Abstract: Methods of increasing the particle size of ammonium octamolybdate (AOM) pigment powder are provided. A method can include heating the AOM pigment powder to a temperature above 20° C. for a given amount of time. An ink composition can be produced by formulating AOM pigment powder with increased particle size and incorporating the AOM pigment powder into an ink composition.

Abstract: A method of imparting color to a plastic substrate comprising applying to the substrate, or incorporating within the substrate, a diacetylene compound of general formula (I) wherein n=1 to 20; R1=an optionally substituted C1-20 alkyl group which may contain heteroatoms; T=H, an optionally substituted C1-20 alkyl group which may contain heteroatoms or —(CH2)m—C(?O)-Q2R2; Q1=NH, CO, NHCONH, OCONH, COS, NHCSNH or NR3, wherein m, Q2 and R2 are independently selected from the same groups as n, Q1 and R1 respectively; R3 is an optionally substituted C1-20 alkyl group which may contain heteroatoms; and irradiating the substrate to impart color to the substrate is described.

Abstract: A method of forming an image on a substrate by applying energy, involves a substrate in or on which there are at least two different colour-change agents, i.e. a first colour-change agent capable of giving rise to at least two different colours; and a second colour-change agent capable of giving rise to at least one different colour than achievable with the first colour change agent. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a multi-layer laminate comprising, in order, a layer comprising the first agent, a barrier layer, and a layer comprising the second agent.

Abstract: Aqueous composition comprising a color former, a developer, and a binder, wherein (a) the weight ratio between the developer and the color former is in the range of from 1 to 5; (b) the binder comprises an acrylate binder, comprising acrylic acid and styrene, and at least one additional monomer selected from the group consisting of ?-methyl styrene, ethyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate; and (c) the color former and/or the developer are present in an un-encapsulated form; a process for the preparation of these compositions, substrates coated with this composition and a process for its preparation, and a process for preparing a marked substrate using this composition.

Abstract: A method of forming an image on a substrate by applying energy, involves a substrate in or on which there are at least two different color-change agents, i.e. a first color-change agent capable of giving rise to at least two different colors; and a second color-change agent capable of giving rise to at least one different color than achievable with the first color change agent. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a multi-layer laminate comprising, in order, a layer comprising the first agent, a barrier layer, and a layer comprising the second agent.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the invention provides an ink formulation comprising: (a) a near infrared absorbing system comprising a compound of the formula M1W1.6O6, wherein M1 is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of H, He, alkali metals such as Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, alkaline earth metals such as Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, rare-earth elements, Zr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, AL Ga, in, Tl, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, B, F, P, S, Se, Br, Te, Ti, Nb, V, Mo, Ta, Re, Hf, Os, Bi and I, or ammonium; (b) a color change agent; and (c) a binder. The invention also provides alternative ink formulations for laser marking, a method of forming an image using the ink formulations and a substrate coated with the ink formulation of the invention. Ink formulations according to the invention have been found to have good laser imaging efficacy, and an essentially negligible impact on the background color of the coating.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the invention provides an ink formulation comprising: (a) a near infrared absorbing system comprising a compound of the formula M1W1.6O6, wherein M1 is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of H, He, alkali metals such as Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, alkaline earth metals such as Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, rare-earth elements, Zr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, AL Ga, in, Tl, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, B, F, P, S, Se, Br, Te, Ti, Nb, V, Mo, Ta, Re, Hf, Os, Bi and I, or ammonium; (b) a colour change agent; and (c) a binder. The invention also provides alternative ink formulations for laser marking, a method of forming an image using the ink formulations and a substrate coated with the ink formulation of the invention. Ink formulations according to the invention have been found to have good laser imaging efficacy, and an essentially negligible impact on the background colour of the coating.

Abstract: The present invention provides polymeric particles comprising a polymeric matrix comprising one or more water-insoluble polymers and a laser-sensitive system encapsulated in the polymeric matrix. It also provides a process for the preparation of the polymeric particles, a composition comprising the polymeric particles, a process for the preparation of this composition, a process for forming a laser-sensitive coating layer on a substrate using this composition, a coated substrate obtainable by the coating process, a process for preparing a marked substrate and a marked substrate obtainable by the marking process.

