The invention relates to composite articles and laminated polymeric materials, for example, paper and plastic-based materials for tokens, and can be used in the manufacture of security articles. An article comprises a disc insert of laminated plastic and an outer metal. The insert includes stacked paper sheets impregnated with a polymer binder. Surface of each sheet is covered with a polymer layer and comprises visual and/or hidden security features. The ring and the disc insert are permanently joined together. At least one of the article components has an embossing. Dimensions of the article are in conformity with the relations: 0.8≤δ2/δ1<1; D1−D2≥8; 0.3≤S1/S2<0.9; D2>16 mm; Δ≤1, where D1 is outer diameter of the metal ring, excluding edge surface, mm; D2—diameter of the disc insert, mm; S1—area of the metal ring, excluding edge surface, mm.sup.2, S2—area of the disc insert, mm.sup.2; δ1—maximum thickness of the metal ring, mm; δ2—maximum thickness of the disc insert, mm; Δ—difference between maximum and minimum protruding elements of the metal component of the article, mm. The article has an enhanced level of security and is simple both in the manufacture and in its authentication.

A security inlay having optically recognizable characters for an identity document comprises a first transparent layer and a second transparent layer. A color coating is situated on the first transparent layer. Furthermore, a first UV color coating, which reflects at least UV light at least in a first wavelength range, is situated on the first layer and/or on the color coating. The first and second transparent layers are connected to one another. A first portion of the optically recognizable characters is formed by blackened sections in at least one of the layers. A second portion of the optically recognizable characters is formed by the color coating. A third portion of the optically recognizable characters is formed by the UV color coating. The first and the second portions of the optically recognizable characters reflect visible light. The third portion of the optically recognizable characters reflects UV light.

A security inlay having optically recognizable characters for an identity document comprises a first transparent layer and a second transparent layer. A color coating is situated on the first transparent layer. Furthermore, a first UV color coating, which reflects at least UV light at least in a first wavelength range, is situated on the first layer and/or on the color coating. The first and second transparent layers are connected to one another. A first portion of the optically recognizable characters is formed by blackened sections in at least one of the layers. A second portion of the optically recognizable characters is formed by the color coating. A third portion of the optically recognizable characters is formed by the UV color coating. The first and the second portions of the optically recognizable characters reflect visible light. The third portion of the optically recognizable characters reflects UV light.

A method is provided by the invention for making a security document comprising a thermoplastic substrate with a UV light cured printed image that is less likely to result in splitting of the ink of the UV light cured printed image during the lamination step of forming the thermoplastic substrate. The UV light cured image is applied to an interior thermoplastic layer surface of a stack of thermoplastic layers configured to form a thermoplastic substrate upon lamination of the stack and comprises numerous small sub-portions having small gaps between them sufficient to permit relative movement of individual sub-portions during lamination, the thermoplastic layer(s) from the ultraviolet light cured image to an exterior surface of the stack being sufficiently see-through that the image is visible upon viewing the security document. Alternatively, or additionally, the image is applied to an interior surface of an outermost thermoplastic layer of the stack adjacent an intermediate thermoplastic layer of the stack wherein the outermost thermoplastic layer has a higher melting point than the melting point of at least the adjacent intermediate thermoplastic layer.

A method is provided by the invention for making a security document comprising a thermoplastic substrate with a UV light cured printed image that is less likely to result in splitting of the ink of the UV light cured printed image during the lamination step of forming the thermoplastic substrate. The UV light cured image is applied to an interior thermoplastic layer surface of a stack of thermoplastic layers configured to form a thermoplastic substrate upon lamination of the stack and comprises numerous small sub-portions having small gaps between them sufficient to permit relative movement of individual sub-portions during lamination, the thermoplastic layer(s) from the ultraviolet light cured image to an exterior surface of the stack being sufficiently see-through that the image is visible upon viewing the security document. Alternatively, or additionally, the image is applied to an interior surface of an outermost thermoplastic layer of the stack adjacent an intermediate thermoplastic layer of the stack wherein the outermost thermoplastic layer has a higher melting point than the melting point of at least the adjacent intermediate thermoplastic layer.

A secure multilayer structure, in particular for a secure document, including a base layer, at least one masking layer including a window opened in the masking layer, the window having an edge, a security element including a photoluminescent agent positioned between the base layer and the masking layer, adjacent to the window edge, such that the presence of the agent can be checked by illuminating the edge of the window and viewing the re-radiated luminescent light emerging from the masking layer through the window edge.

A secure multilayer structure, in particular for a secure document, including a base layer, at least one masking layer including a window opened in the masking layer, the window having an edge, a security element including a photoluminescent agent positioned between the base layer and the masking layer, adjacent to the window edge, such that the presence of the agent can be checked by illuminating the edge of the window and viewing the re-radiated luminescent light emerging from the masking layer through the window edge.

A physical payment card includes hidden features (e.g., textual messages, graphics, emphasis features associated with conspicuous features of the payment card, or the like) undiscernible under only visible light, but discernable under ultraviolet light. A digital version of the physical card can be established on a user device. During setup, the user device can receive data regarding the hidden features that are associated with the physical card. Under a normal state, the user device can display the digital card without displaying the hidden features. However, upon activation (e.g., when the digital card is used, when the physical card is used, when the physical card is in sufficient proximity, or the like), the user device can display the hidden features on the digital card.

A security marking has a physically unclonable function (PUF) wherein the PUF includes a disordered multilayer photonic crystal structure having an electromagnetic transmission and/or reflection spectrum and/or spectra upon receipt of electromagnetic radiation within a photonic bandgap region of the structure that is unique to the structure.

A microcapsule, method, and article of manufacture are disclosed. The microcapsule includes an outer shell, a molecular sensitizer, a molecular annihilator, and an inner shell separating the molecular sensitizer from the molecular annihilator. The method includes forming microcapsules, each microcapsule having an outer shell, a molecular sensitizer, a molecular annihilator, and an inner shell separating the molecular sensitizer from the molecular annihilator. The article of manufacture includes at least one of the microcapsules.