Temperature-stable effect pigments based on multicoated flake-form substrates, and the use thereof in paints, coatings, printing inks, plastics and in particular in glazes, enamels, ceramic or glass-like materials.

The invention relates to effect pigments comprising artificial platelet-shaped substrates which have at least one optically active coating, where the effect pigments have a volume-averaged cumulative undersize distribution curve with the characteristic numbers D.sub.10, D.sub.50 and D.sub.90, said cumulative undersize distribution curve having a span ΔD of 0.7-1.4, and the span ΔD being calculated in accordance with formula (I):
ΔD=(D.sub.90−D.sub.10)/D.sub.50  (I),
and the average thickness of the artificial platelet-shaped substrates being 500 nm to 2000 nm.

The invention relates to effect pigments comprising artificial platelet-shaped substrates which have at least one optically active coating, where the effect pigments have a volume-averaged cumulative undersize distribution curve with the characteristic numbers D.sub.10, D.sub.50 and D.sub.90, said cumulative undersize distribution curve having a span ΔD of 0.7-1.4, and the span ΔD being calculated in accordance with formula (I):
ΔD=(D.sub.90−D.sub.10)/D.sub.50  (I),
and the average thickness of the artificial platelet-shaped substrates being 500 nm to 2000 nm.

A golden effect pigment comprising an optionally passivated platelet-shaped metallic substrate and an iron oxide layer, wherein the effect pigment has a hue angle h.sub.15 of 67°≤h.sub.15≤78° and a chroma C*.sub.15 of ≥90 is provided. Further, a golden effect pigment comprising an optionally passivated platelet-shaped metallic substrate and an iron oxide layer, wherein the effect pigment has a hue angle h.sub.15 of 67°≤h.sub.15≤78° and a chroma C*.sub.45 of ≥50 is provided. The golden effect pigments are highly chromatic and suitable for coloring a coating composition such as a paint, a printing ink, an ink, a varnish, plastics, a fiber, a film or a cosmetic preparation, preferably an automotive, an architectural or an industrial coating composition.

The present invention provides a glitter pigment capable of simultaneously achieving electromagnetic wave transmission properties, a high reflectance in appearance, and a neutral color in appearance. The glitter pigment according to the present invention includes: a glass flake 1; and a titanium oxide layer 2 and a silver layer 3 formed in this order on the glass flake 1, wherein a product of the optical thickness of the glass flake 1 and the optical thickness of the titanium oxide layer 2 is 61000 or more and 66000 or less when the optical thickness is expressed in nm, and the silver layer 3 has a physical thickness of 35 nm or more and 55 nm or less.

In a printed article, pigment flakes are magnetically aligned so as to form curved patterns in a plurality of cross-sections normal a continuous imaginary line, wherein radii of the curved patterns increase along the imaginary line from the first point to the second point. When light is incident upon the aligned pigment Hakes from a light source, light reflected from the aligned pattern forms a bright image which appears to gradually change its shape and move from one side of the continuous imaginary line to another side of the continuous imaginary line when the substrate is tilted with respect to the light source.

In a printed article, pigment flakes are magnetically aligned so as to form curved patterns in a plurality of cross-sections normal a continuous imaginary line, wherein radii of the curved patterns increase along the imaginary line from the first point to the second point. When light is incident upon the aligned pigment Hakes from a light source, light reflected from the aligned pattern forms a bright image which appears to gradually change its shape and move from one side of the continuous imaginary line to another side of the continuous imaginary line when the substrate is tilted with respect to the light source.

Waterborne top coat compositions, processes for preparing such compositions, and methods for forming top coats on substrates are provided. In an embodiment, a waterborne top coat composition includes water, pigment(s) and resin solids. The resin solids comprise about 60 to 100 wt. % of binder solids and 0 to about 40 wt. % of crosslinker solids, the binder solids comprising about 1 to about 40 wt. % of a urethanized polyester/(meth)acryl copolymer hybrid binder having a hydroxyl number of about 30 to about 200 mg KOH/g and a carboxyl number of about 8 to about 50 mg KOH/g, and about 60 to about 99 wt. % of one or more additional binders, the sum of the respective wt. % in each case equaling 100 wt. %.

Waterborne top coat compositions, processes for preparing such compositions, and methods for forming top coats on substrates are provided. In an embodiment, a waterborne top coat composition includes water, pigment(s) and resin solids. The resin solids comprise about 60 to 100 wt. % of binder solids and 0 to about 40 wt. % of crosslinker solids, the binder solids comprising about 1 to about 40 wt. % of a urethanized polyester/(meth)acryl copolymer hybrid binder having a hydroxyl number of about 30 to about 200 mg KOH/g and a carboxyl number of about 8 to about 50 mg KOH/g, and about 60 to about 99 wt. % of one or more additional binders, the sum of the respective wt. % in each case equaling 100 wt. %.

The present invention relates to metal effect pigments with a high covering power and a thin iron oxide coating, for creating a champagne tone.