Opacifying systems for polymeric transparent substrates

Abstract

This technology relates to the field of using opaque polymer transparent substrates (x00) for manufacturing improved security documents such as banknotes, said substrates (x00) combining good mechanical properties and being easily handled for subsequent multi-step security printing methods. Specifically, a kit is provided for manufacturing an opaque system (x10) on one or both sides of a polymer transparent substrate (x0), said kit comprising a) a first composition for manufacturing an opaque layer (x11), b) a second composition for manufacturing a conductive layer (x12), and c) a third layer composition for manufacturing a receiving layer (x13), wherein the first, second, and third compositions comprise i) water, ii) a water-soluble or water-dispersible resin, iii) a white pigment, and iv) a wax, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third compositions comprises an antistatic agent, and wherein at least two of said first, second, and third compositions comprise a mica compound.

Description

(19) State Intellectual Property Office (12) Invention Patent Application (10) Application Publication Number (43) Application Publication Date (21) Application Number 202380104842.9 (22) Application Date 2023.12.19 (85) PCT International Application Entering National Phase Date 2026.06.16 (86) PCT International Application Application Data PCT / CN2023 / 139811 2023.12.19 (87) PCT International Application Publication Data WO2025 / 129444 EN 2025.06.26 (71) Applicant Sikbai Holding Ltd. Address Switzerland Applicant China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation Ltd. (72) Inventor G. Ritter (74) Patent Agency Beijing Linda Liu Intellectual Property Agency (General Partnership) 11277 Patent Attorney Li Maojia Duan Ran (51) Int.Cl. C09D 11 / 107(2006.01) B42D 25 / 00(2006.01) B42D 25 / 29(2006.01) B42D 25 / 36(2006.01) B42D 25 / 378(2006.01) B42D 15 / 00(2006.01) B32B 23 / 00(2006.01) B32B 27 / 00(2006.01) (54) Invention Title: Opaque System for Polymer Transparent Substrates (57) Abstract: This technology relates to the field of improved opaque polymer transparent substrates (x00) for manufacturing security documents such as banknotes, said substrates (x00) combining good mechanical properties and being easily handled for subsequent multi-step security printing methods. Specifically, a kit is provided for fabricating an opaque system (x10) on one or both sides of a polymer transparent substrate (xx0), the kit comprising a) a first composition for fabricating an opaque layer (x11), b) a second composition for fabricating a conductive layer (x12), and c) a third composition for fabricating a receiving layer (x13), wherein the first, second, and third compositions comprise i) water, ii) a water-soluble or water-dispersible resin, iii) a white pigment, and iv) a wax, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third compositions comprises an antistatic agent, and wherein at least two of the first, second, and third compositions comprise a mica compound.Claims 2 pages, Description 15 pages, Drawings 2 pages, CN 122422447 A 2026.07.17 CN 1 22 42 24 47 A 1. A kit for manufacturing an opaque system (x10) on one or both sides of a polymer transparent substrate (x00), the kit comprising: a) a first composition for manufacturing an opaque layer (x11), b) a second composition for manufacturing a conductive layer (x12), and c) a third layer composition for manufacturing an acceptor layer (x13), wherein the first composition, the second composition, and the third composition comprise i) water, ii) a water-soluble or water-dispersible resin, iii) a white pigment, iv) a wax, and v) optionally one or more additives, at least one of the first composition, the second composition, and the third composition comprises an antistatic agent, and at least two of the first composition, the second composition, and the third composition comprise a mica compound. 2. The kit of claim 1, wherein each of the first composition, the second composition, and the third composition comprises a water-soluble or water-dispersible resin selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, styrene resins, urethane resins, epoxy resins, polyvinyl alcohol resins, and mixtures thereof, wherein the amount of the water-soluble or water-dispersible resin is preferably from about 10% by weight to about 40% by weight, the weight percentage being independently based on the total solids content of the first composition, the second composition, and the third composition. 3. The kit of claim 1 or 2, wherein the mica compound has a flake-like shape and a d50 between about 3 micrometers and 35 micrometers. 4. The kit of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first composition and the second composition comprise the mica compound. 5. The kit of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first composition, the second composition, and the third composition comprise the mica compound. 6. The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the white pigment is selected from the group consisting of clay, kaolin clay, barium sulfate, talc, calcium carbonate, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and mixtures thereof, preferably wherein the white pigment is present in the first composition in an amount of about 20% to about 40% by weight, the weight percentage being based on the total weight of the first composition. 7. The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the wax is selected from the group consisting of microcrystalline wax, paraffin wax, polyethylene wax, fluorocarbon wax, polytetrafluoroethylene wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax, silicone oil, beeswax, candelilla wax, lignite wax, carnauba wax, rice bran wax, and mixtures thereof.8. The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of defoamers, wetting agents, dispersants, surfactants, viscosity modifiers, and mixtures thereof. 9. A polymer transparent substrate (x00) comprising a polymer transparent layer and one or two opaque systems (x10-a and x10-b), each system independently comprising three layers (x11, x12 and x13): a first layer, which is an opaque layer (x11) and constituted as a dried layer made of a first composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8; a second layer, which is a conductive layer (x12) and constituted as a dried layer made of a second composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8; and a third layer, which is a receiving layer (x13) constituted as a dried layer made of a third composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The first layer (x11) is at least partially in direct contact with the polymer transparent substrate (x00), the second layer (x12) is at least partially in direct contact with the first layer (x11) and the third layer (x13), and the third layer (x13) is at least partially in direct contact with the second layer (x12) and faces the environment. 10. The polymer transparent substrate (x00) according to claim 9, wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer are independently prepared by a printing method selected from the group consisting of gravure printing, flexographic printing, and screen printing. 11. The polymer transparent substrate (x00) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein each layer (x11, x12, x13) independently has a thickness between about 3 micrometers and about 7 micrometers, and wherein the polymer transparent substrate (x00) has a thickness between about 60 micrometers and about 90 micrometers. 12. The polymer transparent substrate (x00) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the polymer transparent substrate (x00) is made of polypropylene, preferably biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP). 13. A secure document, preferably a banknote, comprising the polymer transparent substrate (x00) according to any one of claims 9 to 12 and one or two opaque systems (x10-a, x10-b), and further comprising one or more security features (x14) at least partially covering the third layer (x13). 14. The security document of claim 13, wherein the one or more security features are printed security features prepared by a printing method selected from the group consisting of: offset printing, gravure printing, letterpress printing, numbering methods, screen printing, flexographic printing, and inkjet printing. 15. The security document of claim 14, wherein the one or more printed security features (x14) are prepared by oxidative drying ink.Claims 2 / 2 Page 3 CN 122422447 A Opaque System for Polymer Transparent Substrates

