The invention is directed to electrically conductive particles comprising a metallic core, a dielectric layer encapsulating said metallic core, and a silver containing outer-layer, wherein said metallic core comprises or consists of elemental metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, iron, nickel, zinc, and alloys, and mixtures thereof, said dielectric layer comprises at least one metal oxide selected from the group consisting of the group consisting of silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, tin oxide, organic polymer, and mixtures thereof, wherein said silver containing layer is a continuous and opaque layer, wherein a silver ion coordinating layer is arranged between said dielectric layer and said silver containing layer and, optionally a further outer surface modification layer in amount of 0 to 3 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the electrically conductive particles. The invention is also directed to a composition and an article comprising the electrically conductive particles as well as to a method for producing said electrically conductive particles.

A main object of the present invention to provide a coated pigment that is composed of a composite particle comprising a silicon compound coated on the surface of a metal particle, and that can be dispersed with relatively few aggregates. The present invention relates to a coated pigment comprising a composite particle containing a metal particle and one or two or more coating layers on the surface of the metal particle, wherein (1) at least one of the coating layers is a silicon compound-containing layer, and (2) the proportion of aggregates formed by adhesion of at least four of the composite particles with each other is not more than 35% by number.

A main object of the present invention to provide a coated pigment that is composed of a composite particle comprising a silicon compound coated on the surface of a metal particle, and that can be dispersed with relatively few aggregates. The present invention relates to a coated pigment comprising a composite particle containing a metal particle and one or two or more coating layers on the surface of the metal particle, wherein (1) at least one of the coating layers is a silicon compound-containing layer, and (2) the proportion of aggregates formed by adhesion of at least four of the composite particles with each other is not more than 35% by number.

An aluminum flake pigment is an aluminum flake pigment including aluminum flakes, wherein the aluminum flakes include small-size aluminum flakes each having a particle size of less than or equal to 1 μm, and in a microscope image when the aluminum flakes are observed using a scanning electron microscope, a ratio of the number of the small-size aluminum flakes is less than or equal to 35% with respect to the number of a whole of the aluminum flakes.

An aluminum flake pigment is an aluminum flake pigment including aluminum flakes, wherein the aluminum flakes include small-size aluminum flakes each having a particle size of less than or equal to 1 μm, and in a microscope image when the aluminum flakes are observed using a scanning electron microscope, a ratio of the number of the small-size aluminum flakes is less than or equal to 35% with respect to the number of a whole of the aluminum flakes.

A LiDAR reflecting dark colored pigment includes a core layer formed from a reflecting material and a first layer formed from a first absorber material or a first dielectric material extending across the core layer. A second layer formed from a second absorber material different than the third absorber material extends across the first layer and a third layer formed from a third absorber material or a second dielectric material extends across the second layer. The third absorber material is different than the second absorber material. The LiDAR reflecting dark colored pigment reflects less than 10% of incident visible electromagnetic radiation and more than 60% of incident near-IR electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between and including 850 nm and 950 nm for all incident angles of the visible and near-IR electromagnetic radiation between and including 0° and 45°. A color reflected by the multilayer stack has a lightness in CIELAB color space less than or equal to 40.

A thin film structure including a reflector layer; and a hybrid layer including an organic colored material and at least one of an organic filler and an inorganic filler; wherein a concentration of the at least one of an organic filler or an inorganic filler is in a range of from about 3 wt. % to about 30 wt. %. A method of making a thin film structure is also disclosed.

A thin film structure including a reflector layer; and a hybrid layer including an organic colored material and at least one of an organic filler and an inorganic filler; wherein a concentration of the at least one of an organic filler or an inorganic filler is in a range of from about 3 wt. % to about 30 wt. %. A method of making a thin film structure is also disclosed.

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.

A thin film structure including a reflector layer; and a hybrid layer including an organic colored material and at least one of an organic filler and an inorganic filler; wherein a concentration of the at least one of an organic filler or an inorganic filler is in a range of from about 3 wt. % to about 30 wt. %. A method of making a thin film structure is also disclosed.