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.

A particle and a composition including a plurality of particles are provided, wherein the particles are platelets exhibiting a planar geometry which is circular or which is made up of a number (x) of planar (y)-sided polygon(s), wherein x is from 1 to 20 and y is at least 3 wherein if x is greater than 1 then said planar (y)-sided polygons are fused along one or more sides thereof, wherein the width (W.sub.P) of the platelets (P) at their widest point is no more than about 250 pm and the thickness of the platelets (P) is in the range of 10 nm to 50 nm.

The present invention relates to transparent, electrically semiconducting interference pigments having high color strength, and in particular to flake-form interference pigments which comprise an oxygen-deficient layer of TiO.sub.2-x, to a process for the preparation of such pigments, and to the use of the pigments prepared in this way.

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.

A new material efficiently attenuating transmission of near-infrared light is provided. A provided near-infrared-shielding material includes a plurality of flaky particles, wherein each of the plurality of flaky particles includes a flaky substrate and a single-layer film formed on a principal surface of the flaky substrate, and the near-infrared-shielding material has a light reflectance of 40% or more between wavelengths of 800 nm and 1400 nm. The flaky substrate is, for example, a glass flake. The glass flake has an average thickness of, for example, 0.6 pm or less. The single-layer film includes, for example, titanium oxide and has an average thickness of, for example, 80 nm to 165 nm.

Provided are thin leaf-like indium particles having a first peak and a second peak at a greater particle diameter than a particle diameter at which the first peak appears in a volume-based particle size distribution representing a relationship between particle diameters of indium particles and ratios by volume of the indium particles at the particle diameters, wherein a volume V1 of the indium particles at the first peak and a volume V2 of the indium particles at the second peak satisfy a formula (V1/V2)×100≥25%.

A blended composition containing uncoated Al.sub.2O.sub.3 flakes having a thickness of ≥500 nm and a D.sub.50-value of 15-30 μm and a D.sub.90-value of 30-45 μm, and/or coated Al.sub.2O.sub.3 flakes having a thickness of ≥500 nm and a D.sub.50-value of 15-30 μm and a D.sub.90-value of 30-45 μm, which have been coated with at least one layer of a metal oxide, mixtures of at least two metal oxides, metal, metal sulphide, titanium suboxide, titanium oxynitride, FeO(OH), metal alloys and/or rare earth compounds, and their use in various formulations.

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.

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.