To provide an infrared-reflective pigment and infrared-reflective coating composition provided with both high infrared-light reflecting properties and high visible-light transparency. Provided is a flake-shaped infrared-reflective pigment, the infrared-reflective pigment 1 characterized by being provided with a layered body 13 having at least one metal thin-film layer 11 and at least two transparent dielectric layers 12, the film thickness of the dielectric layer 12 being (an integer multiple of /4n)10 nm, where is the wavelength of incident light in a visible-light peripheral region and n is the refractive index of the dielectric layer 12. Also provided is an infrared-reflective coating composition containing the infrared-reflective pigment 1.

There is disclosed a functional lamellar particle including an unconverted portion of the lamellar particle, wherein the unconverted portion includes a first metal, a converted portion of the lamellar particle disposed external to a surface of the unconverted portion, wherein the converted portion includes a chemical compound of the first metal; and a functional coating disposed external to a surface of the converted portion.

There is disclosed a lamellar particle including an unconverted portion of the lamellar particle, wherein the unconverted portion includes a first metal, a converted portion of the lamellar particle disposed radially outward of at least one of a surface of the unconverted portion, wherein the converted portion includes a chemical compound of the first metal.

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.

The present invention relates to interference pigments based on multicoated flake-form substrates which have on the surface of the substrate a layer sequence comprising (A0) optionally a high-refractive-index coating consisting of a layer of TiO.sub.2, (A) a high-refractive-index coating consisting of a mixture of TiO.sub.2 and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, which may optionally be doped with one or more further oxides, (B) a high-refractive-index layer consisting of SnO.sub.2, (C) a high-refractive-index coating which absorbs in the visible wavelength region, and optionally (D) an outer protective layer, and to the use thereof, in particular in paints, coatings, industrial coatings, automobile paints, automotive refinish paints, coil coating, powder coatings, printing inks, plastics, pigment pastes, pigment preparations and in dry preparations, such as, for example, granules.

An effect pigment preparation comprises an effect pigment, a dispersive additive, and a passivating agent. The preparation is dry, the pigment comprises about 84% or more of the mass of the preparation, the dispersive additive comprises up to 15% of the mass of the preparation, and the number of theoretical layers of the passivating agent is from about 2 to about 12. The effect pigment preparation is non-dusting and can be easily stirred into aqueous, solvent, or UV curing-based liquid coatings formulations.

The invention relates to anisotropic, reflective, magnetic flakes. In a liquid carrier and under influence of an external magnetic field, the flakes attract to one another side-by-side and form ribbons which provide higher reflectivity to a coating and may be used as a security feature for authentication of an object.

To provide an infrared-reflective pigment and infrared-reflective coating composition provided with both high infrared-light reflecting properties and high visible-light transparency. Provided is a flake-shaped infrared-reflective pigment, the infrared-reflective pigment 1 characterized by being provided with a layered body 13 having at least one metal thin-film layer 11 and at least two transparent dielectric layers 12, the film thickness of the dielectric layer 12 being (an integer multiple of /4n)10 nm, where is the wavelength of incident light in a visible-light peripheral region and n is the refractive index of the dielectric layer 12. Also provided is an infrared-reflective coating composition containing the infrared-reflective pigment 1.

Disclosed herein is an effect pigment having a layer stack which comprises a highly reflective metallic flake having a first major interface and opposed to this first interface a second major interface, and at least one side surface and directly adjacent on one or of both of these major interfaces a layer of a semiconducting material having an average atomic composition of: a) Si.sub.(1-x)Sn.sub.x, wherein 0<x<0.90 or b) Ge.sub.(1-y)Sn.sub.y, wherein 0<y0.80 or c) Si.sub.(1-m-n)Ge.sub.mSn.sub.n, wherein 0<m<1.00, 0<n<1.00 and with the proviso that m+n<1.00.

The invention relates to anisotropic, reflective, magnetic flakes. In a liquid carrier and under influence of an external magnetic field, the flakes attract to one another side-by-side and form ribbons which provide higher reflectivity to a coating and may be used as a security feature for authentication of an object.