Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal material provided between two substrates. The invention further relates to methods of providing such a liquid crystal device and to its use for decorative, cosmetic, diagnostic and security applications or for optical information storage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a birefringent marking comprising a liquid crystal material. The invention further relates to method of providing such a birefringent marking and to the use of the birefringent marking for decorative or security applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to process for laser marking of a liquid crystal film. The invention further relates to a liquid crystal film obtained by this method and to its use in optical, decorative or security applications, for optical information storage or the preparation of liquid crystal pigments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to laser-markable plastics of which a feature is that they comprise as dopant at least one metal powder and/or semimetal powder selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron, titanium, magnesium, copper, tin, silicon and zinc and one or more effect pigments based on phyllosilicates.

Abstract: The invention relates to polymer beads comprising an anisotropic polymer material with helically twisted structure, to their use in reflective films, spraying or printing inks or as pigments, for optical or electrooptical, decorative or security applications, to a reflective film comprising one or more polymer beads in a transmissive binder, and to a security marking or security device comprising one or more polymer beads or comprising a reflective film.

Abstract: A method for generating a 3-dimensional effect involves providing at least one first image layer of a chiral liquid crystal material, and at least one second image layer of a chiral liquid crystal material, wherein one of the first and second image layers reflects right-handed circularly polarised light and the other reflects left-handed circularly polarised light, is suitable creating a 3-dimensional image that can be used for decorative and security applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the colored inscription or marking of plastics and surface coatings, including powder coatings, in which a colorant is transferred into the plastic or surface coating by laser radiation with the aid of a laser light-absorbent substance.

Abstract: The invention relates to polymer beads comprising an anisotropic polymer material with helically twisted structure, to their use in reflective films, spraying or printing inks or as pigments, for optical or electrooptical, decorative or security applications, to a reflective film comprising one or more polymer beads in a transmissive binder, and to a security marking or security device comprising one or more polymer beads or comprising a reflective film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multilayered interference pigment consisting of a transparent carrier material which is coated with alternating layers of colourless, non-absorbent metal oxides having a high and a low refractive index, the difference between the refractive indices being at least 0.1. The inventive pigment can be obtained by alternately coating the transparent carrier material with a metal oxide having a high refractive index and a metal oxide having a low refractive index according to the wet method, by hydrolysing the corresponding water-soluble, inorganic metal compounds, and separating, drying and optionally calcinating the obtained pigment.

Abstract: Liquid crystal pigments comprising at least one layer of liquid crystalline polymer material with a helically twisted molecular structure wherein the helical axis is oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane of the layer and which show reflection of circularly polarized light, some prepared in which the bandwidth of the reflected wavelength band is at least 100 nm. These pigments are suitable for use in reflective films or coatings for decorative applications, cosmetic compositions, and pharmaceutical compositions, optical elements, and security applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to multilayer reflective films and pigments showing selective reflection of light wherein the reflection characteristics are dependent on the viewing angle, characterized in that they comprises at least one reflective layer, at least one circular polarizing layer and optionally at least one optical retardation layer. The invention further relates to the use of these multilayer reflective films and pigments in optical elements, as coatings or in lacquers, inks or paints for cosmetic, decorative or security applications, to inks and paints comprising one or more multilayer reflective pigments dispersed in a light transmissive binder, and to security markings or devices comprising one or more multilayer reflective films or pigments.

Abstract: An anisotropic polymer film with improved alignmentis prepared by coating onto a substrate with a structured surface. The polymer films thereby obtained are useful in optical and electrooptical devices for decorative and security applications.

Abstract: Described are chiral liquid crystalline polymer materials and polymerizable compounds used for preparing them. The polymer materials can serve as a carrier material or are coated onto a carrier material. Also described are methods of making such materials and using them to make pigment flakes used in paints, printing inks, spray paints, cosmetic products, colored plastics, optical elements and security applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optically variable marking comprising a semiopaque substrate with a first surface that is covered with an optically variable layer that is for example a liquid crystal polymer layer or a layer comprising pearlescent pigments, and a second surface that is partially covered with a metal layer in the shape of a pattern, to methods of its preparation and to its use for decorative or security applications.

Abstract: Multilayer interference pigment consisting of plateletlike titanium dioxide as carrier material, coated with alternating layers of metal oxides of low and high refractive index, the difference in the refractive indices being at least 0.1, which is obtainable by solidification and hydrolysis of an aqueous solution of a thermally hydrolyzable titanium compound on a continuous belt, detachment of the resulting coat, coating of the resulting titanium dioxide platelets, with or without drying in between, by a wet method with, alternately, a metal oxide hydrate of high refractive index and a metal oxide hydrate of low refractive index by hydrolysis of the corresponding, water-soluble metal compounds, separation, drying and, if desired, calcining of the material obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dry toner for laser printing which comprises at least one viewing angle-dependent (“angle-dependent”), platelet-shaped luster pigment. The luster pigment consists of a multicoated, platelet-shaped, opaque or semi-transparent substrate. The toner is particularly suitable for security printing. The invention furthermore relates to a process for the production of images by electrophotographic methods using the dry toner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to rare earth metal sulfide or oxysulfide pigments and yttrium sulfide or oxysulfide pigments based on platelet-shaped substrates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to laser-markable plastics which comprise, as dopant, graphite particles having one or more coatings.

Abstract: The invention relates to multilayer reflective films and pigments showing selective reflection of light wherein the reflection characteristics are dependent on the viewing angle, characterized in that they comprises at least one reflective layer, at least one circular polarizing layer and optionally at least one optical retardation layer. The invention further relates to the use of these multilayer reflective films and pigments in optical elements, as coatings or in lacquers, inks or paints for cosmetic, decorative or security applications, to inks and paints comprising one or more multilayer reflective pigments dispersed in a light transmissive binder, and to security markings or devices comprising one or more multilayer reflective films or pigments.

Abstract: Liquid crystal pigments comprising at least one layer of liquid crystalline polymer material with a helically twisted molecular structure wherein the helical axis is oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane of the layer and which show reflection of circularly polarized light, some prepared in which the bandwidth of the reflected wavelength band is at least 100 nm. These pigments are suitable for use in reflective films or coatings for decorative applications, cosmetic compositions, and pharmaceutical compositions, optical elements, and security applications.