[0001] This invention relates to the field of improved opaque polymer substrates for manufacturing polymer security documents such as banknotes. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous improvement in the quality of color photocopies and printed matter, and the attempt to protect security documents from counterfeiting, alteration, or illegal copying, it is conventional to introduce various security measures into or onto these documents, such as banknotes, valuable documents or cards, transportation tickets or cards, tax banders, and merchandise labels. Typical examples of security measures include security threads, windows, fibers, planchettes, foil, labels, holograms, watermarks, security inks containing optically variable pigments, magnetic or magnetizable thin-film interference pigments, interference coated particles, thermochromic pigments, photochromic pigments, luminescent compounds, infrared absorbing compounds, ultraviolet absorbing or magnetic compounds.

[0003] Ink is applied to security documents in several printing steps, including various printing methods using low-viscosity inks such as screen printing inks, flexographic printing inks, and gravure printing inks, and high-viscosity or paste-like inks such as offset printing inks, intaglio printing inks, and letterpress printing inks.

[0004] Security documents, particularly banknotes, comprise a substrate that may be paper-based, plastic-based, or polymer-based materials, or combinations thereof. While conventional substrates include paper-based substrates that may include security threads introduced therein during their manufacture, an increasing number of countries are shifting from paper-based banknotes to polymer-based banknotes due to the reduced cost of said substrates, their functionality, their processability, their durability, their stain resistance, and their increased lifespan due to their more robust properties.

