A method of producing an organic pigment composition including at least organic pigment microparticles, wherein a diffuse reflectance of the organic pigment microparticles is controlled for the purpose of improving a luminance of a color filter. The luminance of the color filter is controlled to be high, by controlling a ratio of an area of the diffuse reflectance in a target wavelength range to a total area of the diffuse reflectance in the entire measurement wavelength range in a diffuse reflection spectrum of the organic pigment microparticles in the wavelength range of 380 to 780 nm, to be high. The luminance of the color filter is controlled to be high, by coating at least a part of the surface of the organic pigment microparticles with an oxide.

Novel reaction media for electron donating and electron accepting components in colour-change compositions are described. The compound is of formula (VI); R.sub.1, and R.sub.2 are independently selected from an optionally substituted linear or branched alkyl group, alkenyl group, alkoxy group, aryl group and an alkylene aryl group having from 5 to 22 carbon atoms; X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are independently selected from —OC(O)—, —CO.sub.2— and O; Y.sub.1, and Y.sub.2 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, R.sub.1, —OR.sub.1; y is independently 0 or 1; and suitably the groups R.sub.1X.sub.1— and —X.sub.2R.sub.2 are independently in the ortho or meta position. The compounds are useful in ink compositions, writing implements containing the compound and medical and industrial applications in which temperature sensitive colour change may be required. ##STR00001##

An “inverse” precipitation route to precipitate aqueous soluble species with copolymers as nanoparticles having a hydrophilic, polar core and a less polar shell is described.

Cosmetic and dermatological compositions, including color changing compositions, are provided which typically include a plurality of synthetic particles having a size in the micrometer or nanometer range. Each synthetic particle typically includes one or more aggregates of a pigment selected from phenoxazone, phenoxazine, and a derivate or precursor thereof, and a stabilizing material which has a refractive index larger than 1.45; the aggregates having a size larger than about 100 nm and the composition being biodegradable and biocompatible.

A thermochromic pigment composition comprising: (A) at least one electron-donor organic dye compound, (B) at least one electron-acceptor compound, and (C) at least one compound. The thermochromic pigment composition is microencapsulated and is useable in writing instruments.

A thermochromic pigment composition including: (A) at least one electron-donor organic dye compound, (B) at least one electron-acceptor compound, and (C) at least one compound corresponding to the following formula (I): in which: X is 0 or a single bond, Z is COO or OCO, R.sub.1 is O-alkyl or (CH.sub.2).sub.mCH.sub.3—R.sub.2 is OCO(CH.sub.2).sub.nCH.sub.3 or H, —y=0-3, —m=12-18; —p=8-18, and on the condition that, when X is 0, y is other than 0. The thermochromic pigment composition are also useable in thermochromic pigment microcapsules ink compositions including the thermochromic pigment microcapsules, and writing instruments including the ink compositions.

Cosmetic and dermatological compositions, including color changing compositions, are provided which typically include a plurality of synthetic particles having a size in the micrometer or nanometer range. Each synthetic particle typically includes one or more aggregates of a pigment selected from phenoxazone, phenoxazine, and a derivate or precursor thereof, and a stabilizing material which has a refractive index larger than 1.45; the aggregates having a size larger than about 100 nm and the composition being biodegradable and biocompatible.

This invention relates to non-bleeding, non-staining colored speckles for use in granular or powdered detergents such as laundry detergents and automatic dishwashing detergents. The colored speckles are comprised of a salt or salt-containing carrier and a coloring agent and are characterized as being substantially uniformly colored throughout the cross-sectional volume of the speckle.

Quantum dot semiconductor nanoparticle compositions that incorporate ions such as zinc, aluminum, calcium, or magnesium into the quantum dot core have been found to be more stable to Ostwald ripening. A core-shell quantum dot may have a core of a semiconductor material that includes indium, magnesium, and phosphorus ions. Ions such as zinc, calcium, and/or aluminum may be included in addition to, or in place of, magnesium. The core may further include other ions, such as selenium, and/or sulfur. The core may be coated with one (or more) shells of semiconductor material. Example shell semiconductor materials include semiconductors containing zinc, sulfur, selenium, iron and/or oxygen ions.

Proposed are a microcapsule having a core-shell structure that has high-temperature durability and solvent resistance and is environment-friendly. The microcapsule includes a core portion containing a hydrophobic active component and a shell portion surrounding the core portion and containing a silane crosslinkable polyurethane-based resin derived from a crosslinkable alkoxy silane group-terminated prepolymer.