Titanium-containing interference pigments and foils with color shifting properties

• US 6,991,860 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Phillips, Roger W., Argoitia, Alberto, Raksha, Vladimir, LeGallee, Charlotte R., Kohlmann, Paul T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Deborah
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACKWELL, GWENDOLYN
• Application Number:
  US10/413,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20030203223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 428/403, 428/212, 428/336, 428/548, 428/552, 428/629, 428/633, 428/469, 428/471, 428/472, 428/472.2, 428/689, 428/699, 428/701, 428/702, 428/704, 106/403, 106/436
• US Class Current: 428/704
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/60 Optical properties, e.g. expressed in CIELAB-values
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/62 L* (lightness axis)
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/63 a* (red-green axis)
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/64 b* (yellow-blue axis)
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/65 Chroma (C*)
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/66 Hue (H*)
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 1/0015 Pigments exhibiting interference colours, e.g. transparent platelets of appropriate thinness or flaky substrates, e.g. mica, bearing appropriate thin transparent coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 1/0021 comprising a core coated with only one layer having a high or low refractive index
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 1/0066 consisting of at least one coloured inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 1/0078 Pigments consisting of flaky, non-metallic substrates, characterised by a surface-region containing free metal
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 2200/1054 the core consisting of a metal
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 2200/1058 comprising a protective coating on the metallic layer
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 2200/301 Thickness of the core
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 2220/106 comprising only a drying or calcination step of the finally coated pigment
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 2220/20 PVD, CVD methods or coating in a gas-phase using a fluidized bed
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 5/36 Pearl essence, e.g. coatings containing platelet-like pigments for pearl lustre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/285 comprising deposited thin solid films G02B5/281 - G02B5/289 take precedence; multilayered film filters for fibre optic multiplexing G02B6/29361
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12028 Composite; i.e., plural, adjacent, spatially distinct metal components [e.g., layers, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12056 Entirely inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12181 Composite powder [e.g., coated, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1259 : Oxide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12618 : Plural oxides
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 : including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/265 : 1 mil or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 : Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2991 : Coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2993 : Silicic or refractory material containing [e.g., tungsten oxide, glass, cement, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2996 : Glass particles or spheres

Abstract

Interference pigment flakes and foils are provided which have color shifting properties. The pigment flakes can have a symmetrical coating structure on opposing sides of a reflector layer, can have an asymmetrical coating structure with all of the layers on one side of the reflector layer, or can be formed with encapsulating coatings around a core reflector layer. The coating structure of the flakes and foils includes a reflector layer, a dielectric layer on the reflector layer, and a titanium-containing absorber layer on the dielectric layer. The pigment flakes and foils exhibit a discrete color shift so as to have a first color at a first angle of incident light or viewing and a second color different from the first color at a second angle of incident light or viewing. The pigment flakes can be interspersed into liquid media such as paints or inks to produce colorant compositions for subsequent application to objects or papers. The foils can be laminated to various objects or can be formed on a carrier substrate.

Claims

1. A color shifting foil device, comprising:

a carrier substrate;

a first titanium nitride absorber layer on the carrier substrate;

a dielectric layer on the first titanium nitride absorber layer; and

a second titanium nitride absorber layer on the dielectric layer;

said foil exhibiting a discrete color shift such that the foil has a first color at a first angle of incident light or viewing and a second color different from the first color at a second angle of incident light or viewing.