[0005] For the purpose of mimicking the appearance and some properties of conventional paper-based substrates used for secure documents, and for the purpose of providing a suitable and printable background, polymer transparent substrates may typically be surface-treated with an opaque layer on one or both sides to form an opaque polymer-based substrate, wherein the substrate has opaque areas in the form of clear windows or half windows and optional non-opaque areas that may include security features to increase resistance to counterfeiting and fraud. During the processing of said substrates containing only polymer material, efficiency in manufacturing and subsequent processing may be compromised, and therefore an opaque layer is needed to satisfy several functions beyond mere aesthetics. These functions include adhesion, printability, reduction of static buildup, and handling of the printing substrate.Polymer transparent substrates are typically coated with an opaque system, which typically includes a) an opaque layer to obtain a white opaque background, b) a conductive layer to eliminate electrostatic charges on the substrate surface, and c) a receiving layer to provide adhesion and a printable surface for the system to prepare security features using security ink.

[0006] US 6,686,027 B1 discloses a polymer-based substrate in the form of a laminate comprising a transparent core polymer layer, a transparent outer layer, and at least one interference filter embedded within the laminate, wherein an opaque coating can be applied to the outer layer.

[0007] US 2012 / 0187673 A1 discloses a security document comprising a transparent polymer-based substrate, a security feature in the form of an embossed pattern, and an opaque layer partially coated on the substrate to form a half-window, wherein the embossed security feature is present in the half-window.

[0008] US 2017 / 0210161 A1 discloses a polymer-based substrate comprising one or more integrated and / or applied optical safety devices and an opaque coating, the opaque coating comprising a major portion (≥50%) of pigment and a minor portion (<50%) of crosslinked polymer binder.

[0009] US 2002 / 0027361 A1 discloses a safety document incorporating a safety device that presents an appearance different from the opposite side of the document specification 1 / 15 page 4 CN 122422447 A. The disclosed safety document comprises a transparent polymer-based substrate, a safety device, and an opaque system comprising: an opaque layer completely coated on a first side of the substrate and an opaque layer partially coated on a second side of the substrate to create a half-window that allows clear observation of the safety device from the second side of the substrate, and that the safety device is not visible or only partially visible (in transmission) from the first side of the substrate. The disclosed opaque layer comprises pigments such as TiO2 dispersed within a binder or carrier of a thermally activated crosslinkable polymer material. WO 2006 / 133512 A1 discloses a polymer-based substrate similar to US 2002 / 0027361 A1, wherein at least one color-changing ink composition is applied in a half-window, but does not disclose any composition for the opaque layer.

[0010] AU 2011101065 A4 discloses a security document introducing a security device that presents different visual effects from different viewing positions. The disclosed security document comprises a transparent polymer-based substrate, at least one opaque layer on each side of the substrate, at least one coloring layer on each side of the substrate, and a security layer applied to one or both sides of the substrate, wherein the opaque layer partially coats the substrate to create a window, and wherein the security layer extends at least partially over the window and extends into the surrounding area of ​​the substrate covered by at least one opaque layer.The specific positions of the opaque layer, coloring layer, security layer, and window allow for the observation of three images: the first visible in reflection from a first side of the substrate, the second visible in reflection from a second side of the substrate, and the third visible in transmission from both sides of the substrate. The disclosed opaque layer comprises pigments such as TiO2 dispersed within a binder or carrier, or is formed from paper or other fibrous materials.

[0011] WO 00 / 74948 A1 discloses a polymer-based substrate comprising an opaque system comprising one or more epoxy layers and one or more antistatic layers. The disclosed epoxy layers comprise fillers including silica, clay, zinc oxide, tin oxide, talc, titanium oxide, and calcium carbonate. An example of WO 00 / 74948 A1 consists of a multilayer structure comprising, in the following order: one or more epoxy layers containing TiO2, one or more antistatic opaque layers containing TiO2, and a top epoxy layer containing hydrophobic clay.

