Breaking Boundaries With Bi-metal
ARTAZN™ is now offering its ZincSecure™ coin blank in a bi-metal (two-piece) coin option. This option provides enhanced security to mints and central banks to replace high denomination bi-metal coins or more expensive banknotes.
Bi-metal ZincSecure™ coins provide several advantages such as:
- Different plating available using different ZincSecure™ alloys (or combined with other substrates) for core and ring
- Enhanced security
- High aesthetic appeal
Security
Using different ZincSecure™ alloys for the outer ring and the inner core for the bi-metal coin strengthens its security. Each of the alloys provides its own distinct EMS. Upon assembly of the core and ring, the bi-metal exhibits a unique EMS that would be difficult to replicate (see figure 1).
Figure 1. Distinct EMS for Alloy Bi-Metal Combinations
Performance
Through internal testing, ZincSecure™ bi-metal coins have proven to excel in separation force, corrosion resistance and wear resistance. The performance meets and exceeds that of the other circulated coins in the industry.
Separation Force
ZincSecure™ bi-metal separation force exceeds the typical industry minimum range (see figure 2) as it has a high degree of locking between core and ring(see figure 3).
Figure 2. ZincSecure™ Bi-Metal Separation Force
Figure 3. ZincSecure™ Bi-Metal High Degree of Locking
Corrosion and Wear Resistance
Bi-metal ZincSecure™ coins are found to have excellent corrosion resistance. Testing revealed no signs of corrosion especially at the core-ring interface which is the highest risk. ZincSecure™ bi-metal coins showed no evidence of corrosion at the core/ring interface after being submerged in a 2% salt solution that was pH adjusted for 4 hours.
Figure 4. ZincSecure™ Bi-Metal Stamped Coin Blanks Post Four-hour Corrosion Test
ZincSecure™ bi-metal coins are also found to superior resistance to wear. Wear testing results showed that the ZincSecure™ ring and core combinations had less wear when compared with some commonly used coin materials (see figure 5). The coins were placed inside a set of tumble cylinders on rollers @ ~37 rpm with 5mls of artificial sweat solution added. This attempts to replicate common environments that coins would be subject to such as inside a pocket.
Figure 5. ZincSecure™ Bi-Metal Coin Blanks 1000 Hour Wear Test
