No, It's the same material through and through. 24k gold flake held together by a polycarbonate substance. I'm not a chemist, I can't describe the process, but it's gold
I can clarify for you--these are .999 gold or not compleat gold to be compleat is .9999 you must have all 4 9's to be 100%--tis is pressed gold onto a bill & then coated so it wont fall off --the gold may be 24k but is it not .999 the others that have these specify they are not but like an ecletroplate