[0012] WO 2019 / 197798 A1 discloses a transparent or translucent polymer substrate comprising an opaque system, said system comprising one or more opaque layers and one or more antistatic layers. The disclosed opaque layers comprise resins such as polyurethane-based resins, polyester-based resins, or epoxy-based resins, and opaque pigments such as titanium dioxide, silica, zinc oxide, tin oxide, clay, or calcium carbonate, and the disclosed antistatic layers are made of antistatic materials such as polymeric materials with sufficient conductivity to at least disperse static charge, or are made of a composition similar to the opaque layers that further comprises conductive particles.

[0013] Increased public sensitivity to environmental issues, and the necessary responsiveness of the chemical industry to environmental regulations such as REACH and GHS, has led to ink formulations containing significantly reduced amounts of organic solvents (volatile organic compounds, VOCs), prompting the industry to develop water-based, solvent-free, or low-VOC compositions.

[0014] Sequential printing methods involving different printing technologies are used to produce secure documents, particularly banknotes. In particular, banknote substrates undergo a series of different types of printing processes, each completed before the next step, requiring significant overhead in handling and storage.

[0015] It is known that polymer substrates used for security documents, particularly banknotes, suffer from low stiffness, resulting in difficulties during the printing process on the printing press and in handling the printed sheets.

[0016] Ink that cannot dry and cure quickly and effectively leads to set-off. Set-off occurs when, during the stacking and / or storage of printed substrates, insufficiently dried or cured printing ink adheres at least partially to the back of the printed substrate placed on top of it. This is a particular problem in security documents, especially during the printing of features on banknotes, as these documents typically carry several overlapping or partially overlapping features applied in subsequent steps.If previously applied features, such as background images or graphic patterns, have not been sufficiently dried or cured, the entire multi-step printing method (page 2 / 15, CN 122422447 A) will not only be delayed, but the acquired features may still suffer from smudging or contamination due to smudging on the machine during any subsequent printing or processing operations. In conventional banknote printing methods, offset security ink is applied to the substrate during one of the first steps of the entire multi-step printing process, which typically includes other printing steps such as intaglio printing, screen printing, gravure printing, flexographic printing, letterpress printing, numbering, and inkjet printing after offset printing. Printing features on security documents, especially banknotes, is very demanding because these documents often carry several overlapping or partially overlapping features applied in subsequent steps as described above. If an opaque system is applied to a polymer transparent substrate such as banknotes, and if the substrate coated with the opaque system suffers from poor drying, poor adhesion, or poor mechanical properties, subsequent printing steps may be delayed or complicated.

[0017] Therefore, there remains a need for polymer transparent substrates coated with water-based, low-VOC opaque systems that combine good mechanical properties and can be easily processed and handled for subsequent multi-step security printing methods. Furthermore, the water-based, low-VOC opaque systems are required to advantageously allow for good adhesion, printability, and drying properties of security inks or layers applied thereon. Summary of the Invention

[0018] Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art as described above. This is achieved by providing a kit for fabricating an opaque system (x10) on one or both sides of a polymer transparent substrate (x00), the kit comprising a) a first composition for fabricating an opaque layer (x11), b) a second composition for fabricating a conductive layer (x12), and c) a third composition for fabricating a receiving layer (x13), wherein the first, second, and third compositions comprise i) water, ii) a water-soluble or water-dispersible resin, iii) a white pigment, iv) a wax, and v) optionally one or more additives, at least one of the first, second, and third compositions comprises an antistatic agent, and at least two of the first, second, and third compositions comprise a mica compound.

[0019] The term “kit” is intended to mean that the first, second, and third compositions described herein are generally provided individually in separate containers and then preferably packaged together. In this way, they can be conveniently used to fabricate the opaque system (x10) described herein on the polymer transparent substrate (x00).

[0020] The opaque system (x10) described herein is particularly suitable for use with polymer transparent substrates and for use with secure documents containing said substrates.

[0021] This document also describes a polymer transparent substrate (x00) comprising one or two opaque systems (x10-a, x10-b) described herein, each layer of said system being in a dry state, each system independently comprising three layers (x11, x12, and x13):

[0022] a first layer, which is an opaque layer (x11) and constitutes a dry layer made of the first composition described herein,

[0023] a second layer, which is a conductive layer (x12) and constitutes a dry layer made of the second composition described herein, and

[0024] a third layer, which is a receiving layer (x13) constituted by a dry layer made of the third composition described herein,

[0025] the first layer (x11) is at least partially in direct contact with the polymer transparent substrate (x00), the second layer (x12) is at least partially in direct contact with the first layer (x11) and the third layer (x13), and the third layer (x13) is at least partially in direct contact with the second layer (x12) and faces the environment.

