A method for increasing a detection distance of a surface of an object illuminated by near-IR electromagnetic radiation, including: (a) directing near-IR electromagnetic radiation from a near-IR electromagnetic radiation source towards an object at least partially coated with a near-IR reflective coating that increases a near-IR electromagnetic radiation detection distance by at least 15% as measured at a wavelength in a near-IR range as compared to the same object coated with a color matched coating which absorbs more of the same near-IR radiation, where the color matched coating has a ΔE color matched value of 1.5 or less when compared to the near-IR reflective coating; and (b) detecting reflected near-IR electromagnetic radiation reflected from the near-IR reflective coating. A system for detecting proximity of vehicles is also disclosed.

Described herein are methods, and compositions for use in the coloration of materials. The compositions described herein are black pigments derived primarily from recently-living plants or animals and are therefore renewable.

An oxidized zinc pigment has been developed that can be used in a waterborne coating. The zinc metal allows for improved stability in waterborne systems while retaining the level of activity required for an anticorrosive material. This pigment is oxidized enough to prevent corrosion and still be dispersed in the waterborne coating, while still allowing for cathodic and anodic corrosion protection in the coating once applied to a metal surface. This zinc pigment may also be used in a waterborne ink or coating system and also for coated metal articles.

There are disclosed aqueous pigment dispersions containing dispersant-improving-agents, and methods of preparing and using the same.

A pigment dispersion for an inkjet ink contains pigment particles, styrene-acrylic resin, and water. The styrene-acrylic resin includes a first repeating unit having a group represented by formula (1) and a second repeating unit not having a repeating unit represented by formula (1).

##STR00001##

The first repeating unit has a percentage content to the total mass of the first repeating unit and the second repeating unit of at least 1% by mass and no greater than 10% by mass. In formula (1), R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group with a carbon number of at least 1 and no greater than 7, and m.sub.1 represents an integer of at least 4 and no greater than 9.

There has been demand for a titanium oxide organosol that has a high transparency and a high refractive index and that also exhibits an excellent viscosity stability over time. The rutile-type titanium oxide organosol according to the present invention comprises a silane coupling agent, a basic additive acting as a deflocculant, a water-insoluble solvent, and rutile-type titanium oxide particles that have been surface-treated with a hydrous oxide of at least one metal species selected from Zr, Ce, Sn, and Fe, the rutile-type titanium oxide organosol being characterized in that the Ti ratio contained in the colloidal particles in the rutile-type titanium oxide organosol is at least 60 mass% when calculated as the oxide, and the ratio of metal species at the colloidal particle surface derived from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is 20-50 mass%.

A wetting agent according to Formula (I): ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 is selected from a branched alkyl group or linear alkyl group or a cycloaliphatic group or an aromatic group, each having 6 to 15 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is selected from hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl; R.sup.3 is selected from hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl; R.sup.4 is selected from hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl; R.sup.5 is selected from methyl or ethyl; x ranges from 0 to 5; y ranges from 0 to 10; z ranges from 1 to 10; with the proviso that when x ranges from 1 to 5, R.sup.2 is different from R.sup.3; and with the proviso that when x=0, R.sup.3 is different from R.sup.4. The wetting agent also imparts anti-foam properties to aqueous solutions while reducing surface tension.

The present invention provides a new glitter pigment suitable for providing high-brightness whitish reflected light. The glitter pigment according to the present invention includes: a flaky substrate 1; and a silicon oxide layer 2 and a titanium oxide layer 3 formed in this order on the flaky substrate 1, wherein in the case where the flaky substrate is the glass flake, the glass flake has a thickness of 284 to 322 nm, the silicon oxide layer has a thickness of 89 to 109 nm, and the titanium oxide layer has a thickness of 51 to 86 nm. In the case where the flaky substrate is the alumina flake, the alumina flake has a thickness of 260 to 280 nm, the silicon oxide layer has a thickness of 79 to 102 nm, and the titanium oxide layer has a thickness of 47 to 87 nm.

The present invention provides a new glitter pigment suitable for providing high-brightness whitish reflected light. The glitter pigment according to the present invention includes: a flaky substrate 1; and a silicon oxide layer 2 and a titanium oxide layer 3 formed in this order on the flaky substrate 1, wherein in the case where the flaky substrate is the glass flake, the glass flake has a thickness of 284 to 322 nm, the silicon oxide layer has a thickness of 89 to 109 nm, and the titanium oxide layer has a thickness of 51 to 86 nm. In the case where the flaky substrate is the alumina flake, the alumina flake has a thickness of 260 to 280 nm, the silicon oxide layer has a thickness of 79 to 102 nm, and the titanium oxide layer has a thickness of 47 to 87 nm.

The invention relates to a method for providing a composition selected from the group consisting of aqueous pastes, inks, paints and coating formulations with retroreflective properties, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing an aqueous paste, ink, paint or coating formulation without retroreflective properties, said aqueous paste, ink, paint or coating formulation having a viscosity η.sub.1 of between 0.25 and 1000 Pa.Math.s at a shear rate of 0.01 s.sup.-1; b) providing an aqueous pseudoplastic gel composition comprising a thickener; c) admixing the aqueous ink, paint or coating formulation provided in step (a) with the aqueous pseudoplastic gel composition provided in step (b) in a weight ratio of between 30 : 70 to 70 : 30; and d) admixing the mixture obtained in step (c) with 0 - 2 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous paste, ink, paint or coating formulation with retroreflective properties, of a thickener.