The present invention relates to effect pigments which are based on flake-form substrates having a circular form factor of 1.2-2 and are coated with at least one high-refractive-index layer, and to the use thereof, inter alia in paints, coatings, printing inks, plastics and in cosmetic formulations.

An optical device includes a reflector layer having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface; a third surface, and a fourth surface opposite the third surface; and a first selective light modulator layer external to the first surface of the reflector layer; in which at least one of the third surface and the fourth surface includes an azimuthal modulator layer. A method of making an optical device is also disclosed.

The invention relates to interference pigments based on SiO.sub.2 flakes having a broad layer-thickness distribution, and to the use thereof in paints, coatings, powder coatings, plastics and in particular in cosmetic formulations and for colouring food and pharmaceutical products.

Effect pigments based on Al.sub.2O.sub.3 flakes with high weather resistance and less photoactivity and to their use thereof in paints, industrial coatings, automotive coatings, printing inks, cosmetic formulations. The effect pigments have a ratio of the amount by weight of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 of the Al.sub.2O.sub.3 flake and the amount by weight of the metal oxide(s) of the coating layer(s) in the range of from 27:73 to 83:17 based on the total weight of the effect pigment.

Effect pigments based on Al.sub.2O.sub.3 flakes with high weather resistance and less photoactivity and to their use thereof in paints, industrial coatings, automotive coatings, printing inks, cosmetic formulations. The effect pigments have a ratio of the amount by weight of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 of the Al.sub.2O.sub.3 flake and the amount by weight of the metal oxide(s) of the coating layer(s) in the range of from 27:73 to 83:17 based on the total weight of the effect pigment.

The invention relates to a surface-modified effect pigment comprising particular additives and to the production thereof. The present invention further provides a nail varnish composition comprising a) at least one effect pigment that has been surface-modified with a starting material (additive), where the effect pigment comprises a substrate in platelet form and optionally at least one coating applied to the substrate, b) at least one hydrocarbon resin as binder, and c) at least one solvent or solvent mixture, where the starting material (additive) for surface modification of the effect pigment is at least one compound taken from the group consisting of phosphoric ester-containing, phosphonic ester-containing, phosphonic acid-containing, fatty acid-containing and/or silane-containing compounds or mixtures thereof.

A pearlescent pigment for security purposes according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a single or a plurality of coating layers containing a metal oxide and an organic or inorganic fluorescent material. Since the pearlescent pigment for security purposes according to the present disclosure includes a fluorescent layer containing the organic or inorganic fluorescent material, it can be used as a pigment for security purposes due to its optical characteristics and can also provide effects such as magnetism, high color intensity, multiple colors, etc. Also, since the pearlescent pigment for security purposes has aesthetic benefit and security characteristic at the same time, it is economical, easy to use and applicable in various industries.

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.

An article including a reflector having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; a first selective light modulator layer external to the first surface of the reflector; a second selective light modulator layer external to the second surface of the reflector; a first absorber layer external to the first selective light modulator layer; and a second absorber layer external to the second selective light modulator layer; wherein each of the first and second selective light modulator layers include a host material is disclosed herein. Methods of making the article are also disclosed.