The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the invention relates to optical effect layers (OEL) showing a viewing-angle dependent optical effect, devices and processes for producing said OEL and items carrying said OEL, as well as uses of said optical effect layers as an anti-counterfeit means on documents. The OEL comprises a plurality of non-spherical magnetic or magnetizable particles, which are dispersed in a coating composition comprising a binder material, the OEL comprising two or more loop-shaped areas, being nested around a common central area that is surrounded by the innermost loop-shaped area, wherein, in each of the loop-shaped areas, at least a part of the plurality of non-spherical magnetic or magnetizable particles are oriented such that, in a cross-section perpendicular to the OEL layer and extending from the center of the central area to the outer boundary of the outermost loop-shaped area, the longest axis of the particles in each of the cross-sectional areas of the looped-shaped areas follow a tangent of either a negatively curved or a positively curved part of hypothetical ellipses or circles.

An optically variable device may be manufactured by aligning magnetic flakes on a surface of an adhesive layer by applying the flakes onto the adhesive layer surface in presence of a magnetic field, and curing the adhesive layer having magnetic flakes adhered to the adhesive layer. When cured, the adhesive layer holds the magnetic flakes oriented, enabling subsequent encapsulation of the oriented magnetic flakes in a coating layer on the adhesive layer, without a substantial loss of orientation of the magnetic flakes.

A thermal boundary protection system including one or more carbon nanotubes for increased durability is disclosed. The thermal boundary protection system may include a bond coat applied on an outer surface of a base material, a thermal barrier coating applied on an outer surface of the bond coat, and a plurality of carbon nanotubes extending from the bond coat at least partially into the thermal barrier coating.

The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the invention relates to optical effect layers (OEL) showing a viewing-angle dependent optical effect, devices and processes for producing said OEL and items carrying said OEL, as well as uses of said optical effect layers as an anti-counterfeit means on documents. The OEL comprises a plurality of non-spherical magnetic or magnetizable particles, which are dispersed in a coating composition comprising a binder material, wherein in at least a loop-shaped area of the OEL at least a part of the plurality of non-spherical magnetic or magnetizable particles are oriented such that their longest axis is substantially parallel to the plane of the OEL, and wherein, in a cross-section perpendicular to the OEL and extending from the center of the central area, the longest axis of the oriented particles present in the loop-shaped area forming the impression of the loop-shaped body follow a tangent of either a negatively curved or a positively curved part of a hypothetical ellipse or circle.

The invention allows using a commodity hardware (e.g. a smartphone, a tablet, a computer . . . ) to automatically establish a high level of assurance authentication and identification of any government-issued identity document of a user (e.g. identity card, driving license, passport . . . ) and link that to digital identity counterpart. Moreover, the invention allows personalizing a material-based security feature provided of said government-issued identity document to create a link between the identity document and its data content that can be read by such a commodity hardware and serves as reliable credential for accessing a service once the material-based security feature has been authenticated via the commodity hardware and a signature of the identity data of the user has been authenticated by a server of an authority.

A manufacturing method of an anisotropic conductive film and an apparatus thereof are provided. The manufacturing method of an anisotropic conductive film includes steps of: (a) providing a first substrate having metal contacts; (b) disposing a resin layer on the first substrate and covering the metal contacts; (c) providing a press head having a suction pattern arranged corresponding to the metal contacts; (d) sucking the conductive particles by the press head; and (e) pressing the conductive particles into the resin layer by the press head. The conductive particles are disposed corresponding to the metal contacts of the substrate, so that the problem about the short circuit between contacts can be improved, and the product yield and reliability can also be improved.

The present invention relates to the field of magnetic assemblies and processes for producing optical effect layers (OELs) comprising magnetically oriented non-spherical magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles on a substrate. In particular, the present invention relates to magnetic assemblies processes for producing said OELs as anti-counterfeit means on security documents or security articles or for decorative purposes.

Provided is a process for producing a coating on a substrate comprising one or more steps of crushing a dried layer of a foamed aqueous coating composition, wherein the aqueous coating composition comprises a collection of multi-stage copolymer particles having a weight average diameter of 2-20 μm, wherein said multi-stage copolymer particles comprise a core having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 20° C. or less. Also provided is a coated substrate made by that process.

A device is provided for aligning magnetic or magnetizable particles, which are contained in a coating that is applied to a first side of a web-type or a sheet-type substrate. An application device is arranged in the transport path of the substrate, by the use of which, the coating is applied or is applicable to the first side of the substrate, in at least one application site. A first cylinder, which is embodied as a magnetic cylinder, is arranged in the transport path of the substrate to be transported downstream of the application device and comprises a plurality of elements creating a magnetic field in the region of the outer periphery of the first cylinder. Another cylinder, which is embodied as a magnetic cylinder, is arranged in the transport path of the substrate to be transported and comprises a plurality of elements creating a magnetic field in the region of the outer periphery of that cylinder. A drying device or an hardening device is arranged on the transport path between a site of a winding-on of the substrate on the first cylinder and a site of a winding-on of the other cylinder. The first cylinder, which is embodied as the magnetic cylinder, is arranged in the transport path of the substrate to be transported on the second side thereof. The drying or the hardening device is oriented in the transport path of the substrate to be transported on the first side thereof.

A manufacturing method of an anisotropic conductive film and an apparatus thereof are provided. The manufacturing method of an anisotropic conductive film includes steps of: (a) providing a first substrate having metal contacts; (b) disposing a resin layer on the first substrate and covering the metal contacts; (c) providing a press head having a suction pattern arranged corresponding to the metal contacts; (d) sucking the conductive particles by the press head; and (e) pressing the conductive particles into the resin layer by the press head. The conductive particles are disposed corresponding to the metal contacts of the substrate, so that the problem about the short circuit between contacts can be improved, and the product yield and reliability can also be improved.