[0026] This document also describes security documents, particularly banknotes, comprising the polymer transparent substrate (x00) described herein and one or two opaque systems (x10-a, x10-b) described herein, and further comprising one or more security features (x14) at least partially covering a third layer (x13), particularly printed security features.

[0027] The water-based or low-VOC opaque systems described herein advantageously allow for the production of coated polymer transparent substrates with well-integrated chemical and physical properties. Furthermore, the polymer transparent substrate can be readily handled and processed for subsequent multi-step security printing methods and allows for improved drying properties of subsequently printed security features at least partially applied thereon. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028] Figures 1-3 are provided in which the invention is schematically illustrated and not drawn to scale.

[0029] FIG1A schematically shows an example of a polymer transparent substrate (100) comprising two opaque systems (110-a and 110-b), each system being a coating on one surface of the substrate (100), each system (110-a and 110-b) comprising a first layer as an opaque layer (111-a, 111-b), a second layer as a conductive layer (112-a, 112-b) and a third layer as a receiving layer (113-a, 113-b), wherein the opaque systems (110-a and 110-b) completely overlap with the polymer transparent substrate (100).

[0030] FIG1B schematically illustrates an example of a polymer transparent substrate (100) comprising two opaque systems (110-a and 110-b), each system being a coating on one surface of the substrate (100), each system (110-a and 110-b) comprising a first layer as an opaque layer (111-a, 111-b), a second layer as a conductive layer (112-a, 112-b), and a third layer as a receiving layer (113-a, 113-b), wherein one of the opaque systems (110-a and 110-b) (110-a) completely overlaps the polymer transparent substrate (100), and the other (110-b) completely overlaps the polymer transparent substrate (100) to have a transparent half-window.

[0031] Figures 1C1-1C2 schematically illustrate an example of a polymer transparent substrate (100) comprising two opaque systems (110-a and 110-b), each system being a coating on one surface of the substrate (100), each system (110-a and 110-b) comprising a first layer as an opaque layer (111-a, 111-b), a second layer as a conductive layer (112-a, 112-b), and a third layer as a receiving layer (113-a, 113-b), wherein the opaque systems (110-a and 110-b) completely overlap with the polymer transparent substrate (100) to have a transparent window. Figure 1C1 schematically illustrates an example of a polymer transparent substrate (100) comprising two opaque systems (110-a and 110-b) and a symmetrical window, and Figure 1C2 schematically illustrates an example of a polymer transparent substrate (100) comprising two opaque systems (110-a and 110-b) and an asymmetrical window.

[0032] Figure 2 schematically illustrates an example of a polymer transparent substrate (200) comprising two opaque systems (210-a and 210-b), each system being a coating on one surface of the substrate (200) as shown in Figure 1C1, the substrate (200) being in the form of a banknote further comprising a security feature (214) present on both sides of the substrate (200).

[0033] Figure 3 schematically illustrates a method for measuring the stiffness of a substrate (300) comprising two opaque systems (310-a and 310-b) by determining a distance (d). Detailed Description

[0034] The following definitions are used to clarify the meaning of terms discussed in the specification and defined in the claims.

[0035] As used herein, the indefinite article “a(a)” means one and greater than one, and does not necessarily limit its designated noun to a single one.

[0036] As used herein, the term “about” means that the quantity or value in discussion may be the designated value or some other value nearby.The phrase is intended to express that similar values ​​within ±5% of the indicated values ​​produce equivalent results or effects according to the invention.

[0037] As used herein, the terms “and / or” or “or / and” mean that all or only one of the elements of the group may exist. For example, “A and / or B” should mean “only A, or only B, or both A and B”.

[0038] As used herein, the term “at least” is intended to define one or more, such as one, two, or three.

[0039] The term “security feature” is used to refer to an image, pattern, or graphic element that can be used for authentication purposes.

