Abstract: A method of manufacturing an embossing element for decorative surfaces includes the steps of: a) UV curable inkjet printing a decorative pattern on a metallic surface; and b) forming a relief by etching metal from the metallic surface.

Abstract: A security laminate (1) including in order a transparent oriented polyester support (2), a subbing layer (3) and an adhesive layer (4) which is coated on top of the subbing layer, wherein the binder of the adhesive layer is based on a mixture of a first and a second polymer in a weight ratio from 50/50 to 90/10, wherein the first polymer is a copolymer comprising vinyl acetate and at least 85 wt % of vinyl chloride based on the total weight of the first polymer; wherein the second polymer is a copolymer of styrene, butadiene and methylmethacrylate or a copolymer of vinyl butyral, vinyl acetate and vinyl alcohol; and wherein the binder of the subbing layer is based on a polyester-urethane copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dispersion comprising metallic, metal oxide or metal precursor nanoparticles and a polymeric dispersant, the dispersant comprising an anchor group with affinity for the metallic, metal oxide or metal precursor nanoparticles that is chemically bonded to a polymeric backbone characterized in that the dispersant has a 95 wt. % decomposition at a temperature below 300° C. as measured by Thermal Gravimetric Analysis. It further relates to metallic fluids or inks prepared from the dispersion and to the preparation of the dispersion and the metallic fluid or inks.

Abstract: A security film including, in order, a transparent biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate support (1), a subbing layer (2, 2?) and a laser markable layer (3, 3?) comprising a laser additive and one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polycarbonate and styrene acrylonitrile.

Abstract: A method of color laser marking a security document precursor including at least: a transparent biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate foil; at least one colorless color forming layer for generating a color different from black containing at least an infrared absorber a color forming compound and a polymeric binder; and a laser markable polymeric support or a laser markable layer for generating a black color; comprising the steps of: laser marking the colorless color forming layer through the transparent polymeric foil with a infrared laser used in continuous wave mode to generate a color different from black; and laser marking the laser markable polymeric support or the laser markable layer through the transparent polymeric foil with the same infrared laser but used in a pulsed mode to generate a black color.

Abstract: A security film including a support (1) and a laser markable layer (3), wherein the laser markable layer includes i) a laser additive; ii) a polymer selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polycarbonate and styrene acrylonitrile; iii) an initiator; and iv) at least 15 wt % of radiation curable compound based on the total dry weight of the laser markable layer, wherein the radiation curable compound has a viscosity of less than 100 mPa·s at 25° C. and at a shear rate of 100 s?1. A security document and a method for preparing the security film are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of preparing a security laminate including the steps of: a) providing a polyethylene terephthalate substrate (1); b) stretching the polyethylene terephthalate substrate in either a longitudinal or a transversal direction; c) coating and drying a first coating composition (2) on the stretched polyethylene terephthalate substrate; d) stretching the coated polyethylene terephthalate substrate in the longitudinal or transversal direction not selected in step b) in order to obtain a coated biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate substrate having a layer of the first coating composition with a dry thickness between 50 nm and 400 nm; e) coating and drying a second coating composition (3) on top of the dry layer on the biaxially stretched substrate, wherein the first coating composition contains a copolymer selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl—functional, partially-hydrolyzed vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer and a polyester-urethane copolymer; and wherein the second coating compositi

Abstract: A security document precursor including, in order, at least: a) a transparent biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate foil; b) a colorless color forming layer containing at least an infrared absorber, a color forming component and a polymeric binder; and c) a polymeric support; wherein the colorless color forming layer contains at least one component forming a compound having a melting temperature of less than 20° C. upon laser marking the colorless color forming layer with an infrared laser. Methods for securing a security document using the security document precursor are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for preparing a color laser marked article comprising the steps of: a) infrared laser marking a security element including a polymeric support and a color forming layer comprising a color forming compound, an infrared dye and a polymeric binder comprising vinyl acetate and at least 85 wt % of vinyl chloride based on the total weight of the binder; and b) exposing the laser marked security element with light having a wavelength higher than 440 nm. The light exposure of step b) hinders the falsification of an issued security document without significant increase of background density.

Abstract: A security document precursor including, in order: a) at least one transparent biaxially stretched polyester foil; b) one colorless color forming layer containing at least an infrared absorber, a colorless dye-precursor and a polymeric binder; and c) a polymeric support; wherein the polymeric binder is copolymer including at least 90 wt % of a chlorinated ethylene and 1 wt % to 10 wt % of vinyl acetate both based on the total weight of the binder. Methods for making the security document precursor are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of color laser marking an article having a polymeric foil with at least one colorless layer containing an infrared absorber, a polymeric binder and a color forming compound; including the steps of:—laser marking the colorless layer with an infrared laser using a first laser operation mode to generate a blue or cyan color; and—laser marking the same colorless layer with an infrared laser using a second laser operation mode to generate a black color, wherein the first laser operation mode applies less energy to the colorless layer than the second laser operation mode. Also disclosed is an article, such as a security document, including a polymeric foil and a colorless layer containing laser marked graphical data having a blue or cyan color and laser marked information having a black color.

