The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of thin silver nano-particles containing layers, which are produced directly on a substrate as part of a coating or printing process. The layers can show different colours in transmittance and reflectance. The invention further relates to decorative and security elements. When the layers are applied over a security element, such as a hologram, the obtained products may show different colours in reflection and transmission, an extremely bright optically variable image (OVD image). Depending on the thickness of the layer a more or less intensive metallic aspect appears.

A water-based printing ink composition for gravure printing and a method for producing the same are provided. The water-based printing ink composition includes: 1 to 15 parts by weight of a pigment, 1 to 50 parts by weight of an aqueous resin mixture, 1 to 20 parts by weight of a quick-drying agent, and 30 to 80 parts by weight of water. The aqueous resin mixture includes a first aqueous resin and a second aqueous resin, a first glass transition temperature of the first aqueous resin is greater than a second glass transition temperature of the second aqueous resin, and an absolute value of the difference between the first glass transition temperature and the second glass transition temperature is not less than 40° C. The quick-drying agent is an alcohol or a ketone, and the quick-drying agent has a boiling point of not greater than 85° C.

Provided herein are methods and compositions comprising a non-toxic ferromagnetic ink composition. Also provided herein are plastic objects containing a surface coating of a food-safe ferromagnetic ink composition. The coating imparts functionality to a plastic object such that the object is capable of being mechanically separated from waste stream using a commercial magnetic separator. The food-safe ink composition, which can be printed using high-speed flexographic, intaglio, offset printing or pad printing, combined with heat transfer printing or hot foil stamping consists of an ingestible magnetically susceptible pigment capable of rendering the printed template with magnetically active properties. The surface of the plastic object described can consist of geometric designs which increase printable surface area without significant changes in dimensions of the said object.

Provided herein are methods and compositions comprising a non-toxic ferromagnetic ink composition. Also provided herein are plastic objects containing a surface coating of a food-safe ferromagnetic ink composition. The coating imparts functionality to a plastic object such that the object is capable of being mechanically separated from waste stream using a commercial magnetic separator. The food-safe ink composition, which can be printed using high-speed flexographic, intaglio, offset printing or pad printing, combined with heat transfer printing or hot foil stamping consists of an ingestible magnetically susceptible pigment capable of rendering the printed template with magnetically active properties. The surface of the plastic object described can consist of geometric designs which increase printable surface area without significant changes in dimensions of the said object.

A functional layer forming ink used in forming a functional layer of the self-luminous element by a printing method, the ink including functional material dissolved or dispersed in a mixed solvent including solvents having different boiling points. When one or more solvents are selected from the solvents of the mixed solvent in descending order of boiling point until a mass ratio of the selection to the mixed solvent is a defined ratio or more, the one or more solvents in the selection are included in a solvent group of solvents that have a contact angle of 5° or less with respect to a defined resin material.

A functional layer forming ink used in forming a functional layer of the self-luminous element by a printing method, the ink including functional material dissolved or dispersed in a mixed solvent including solvents having different boiling points. When one or more solvents are selected from the solvents of the mixed solvent in descending order of boiling point until a mass ratio of the selection to the mixed solvent is a defined ratio or more, the one or more solvents in the selection are included in a solvent group of solvents that have a contact angle of 5° or less with respect to a defined resin material.

The present invention provides water-based energy curable compositions that exhibit improved printability, adhesion, opacity, and wash-up properties. The compositions comprise one or more inert water-based polyurethane resins and one or more water-based phosphate esters. Addition of the inert polyurethane resins and phosphate esters improves adhesion of the energy curable compositions to a variety of substrates.

An ink contains an anionic compound, water, a photoacid generator, and one or more organic solvents containing at least one organic solvent having a solubility parameter of from 9 to 11.8 (J/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2.

An ink contains an anionic compound, water, a photoacid generator, and one or more organic solvents containing at least one organic solvent having a solubility parameter of from 9 to 11.8 (J/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2.

A method of manufacturing of an ink (100) composition comprises a biphasic ligand exchange process. A first phase liquid (10) comprising a nonpolar solvent (11) with a colloidal suspension of nanoparticles (1) that are capped with a shell of non polar ligands (2) is contacted with a second phase liquid (20) comprising a polar solvent (21) with second ligand (3). The second ligand comprises at least one surface binding head group that has an affinity for binding to the nanoparticle; and an ionically charged tail group. The second ligands displace the first ligands to form a dispersion of the nanoparticles that are capped with a shell of the second ligands in the second phase liquid. The nanoparticles can be separated from the second phase liquid. The separated nanoparticles can be (re)dispersed in a printable liquid medium, e.g. used for printing a photoactive layer.