An article including at least one first metallic layer, at least one dielectric layer; and at least one second metallic layer is disclosed. The at least one dielectric layer can include at least one of (i) a photo-initiator, (ii) an oxygen inhibition mitigation composition, (iii) a leveling agent, and (iv) a defoamer.

Weather stable pearlescent pigment having a basic pearlescent with an interference color which comprises a transparent platelet-shaped substrate and at least one metal oxide layer with a refractive index >1.8 and on top of this basic pearlescent pigment a weather stabilizing top coating comprising at least one metal oxide and an organofunctional surface modification, wherein a) for a basic pearlescent pigment with silvery interference color the weather stabilizing top coating consists of a first metal oxide of a rare earth metal M1 from the group consisting of Y, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu and mixtures thereof, or b) for a basic pearlescent pigment with a colored interference color or a silvery interference color the weather stabilizing top coating comprises a first metal oxide of a rare earth metal M1 from the group consisting of Y, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu and mixtures thereof, and a second metal oxide from a second metal M2 from the group consisting of Si, Al, Zn, Mg, Zr, Sn and mixtures or combinations thereof, and in each case a) or b) the organofunctional surface modification comprises organofunctional silanes or water-based pre-condensated organofunctional silanes.

This invention involves a coated flaky metal effect pigment comprising a metal effect flake as substrate coated by the following consecutive coating sequences: a) optionally a discontinuous or a continuous layer of Mo-oxide, b1) an inorganic metal oxide layer comprising mainly SiO.sub.2, c1) a hybrid layer comprising SiO.sub.2 modified by a diphenyl silane, a phenylsilane or mixtures thereof or c2) a hybrid layer comprising SiO.sub.2 modified by a diphenyl silane, a phenylsilane or mixtures thereof, b2) an inorganic metal oxide layer comprising mainly SiO.sub.2, and d) optionally a further top-coat of organofunctional silanes, titanates, aluminates or zirconates.

Weather stable pearlescent pigment having a basic pearlescent with an interference color which comprises a transparent platelet-shaped substrate and at least one metal oxide layer with a refractive index >1.8 and on top of this basic pearlescent pigment a weather stabilizing top coating comprising at least one metal oxide and an organofunctional surface modification, wherein a) for a basic pearlescent pigment with silvery interference color the weather stabilizing top coating consists of a first metal oxide of a rare earth metal M1 from the group consisting of Y, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu and mixtures thereof, or b) for a basic pearlescent pigment with a colored interference color or a silvery interference color the weather stabilizing top coating comprises a first metal oxide of a rare earth metal M1 from the group consisting of Y, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu and mixtures thereof, and a second metal oxide from a second metal M2 from the group consisting of Si, Al, Zn, Mg, Zr, Sn and mixtures or combinations thereof, and in each case a) or b) the organofunctional surface modification comprises organofunctional silanes or water-based pre-condensated organofunctional silanes.

Interference pigments based on SiO.sub.2 flakes coated with crystallites of alpha-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3. Also, a process for the preparation of interference pigments that comprise SiO.sub.2 flakes coated with a crystallite of alpha-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, by a wet-chemical process in a fluidised bed, by a CVD process, by a PVD process, or by any combination of said processes. Also, the use of interference pigments based on SiO.sub.2 flakes coated with crystallites of alpha-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, in particular in paints, coatings, industrial and automobile paints, ceramic materials, plastics and cosmetic formulations.