[0040] The present invention provides a kit for manufacturing an opaque system (x10) on one or both sides of a polymer transparent substrate (x00), the kit comprising a first composition, a second composition, and a third composition described herein, wherein specific ingredients are contained in the compositions.

[0041] Typical examples of plastics and polymers suitable for the polymeric transparent substrate (x00) described herein include polyolefins such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP); polyamides (PA); polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate diol modified (PETG) including poly(ethylene glycol-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethyl terephthalate), poly(1,4-butanediol terephthalate) (PBT), polyethylene (2,6-naphthoic acid glycol) (PEN), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). According to one embodiment, the polymeric transparent substrate (x00) described herein is polypropylene (PP), such as, for example, oriented polypropylene (OPP, uniaxially stretched in the transverse direction), biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP, stretched in both the longitudinal and transverse directions), and uniaxially oriented polypropylene (MOPP, uniaxially stretched in the longitudinal direction), preferably BOPP. The polymeric transparent substrate (x00) described herein may be surface-treated with corona treatment. According to one embodiment, the polymer transparent substrate (x00) described herein is corona-treated polypropylene (PP), preferably corona-treated biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), and typically has a thickness of about 60 micrometers to about 90 micrometers.

[0042] The first, second, and third compositions comprise i) water, ii) a water-soluble or water-dispersible resin, iii) a white pigment, iv) a wax, and v) optionally one or more additives.

[0043] The water described herein may be present as a separate component or as part of an aqueous composition comprising a water-soluble or water-dispersible resin, or both, in the compositions described herein. Preferably, the water is present in a total amount of at least about 20% by weight, more preferably at least about 25% by weight, the weight percentages being independently based on each of the first, second, and third compositions.

[0044] In addition to water as described herein, one or more water-soluble organic solvents may be used independently in the first, second, and third compositions. The one or more water-soluble organic solvents described herein are preferably selected from water-soluble monohydric alcohols, preferably ethanol and / or isopropanol; water-soluble polyhydric alcohols, such as glycols, polyethylene glycols, and glycerols; water-soluble ethers; water-soluble glycol ethers; water-soluble esters; and water-soluble glycol esters. Preferably, the one or more water-soluble organic solvents are present in an amount of about 0.1% by weight to about 20% by weight, more preferably in an amount of about 0.1% by weight to about 15% by weight, the weight percentages being independently based on each of the first, second, and third compositions.

[0045] The water-soluble or water-dispersible resins described herein may be synthetic resins or natural polymer compounds (such as, for example, cellulose, rosin, and natural rubber). The water-soluble or water-dispersible resins described herein may be contained in the form of an aqueous composition comprising the resin (referred to in the art as a "latex composition"), preferably in the form of an aqueous solution comprising the resin, an aqueous emulsion comprising the resin, or an aqueous dispersion comprising the resin.

[0046] The water-soluble or water-dispersible resin may include more than one functional group capable of reacting with an external crosslinking agent, and such external crosslinking agent may also be part of the disclosed composition. Preferably, the water-soluble or water-dispersible resins described herein are synthetic resins, and are preferably selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, styrene resins, polyolefin resins, urethane resins, epoxy resins, polyvinyl alcohol resins, and mixtures thereof. According to one embodiment, the first, second, and third compositions described herein independently comprise more than one (i.e., two, three, etc.) water-soluble or water-dispersible resin, wherein the more than one (i.e., two, three, etc.) water-soluble or water-dispersible resin may have the same chemistry (e.g., more than one acrylic resin) or may have different chemistry (e.g., one acrylic resin and one styrene resin, as described on page 5 / 15 of the specification, CN 122422447 A).

[0047] Preferably, the water-soluble or water-dispersible resin is present in an amount of about 15% to about 40% by weight, preferably about 15% to about 30% by weight, the weight percentage being independently based on the total weight of the first, second, and third compositions. For embodiments in which the water-soluble or water-dispersible resin described herein is contained in the form of an aqueous composition comprising the resin, preferably in the form of an aqueous emulsion comprising the resin described herein, the provided weight percentage is composed of the amount of the resin (particularly the solids content). In embodiments where more than one water-soluble or water-dispersible resin is used, the provided weight percentage comprises the total amount of the more than one resin.According to one embodiment, the water-soluble or water-dispersible resin is present in an amount of about 10% by weight to about 40% by weight, the weight percentage being independently based on the total solids content of the first composition, the second composition, and the third composition.

