A process for the preparation and colouring of pulverulent foods which is distinguished by the fact that uncoloured pulverulent foods are mixed with effect pigments based on flake-form substrates.

The present invention relates to pearlescent pigments, to a process of manufacturing such pearlescent pigments based on a wet oxidation step as well as to the use of such pearlescent pigments.

A multi-layered pigment includes a metal core such as AlSiO.sub.2. A high refractive index layer such as TiO.sub.2 is applied by an aqueous organic two-phase process to and surrounding the metal core. The high refractive index layer has a thickness greater than 120 nm wherein the high refractive index layer is uniform and crack-free.

The invention relates to a metal effect pigment including a metallic substrate in platelet form and a coating applied thereto, wherein the coating includes a spacer layer. The invention further relates to a process for production of and to the use of the metal effect pigment.

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.

A color metallic pigment according to the present invention contains at least a metallic pigment, an amorphous silicon oxide film layer that is formed on the surface of the metallic pigment, a metal oxide layer that is formed on the surface of the amorphous silicon oxide film layer and contains a metal oxide other than silicon oxide, and metal particles that are formed on the surface of the metal oxide layer, wherein the metal particles are so formed as to directly cover a part of the metal oxide layer.

The present invention relates to pigments, comprising a plate-like substrate of perlite, and (a) a dielectric material, especially a metal oxide, having a high index of refraction; and/or (a) a metal layer, especially a thin semi-transparent metal layer; a process for their production and their use in paints, ink jet printing, for dyeing textiles, for pigmenting coatings (paints), printing inks, plastics, cosmetics, glazes for ceramics and glass.

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for implementing lightning strike protective compositions. In one aspect, a composition for providing protection against electrical discharges (e.g., including lightning strikes) for composite structures includes a binder material capable of dispersing material structures therein and attaching to a surface of a substrate, and a plurality of pigment structures dispersed in the binder material. The pigment structures include a central layer including an electrically conducting material, and outer layers formed on the central layer, in which the outer layers include an optical absorber material or a dielectric material. The composition, when attached to the substrate, is capable of providing electrically conductive paths to transfer electrical current from a multi kiloamp electrical discharge within the composition.

The present invention relates to semitransparent pearlescent pigments, to processes for producing them, and to the use of such pearlescent pigments, where the pearlescent pigments comprise monolithically constructed substrate platelets composed of a metal oxide having an average thickness of 1 to 40 nm and a form factor, expressed by the ratio of the mean size to the average thickness, of at least 80, which are enveloped by at least one substantially transparent coating A composed of at least one low-index metal oxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, having a refractive index of less than 1.8, and at least one interference layer in the form of a coating B composed of at least one high-index metal oxide, having a refractive index of at least 1.8.

A process of forming a multi-layered pigment includes the steps of: providing a metal core material; dispersing the metal core material in a first solvent and organic binder mixture; depositing a high refractive index material onto the metal core material; drying the deposited high refractive index and metal core material wherein the high refractive index layer is uniform and crack-free.