Boride particles represented by a general formula XB, (where X is at least one kind of metal element selected from Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Sr, Ca, and m is a number indicating an amount of boron in the general formula) are provided, wherein an amount of carbon included in the boride particles is 0.2% by mass or less, as measured by a combustion-infrared absorption method.

A multilayer thin film structure having a reflective core particle, a dielectric layer directly encapsulating the reflective core particle, an absorber layer directly encapsulating the dielectric layer; an outer layer encapsulating the absorber layer. The multilayer thin film structure has a hue shift of less than 30? in the Lab color space when viewed at angles from 0? to 45?.

Provided is a black fine particulate near-infrared reflective material which is a perovskite-type complex oxide containing at least an alkaline earth metal element, titanium element, and manganese element, having a BET specific surface area within a range of 3.0-150 m.sup.2/g. The Hunter L value, as an indicator of blackness, is 30 or less, and the reflectivity at a wavelength of 1200 nm, as an indicator of near-infrared reflective power, is 40% or above.

There are very few violet or pink colored commercial pigments that display high heat stability, resistance to acidic conditions, or good lightfastness. This technology results in pigments that fall into the above color space, but display improved chemical and weathering stability. The pigments based of this technology have the molar ratio (A.sub.2O).sub.x(BO).sub.y(C.sub.2O.sub.5).sub.z(DO.sub.3).sub.w(EO.sub.2).sub.v, where 2x+y+2z+w+v100. Where A is Li or Li with one or more of Cu, Na, or K, where B is Co or Co with one or more of Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Sn, or Zn, where C is Nb, Sb, or combination thereof, where D is Mo, W or combination thereof, where E is Sn, Ti, Zr, or combination thereof. The above formulation may be modified with a dopant addition of Al, B, Ba, Bi, Ca, Ce, Cr, La, P, Pr, Si, Sr, Ta, V, or Y where the dopant concentration represents 5 atomic % or less of the total number of moles of components A+B+C+D+E.

The use of an effect pigment (a) comprising an aluminum-based substrate and an iron oxide coating having a red 1.sup.st order interference color in combination with a colored absorption pigment (b) for producing a coating having enhanced coloristic properties, in particular enhanced chroma, lightness and hiding power, is provided. The pigment combination of (a) and (b) is suitable for coloring plastics, a fiber, a film and a coating composition such as a paint, a printing ink, a varnish or a powder coating, preferably an automotive, an architectural or an industrial coating composition.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing oxide particles with controlled color characteristics and to provide oxide particles with controlled color characteristics. The present invention provides a method for producing oxide particles, comprising controlling color characteristics of the oxide particles by controlling the ratio of M-OH bonds, the binding of one or more different elements (M) other than oxygen or hydrogen with hydroxyl group (OH), in oxide particles selected from metal oxide particles and metalloid oxide particles. According to the present invention, oxide particles having controlled color characteristics of any one of reflectance, transmittance, molar absorption coefficient, hue, or color saturation can be provided by controlling the percentage of the M-OH bonds contained in metal oxide particles or metalloid oxide particles.

A bright pigment according to the present invention includes: a glass flake; a titanium oxide layer formed over the glass flake; and fine gold particles deposited on the titanium oxide layer or placed between the glass flake and the titanium oxide layer. The titanium oxide layer has a thickness of 150 nm or more, and a reflected color of the bright pigment is a blue to green color represented by a C* value of 15 or more and a h value of 150 to 300 in a L*C*h color system.

The subject of the invention is a method for the production of pigment from filtration sludges containing manganese and iron and phosphates, characterised in that the filter sludge is sieved on a vibrating sieve, then the suspension is concentrated and dried to a water content below 8% w/w, after which the material is subjected to thermal treatment at a temperature in the range of 500-1200? C. for a period of 6-12 hours, and the obtained sinter is fragmented and optionally dried to a moisture level of 5%. The invention also relates to using the pigment produced by the foregoing method colouring construction ceramic products or as a colouring additive to the mass from which construction products are formed or as a colouring additive for concrete.

A metallic effect pigment with an additive, the additive being applied on at least a portion of the metallic effect pigment. The additive comprises, as structural units, at least one carboxylic acid having at least 4 carbon atoms and also at least one polyglycol ether. The carboxylic acid and the polyglycol ether are bonded covalently to one another. The disclosure is also directed to a method for producing these metallic effect pigments, and to the use thereof, as well as to a printing ink comprising the pigments.

A colorant including a mixture of pigments is disclosed. The pigments have a similar coloration but different resistance to corrosion. The mixing ratio is selected to optimize the corrosion resistance against color brightness, and/or acidic corrosion resistance against alkali corrosion resistance of the colorant.