Abstract: A security document having in order a) a first laser markable layer, present as a self-supporting layer or as a layer on a support; b) at least one polymeric overlay; and c) a second laser markable layer; wherein the second laser markable layer exhibits a higher laser sensitivity than a non-laser marked area of the first laser markable layer but produces a smaller maximum optical density or a smaller gloss on laser marking. Methods for manufacturing the security document are also disclosed.

Abstract: A security document precursor including one or more lamellae provided with two or more holes near a perimeter edge surface of the precursor, wherein the holes perforate the largest surface of the one or more lamellae, and wherein at least one of the holes is filled with a colored material which differs in color from at least one of the one or more lamellae, such that the colored material is visible from a direction perpendicular on the perimeter edge surface; wherein at least one of the one or more lamellae is transparent or translucent: or wherein at least one of the one or more lamellae is opaque and the opaque part of the at least one of the one or more lamellae between the perimeter edge and the hole filled with a colored material has been removed. A security document and a method of preparing the security document precursor are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of colour laser marking a security document precursor including at least: a transparent biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate foil; at least one colourless colour forming layer for generating a colour different from black containing at least an infrared absorber a colour forming compound and a polymeric binder; and a laser markable polymeric support or a laser markable layer for generating a black colour; comprising the steps of: laser marking the colourless colour forming layer through the transparent polymeric foil with a infrared laser used in continuous wave mode to generate a colour different from black; and laser marking the laser markable polymeric support or the laser markable layer through the transparent polymeric foil with the same infrared laser but used in a pulsed mode to generate a black colour.

Abstract: A method of color laser marking a security document precursor including, in order, at least: a) a polymeric foil; b) at least one colorless color forming layer for generating a color different from black containing at least an infrared absorber, a color forming compound and a polymeric binder; and c) either a lasermarkable polymeric support or a lasermarkable layer for generating a black color; comprising the steps of: (1) laser marking a color different from black in the colorless color forming layer with an infrared laser used in continuous wave mode; and (2) laser marking a black color by carbonization in the lasermarkable polymeric support or the lasermarkable layer with the same infrared laser used in a pulsed mode; and wherein at least one of the polymeric foil and the lasermarkable polymeric support is transparent for the infrared light of the infrared laser.

Abstract: A security laminate (1) including in order a transparent oriented polyester support (2), a subbing layer (3) and an adhesive layer (4) which is coated on top of the subbing layer, wherein the binder of the adhesive layer is based on a mixture of a first and a second polymer in a weight ratio from 50/50 to 90/10, wherein the first polymer is a copolymer comprising vinyl acetate and at least 85 wt % of vinyl chloride based on the total weight of the first polymer; wherein the second polymer is a copolymer of styrene, butadiene and methylmethacrylate or a copolymer of vinyl butyral, vinyl acetate and vinyl alcohol; and wherein the binder of the subbing layer is based on a polyester-urethane copolymer.

Abstract: A process comprising a duplex type impregnating apparatus providing the steps of: (i) providing an elongated porous web, said elongated porous web comprising two outermost surfaces; (ii) transporting said elongated porous web downwards between two impregnating heads comprising two slots each with substantially vertical upper and lower slot faces substantially parallel to said elongated porous web providing simultaneously to both surfaces of said elongated porous web metered substantially identical quantities of a dope, comprising at least one membrane polymer and at least one solvent therefor; (iii) thereby impregnating said elongated porous web completely with said dope and providing substantially equally thick dope layers on each surface of said outermost surfaces of said elongated porous web with a thickness independent of the gap between one of said lower slot faces and the surface of said elongated porous web nearest thereto; (iv) subjecting said dope associated with said elongated porous web to symmetri

Abstract: A method for preparing a colour laser marked article comprising the steps of: a) infrared laser marking a security element including a polymeric support and a colour forming layer comprising a colour forming compound, an infrared dye and a polymeric binder comprising vinyl acetate and at least 85 wt % of vinyl chloride based on the total weight of the binder; and b) exposing the laser marked security element with light having a wavelength higher than 440 nm. The light exposure of step b) hinders the falsification of an issued security document without significant increase of background density.

Abstract: A polymeric dispersant having a hyperbranched polyurethane architecture obtained by reacting a polyisocyanate core with a mixture of: a) 40 to 65 mol % of an anchor represented by Formula (I) and/or (II): wherein n represents an integer selected from 0 to 7; and X and Y each independently represent a primary amine group or a hydroxyl group; b) 5 to 25 mol % of a polypropylene oxide crosslinker; c) 15 to 40 mol % of a polypropylene oxide graft; and wherein the amount of the crosslinker and the graft taken together is at least 35 mol %; and wherein 100 mol % of the mixture corresponds with the total amount of isocyanate groups in the polyisocyanate core.

Abstract: A radiation curable composition for UV LED curing includes at least one co-initiator selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic tertiary amine and a dialkyl aniline derivative; and at least one specific carbazole photoinitiator. The radiation curable composition can be advantageously used to prevent unstable yellowing behavior in an image upon storage.