Abstract: Coating composition comprising a char forming compound as a first compound capable of forming a colored substance upon exposition to energy; at least one latent activator selected from the group consisting of ammonium phosphate, ammonium polyphosphate, ammonium sulfite, ammonium thiosulfate, ammonium sulfamate and ammonium sulfate; and a second compound capable of forming a colored substance upon exposition to energy selected from the group consisting of color formers, oxygen containing transition metal compounds, and metal-chelate-type color forming systems; a coating composition comprising a char forming compound as a first compound capable of forming a colored substance upon exposition to energy, and a second compound capable of forming a colored substance upon exposition to energy selected from the group consisting of color formers and metal-chelate-type color forming systems; a process for the preparation of these compositions, substrates coated with these compositions and a process for their preparation

Abstract: Aqueous composition comprising a colour former, a developer, and a binder, wherein (a) the weight ratio between the developer and the colour former is in the range of from 1 to 5; (b) the binder comprises an acrylate binder, comprising acrylic acid and styrene, and at least one additional monomer selected from the group consisting of ?-methyl styrene, ethyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate; and (c) the colour former and/or the developer are present in an un-encapsulated form; a process for the preparation of these compositions, substrates coated with this composition and a process for its preparation, and a process for preparing a marked substrate using this composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser-sensitive coating composition comprising titanium dioxide in the anatase form or polymeric particles comprising a polymeric matrix comprising one or more water-insoluble polymers and titanium dioxide in the anatase form encapsulated in the polymeric matrix, and a polymeric binder. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of the compositions, processes for preparing substrates coated with the coating compositions, substrates coated with the compositions, processes for marking the substrates coated with the compositions, and marked substrates obtainable by the latter processes.

Abstract: A textile comprising a diacetylene compound which is capable of changing color when irradiated with light energy. Methods of imparting color to textiles comprising irradiating the textile with light energy are also provided.

Abstract: A laser-markable composition comprises a binder and an oxyanion of a multivalent metal.

Abstract: Fiber products, comprising in their body at least 20% by weight of cellulose fibers, and adequate amounts of an acid and a cationic retention aid for the acid, can be marked by means of a laser beam.

Abstract: The present invention provides heat-sensitive coating compositions, which comprise a color developer of formula (1) or mixtures thereof wherein R1 can be hydrogen, C1-20-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl, C2-10-alkenyl, aryl or SO3H, and R2 and R3 can be the same or different and can be hydrogen, halogen, C1-20-alkyl, C3-8-cyclo-alkyl, C2-10-alkenyl, aryl, OR6, NR7R8, SR9, SO3H or COOR10 and R4 and R5 can be the same or different, and can be hydrogen, halogen, C1-20-alkyl, C3-8-cyclo-alkyl, C2-10-alkenyl, aryl, OR6, NR7R8 or SR9, R6, R7, R8, R9 and R10 can be the same or different and can be hydrogen, C1-30-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl, C2-10-alkenyl or aryl, wherein C1-20-alkyl can be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more C3-8-cycloalkyl, C2-10-alkenyl, phenyl, halogen, OR11, NR12R13, SR14, SO3H or COOR15, and aryl can be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more halogen, C1-10-alkyl, halogenated C1-10-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl C2-10-alkenyl, phenyl, OR11, NR12R13, SR14, SO3H or COOR15, wherein R11, R12, R13, R14 an

Abstract: The invention relates to a powder composition comprising particles of a) an alkali metal tungsten bronze, b) tungsten oxide, and c) tungsten metal, a method for the preparation of said powder composition, and to the use of said powder composition in form of a dispersion in a polymer material or article for heat shielding, or to increase the heat-input amount of near infrared radiation in processes selected from laser welding of plastics, NIR curing of coatings, drying of printing inks, fixing of ink toners to a substrate, heating of plastic performs, laser marking of plastics or paper.

Abstract: A laser-markable composition comprises a binder and an oxyanion of a multivalent metal.

Abstract: A laser-markable composition comprises a binder and an oxyanion of a multivalent metal.

Abstract: A method of forming a coloured substrate, comprising applying to or incorporating within the substrate a diacetylene compound, and exposing the substrate to (i) a first, activating stimulus that converts the diacetylene compound from an unreactive to a reactive form, and (ii) a second stimulus that causes the reactive form of the diacetylene compound to polymerize and form the coloured substrate, wherein the diacetylene compound reverts to its unreactive form on removal of the activating stimulus and is of formula I: Y—C?C—C?C—(CH2)n-T-Q-Z (I) wherein: n=an odd integer; T=CO, CS or a bond; Q=NH, S, O, OCONH, NHCONH, NH—CHE-CONH, NHCOO or NHCSNH wherein E is H or a C1-20 alkyl group; Z=H or a hydrocarbon group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms; Y=H or any group comprising at least one carbon atom.

Abstract: Laser-markable compositions and methods for providing an image on a substrate are provided. A laser-markable composition can include a pigment, a solvent, and a conductive polymer that absorbs IR radiation. This can be used to mark a substrate, using a low-energy laser. Irradiation can be by means of a near-IR laser source, and the conductive polymer can absorb radiation and transfer heat to the pigment.