The present invention relates to an improved method for the partial colouring, in particular for the coloured laser engraving, of plastic parts, in particular thermoplastic plastic parts, more particularly thermoplastic plastic parts, comprising a layer structure, and to the resulting partially coloured, preferably coloured and laser engraved, plastic parts, in particular thermoplastic plastic parts.

Methods and compositions are disclosed for quickly creating durable surface marks and/or decorations on substrates including metal, glass, ceramic, porcelain, natural and engineered stone, as well as plastics, polymer composites and other organic materials with color, high resolution and high contrast using inkjet technology and laser, NIR diode or UV LED energy. The improved methods and compositions are based on established and emerging sub-micron and nanoparticle technology. Most properties of nanoparticles are size dependent and do not become apparent until the particle size has been reduced to the nanometer scale. Examples of such properties include increased specific surface area, facilitating the absorption and/or scattering of visible light and laser, NIR diode or UV LED energy and the decreased melting point of such materials when their particle size is reduced to the nanometer scale. Improved results such as smoothness and durability are obtained by using nanoparticles of silica, pigments and other materials in such marking processes.

Laser-markable cable layers for a cable are provided. The laser-markable cable layers include an inner layer formed of a first polymer material and an outer layer formed of a second polymer material and a laser-marking compound. The outer layer is about 0.5% to about 50% of the thickness of the inner layer. The laser-markable cable layers surround a wire or cable core. Methods of marking a cable having laser-markable cable layers are also provided.

The present invention is directed to a polyolefin composition comprising carbon black which shows fluorescence when irradiated with UV light. The polyolefin composition of the present invention comprises a polyolefin, carbon black in an amount of 0.25 to 1.0 wt %, an optical brightener in an amount of 0.001 to 0.1 wt %, and a UV agent.

The present invention is further directed to a molded article comprising the polyolefin composition of the present invention. The present invention is further directed to a wire or cable comprising an outer layer comprising the polyolefin composition of the present invention. Finally, the present invention is directed to a method for detection of a polyolefin composition by UV light and to a method for detection of a molded article or a wire or cable by UV light.

Methods and systems for thermal printing of thermally printable photonic crystal materials and assemblies. The photonic crystal materials and assemblies are responsive to thermal stimuli, wherein temperatures above a thermal threshold results in an optically detectable change in the appearance of the materials and assemblies. Heat is selectively applied to one or more portions of the materials and assemblies, in order to thermally print a graphic onto the materials and assemblies.

The present disclosure relates generally to signal encoding for flexographic printing plates. One aspect is a flexographic, photopolymer printing plate having transparent layers to allow encoded signal printed or laser ablated thereon to be detectable from both sides of the printing plate. Another aspect is a flexographic, photopolymer printing plate having an encoded signal formed in a photocured layer. Still another aspect is a system for tracking such printing plates, including managing location, print impression count, location tracking, etc. Other aspects are described as well.

This disclosure describes a composition that includes a polymer and a laser marking additive, and systems and method of formation and use thereof. The laser marking additive includes 2-(4,6-Diphenyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl-5-hexyloxy)phenol, 2-(2h-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol, 2-(2 hydroxy-3,5 dicumyl)benzotriazole, or any combination thereof. The laser marking additive is configured to enable generation of laser markings in a polymer by a laser, such as in a transparent and/or translucent polymer by an ultraviolet laser.

Provided is light irradiation method for irradiating a light absorbing material with light beam having wavelength absorbable by light absorbing material, including applying to light absorbing material, energy that enables light absorbing material to fly, by pressure in a vaporized region higher than or equal to outside pressure, wherein vaporized region is present at interface between a transparent body and light absorbing material in a manner to surround an optical axis. Also provided is flying body generating method including irradiating a surface of a base material opposite to a surface over which light absorbing material is disposed with laser beam to fly light absorbing material in an emitting direction of laser beam, wherein vaporized region having pressure higher than or equal to outside pressure is generated along outer circumference of a region irradiated with laser beam at interface between base material and light absorbing material.

A security document may include a laserizable first layer including a grayscale image formed by laserizing; a color pattern that is in alignment with the grayscale image; and a second layer arranged between the first layer and the pattern, such that the first layer is above the second layer, and the pattern is below the second layer. The second layer may be more opaque than the first layer, such that when observing the security document from the top, the grayscale image appears to be colored by the color pattern only when the bottom of the security document is being illuminated.

Techniques are described herein that mitigate warpage during laser marking on a plastic security document. A method of laser marking a feature onto a plastic card includes electronically dividing an image of the feature into a plurality of sections. The method includes laser marking a first one of the sections on the document and laser marking a second one of the sections on the document. The first section is not contiguous with the second section.