherein the second decorative layer is different from the cured decorative ceramic layer on the first surface of the core.

33. The card of claim 32 , wherein the second decorative layer includes one of (a) an anodized metal layer, (b) a plant derived material veneer layer; (c) an animal derived material veneer layer; (d) an aggregate binder material veneer layer; and (e) a layer of crystal fabric material.

34. The card of claim 27 , further comprising an integrated circuit module located within said card for enabling at least one of: (a) wireless radio frequency (RF) transmission between the card and an external card reader; and (b) contact reading between the card and a contact reader.

35. The card of claim 27 , further comprising a polymeric layer attached to the bottom surface of the core layer.

36. The card of claim 35 , wherein the polymeric layer comprises PVC.

37. The card of claim 27 , further comprising further comprising at least one of: a magnetic stripe, a signature panel, branding, a hologram, or another functional feature applied directly to a surface of the ceramic layer.

38. The card of claim 37 , further comprising a pocket in the ceramic layer that extends to the metal core, wherein at least one of: a magnetic stripe, a signature panel, branding, a hologram, or another functional feature is bonded to the metal core in the pocket.

39. The card of claim 27 , further comprising a pocket formed in a first surface of the core layer, wherein the cured decorative ceramic layer is attached to the core layer within the pocket.

40. The card of claim 39 , wherein the core comprises a metal layer, and the top surface of the metal layer defines a frame around the pocket extending to an outer periphery of the metal layer, and the pocket has a depth substantially equal to a thickness of the cured decorative ceramic layer.

41. The card of claim 27 , wherein the cured decorative ceramic layer contains phosphors operative to shift incident light upfield or downfield to create an identifying image.

42. The card of claim 41 , wherein the phosphors define a watermark.

43. A card comprising a product of a process of for making a card, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a core layer having a first surface and a second surface;

(b) disposing an uncured decorative ceramic layer, comprising ceramic particles disposed in a resin binder, over the first surface of the core layer; and

(c) curing the uncured decorative ceramic layer to form a cured decorative ceramic layer; and

attaching a second decorative layer to the second surface of the core layer, wherein the second decorative layer is different from the cured decorative ceramic layer on the first surface of the core.

44. The card of claim 43 , wherein the second decorative layer includes one of (a) an anodized metal layer, (b) a plant derived material veneer layer; (c) an animal derived material veneer layer; (d) an aggregate binder material veneer layer; and (e) a layer of crystal fabric material.

45. The card of claim 43 , wherein the cured decorative ceramic layer contains phosphors operative to shift incident light upfield or downfield to create an identifying image.

46. The card of claim 43 , wherein the phosphors define a watermark.