The disclosure provides self-dispersing pigment having an isoelectric point of at least about 8 comprising an inorganic particle, and in particular a titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) pigment, treated sequentially by: hydrolyzing an aluminum compound or basic aluminate to deposit a hydrous alumina surface; and adding a dual-functional compound comprising an anchoring group that attaches the dual-functional compound to the pigment surface, and a basic amine group comprising a primary, secondary or tertiary amine. These self-dispersing pigments are useful in making dcor paper that may be used in paper laminates.

Disclosed are imprinting ink compositions for use in imprinting techniques such as SCIL. The imprinting ink compositions comprise TMO nanoparticles stabilized by selected polymerization inhibitors that allow for the formation of a stable imprinting ink composition in which polymerization of the TMO nanoparticles is effectively suppressed and from which high refractive index patterned layers can be formed. Imprinting methods using such imprinting ink compositions, optical devices including patterned layers formed from such imprinting ink compositions and lighting devices, optical sensors and photovoltaic devices including such optical elements are also disclosed.

A coating system includes, as separate components: (a) a hiding pigment-free basecoat composition, including: (i) a basecoat resin; and (ii) a liquid carrier; and (b) and/or (c) as follows: (b) a pigment slurry composition, including: (iii) a hiding pigment; (iv) a rheology modifier; and (v) a liquid carrier; (c) an extender pigment slurry composition, including: (vi) an extender pigment; (vii) a rheology modifier; and (viii) a liquid carrier. The rheology modifier (iv) and/or (vii) includes an organic rheology modifier and an inorganic rheology modifier. The separate components are not mixed together. A method of preparing a coating composition is also disclosed.

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 ?E 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.

The present invention relates to silver-colored effect pigments having a strong sparkle effect based on Al2O3 flakes and to the use thereof in paints, button pastes, automotive paints, automotive refinish paints, powder coatings, printing inks, security printing inks, plastics, ceramic materials, glasses, paper, for coating seed, in security applications, as dopant for the laser marking of plastics and papers, as additive for the laser welding of plastics, in cosmetic formulations and for the preparation of pigment preparations and dry preparations.

A co-assembly method for synthesizing inverse photonic structures is described. The method includes combining an onium compound with a sol-gel precursor to form metal oxide (MO) nanocrystals, where each MO nanocrystal has crystalline and amorphous content. The MO nanocrystals are combined with templating particles to form a suspension. A solvent is evaporated from the suspension to form an intermediate or compound product, which then undergoes calcination to produce an inverse structure.

A polymer-encapsulated pigment dispersion is prepared from a mixture of (a) a carrier; (b) pigment particles; and (c) a polymeric dispersing agent having a polymer backbone, and a zwitterionic polymer side chain comprising anionic and cationic groups. The dispersing agent may provide efficient pigment wetting and dispersion using relatively low and thus economical pigment amounts, with good opacity and good hiding characteristics, especially in titanium dioxide-containing coating compositions.

The present invention is a process for preparing one or more paints by flowing and merging pre-paints from pre-paint storage tanks into a mixing chamber and into a paint container.

The present invention relates to the use of a haematite pigment whose sum of the a* values in full shade and with reduction in the surface coating test is from 58.0 to 61.0 CIELAB units, preferably from 58.0 to 60.0 CIELAB units, more preferably from 58.5 to 61.0 CIELAB units, more preferably from 58.5 to 60.0 CIELAB units, particularly preferably from 59.0 to 61.0 CIELAB units, more particularly preferably from 59.0 to 60.0 for producing an aqueous, titanium dioxide-containing preparation.

A method of producing mixtures of interference pigments having special effects comprises mixing at least one large particle size interference pigment with at least one normal size interference pigment of predetermined colors and in proportions desired to obtain a unique effect.