Methods and systems for optical effects in pigments, inks, and on media. One aspect of this disclosure involves a pigment particle which includes a core, having a fluorescent material and having a spherical shape, and a shell surrounding the core; the shell includes a photochromic material which has a first optical property in a first light source and a second optical property in a second light source which includes a set of wavelengths not sufficiently present in the first light source. The second optical property attenuates an emitted radiation from the fluorescent material. Other aspects are also described.

Methods and systems for optical effects in pigments, inks, and on media. One aspect of this disclosure involves a pigment particle which includes a core, having a fluorescent material and having a spherical shape, and a shell surrounding the core; the shell includes a photochromic material which has a first optical property in a first light source and a second optical property in a second light source which includes a set of wavelengths not sufficiently present in the first light source. The second optical property attenuates an emitted radiation from the fluorescent material. Other aspects are also described.

The present invention relates to a coating of the surface of an electrical household appliance comprising a decoration (a) comprising a pigmentary compound B1VO4 having a ΔE* in the coating greater than or equal to 11 between ambient temperature and 150° C., ΔE* being defined by the formula CIE1976 in the CIELAB colour space: Formula (I): L1*, a1* and b1* characterising the values L*a*b* of said compound at ambient temperature; L2*, a2* and b2* characterising the values L*a*b* of said compound at 150° C.

The present invention relates to a coating of the surface of an electrical household appliance comprising a decoration (a) comprising a pigmentary compound B1VO4 having a ΔE* in the coating greater than or equal to 11 between ambient temperature and 150° C., ΔE* being defined by the formula CIE1976 in the CIELAB colour space: Formula (I): L1*, a1* and b1* characterising the values L*a*b* of said compound at ambient temperature; L2*, a2* and b2* characterising the values L*a*b* of said compound at 150° C.

A decorative paper layer may include a base paper layer, an inkjet receiver coating and a pattern formed thereon by digitally applying inks from a set of a plurality of differently colored inks. At least one of the inks may include color pigments having an average particle diameter larger than 150. The inkjet receiver coating may include silica pigments, in which the silica particles are particles of precipitated silica and/or silica gel and/or have an average particle size which is at least 4 times larger than the average particle diameter of the color pigments and/or have an average particle size of 1 to 40 micrometer.

A decorative paper layer may include a base paper layer, an inkjet receiver coating and a pattern formed thereon by digitally applying inks from a set of a plurality of differently colored inks. At least one of the inks may include color pigments having an average particle diameter larger than 150. The inkjet receiver coating may include silica pigments, in which the silica particles are particles of precipitated silica and/or silica gel and/or have an average particle size which is at least 4 times larger than the average particle diameter of the color pigments and/or have an average particle size of 1 to 40 micrometer.

Provided are a conductive composition for thin film printing and a method for forming a thin film conductive pattern, which can easily performing thin film printing, and can capable of improve conductivity by thermal sintering at a comparatively low temperature of 300° C. or less or by photo irradiation. A conductive composition comprises metal particles, a binder resin, and a solvent, the content of an organic compound in the solvent being 5 to 98% by mass, the organic compound comprising a hydrocarbon group having a bridged cyclic structure and a hydroxyl group, the content of metal particles being 15 to 60% by mass, the metal particles containing 20% by mass or more of flat metal particles, the content of the binder resin being 0.5 to 10 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the metal particles, and the viscosity at 25° C. being 1.0×10.sup.3 to 2×10.sup.5 mPa.Math.s. The composition is printed in a pattern having any selected shape on a substrate, by screen printing, and the pattern is subjected to thermal sintering at a temperature of 300° C. or less and/or subjecting the pattern to pulsed light irradiation.

Provided are a conductive composition for thin film printing and a method for forming a thin film conductive pattern, which can easily performing thin film printing, and can capable of improve conductivity by thermal sintering at a comparatively low temperature of 300° C. or less or by photo irradiation. A conductive composition comprises metal particles, a binder resin, and a solvent, the content of an organic compound in the solvent being 5 to 98% by mass, the organic compound comprising a hydrocarbon group having a bridged cyclic structure and a hydroxyl group, the content of metal particles being 15 to 60% by mass, the metal particles containing 20% by mass or more of flat metal particles, the content of the binder resin being 0.5 to 10 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the metal particles, and the viscosity at 25° C. being 1.0×10.sup.3 to 2×10.sup.5 mPa.Math.s. The composition is printed in a pattern having any selected shape on a substrate, by screen printing, and the pattern is subjected to thermal sintering at a temperature of 300° C. or less and/or subjecting the pattern to pulsed light irradiation.

A water-based ink includes: a dye; water; an acidic preservative; and at least one of a surfactant and a penetrant. The acidic preservative preferably includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a polyvalent unsaturated fatty acid, a polyvalent unsaturated fatty acid salt, dehydroacetic acid, and a dehydroacetate. A content of the acidic preservative in the water-based ink is preferably 0.3% by mass to 6.0% by mass relative to a total mass of the water-based ink. The surfactant preferably includes an acetylene-based surfactant. The penetrant preferably includes at least one selected from the group consisting of an alkylene diol and a glycol ether compound.

A water-based ink includes: a dye; water; an acidic preservative; and at least one of a surfactant and a penetrant. The acidic preservative preferably includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a polyvalent unsaturated fatty acid, a polyvalent unsaturated fatty acid salt, dehydroacetic acid, and a dehydroacetate. A content of the acidic preservative in the water-based ink is preferably 0.3% by mass to 6.0% by mass relative to a total mass of the water-based ink. The surfactant preferably includes an acetylene-based surfactant. The penetrant preferably includes at least one selected from the group consisting of an alkylene diol and a glycol ether compound.