[0048] The water-soluble or water-dispersible resin described herein is present in the first composition, the second composition, and the third composition, wherein the amount of water-soluble or water-dispersible resin compound in each layer may be the same or may be different. Preferably, the first, second, and third compositions independently contain one or more acrylic resins as water-dispersible resins, more preferably, the compositions independently contain one or more acrylic resins in the form of an aqueous composition containing the one or more acrylic resins (referred to in the art as a "latex acrylic composition"), preferably in the form of an aqueous emulsion containing the one or more acrylic resins.

[0049] The acrylic resin may be a homopolymer or a copolymer. An acrylic copolymer refers to a polymer obtained by copolymerizing at least two chemically different monomers, at least one of which is selected from unsaturated carboxylic acids, preferably acrylic acid or methacrylic acid. As mentioned above, the first, second, and third compositions preferably contain the acrylic resin independently in the form of an aqueous composition comprising the acrylic resin; therefore, the aqueous acrylic composition is preferably used in this invention. In the context of this invention, an aqueous acrylic composition refers to any water-based composition of polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, or other similar copolymers derived from acrylic acid or methacrylic acid. According to one embodiment, the aqueous acrylic composition comprises anionic acrylic copolymers, such as copolymers derived from at least one unsaturated carboxylic acid and at least one ester derived from an unsaturated carboxylic acid and a monohydric alcohol. According to one embodiment, the aqueous acrylic composition comprises a urethane acrylic copolymer. According to one embodiment, the aqueous acrylic composition comprises a styrene acrylic copolymer.

[0050] Suitable aqueous compositions comprising the acrylic resins described herein are available, for example, under the name Joncryl® from BASF (e.g., Joncryl® 7256 and 77ap), under the name NeoCryl® from Covestro (NeoCryl® A1127), under the name Synthetical Resin from Guangdong Yinyang Environment (YS-8682), and under the name Lacper® from Wanhua (Lacper® 4601).

[0051] In addition to the acrylic resins described herein, the first, second, and third compositions described herein may independently comprise one or more other water-soluble or water-dispersible resins different from the acrylic resins described herein.When present, one or more other resins described herein are preferably selected from the group consisting of styrene-based resins, polyurethanes, polyvinyl alcohol, polyamides, and polyolefins. According to one embodiment, one or more other resins described herein are styrene-based resins.

[0052] The white pigment described herein is preferably selected from the group consisting of clay, kaolin clay, barium sulfate, talc, calcium carbonate, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and mixtures thereof. According to one embodiment, the white pigment described herein is titanium oxide. According to one embodiment, the white pigment described herein is present in the first composition in an amount higher than that in the second composition and in an amount higher than that in the third composition. Preferably, the white pigment is present in the first composition in an amount of about 20% by weight to about 40% by weight, more preferably about 25% by weight to about 35% by weight, weight percentages based on the first composition. Preferably, the white pigment is present in the second and third compositions in an amount of about 1% by weight to about 10% by weight, more preferably about 1% by weight to about 5% by weight, weight percentages independently based on each of the second and third compositions. Preferably, the white pigment described herein (page 6 / 15, CN 122422447 A) has a primary particle size of less than 1 micrometer. According to one embodiment, the white pigment is titanium dioxide (TiO2), wherein the pigment preferably has a primary particle size of less than 3 micrometers. The white pigment described herein does not (i.e., does not contain) any surface treatment or surface coating made of tin oxide-containing materials (such as, for example, tin oxide, indium-doped tin oxide, and / or antimony-doped tin oxide).

[0053] The wax described herein is preferably selected from the group consisting of synthetic waxes, petroleum waxes, and natural waxes. Preferably, one or more waxes are selected from the group consisting of: microcrystalline waxes, paraffin waxes, polyethylene waxes, fluorocarbon waxes, polytetrafluoroethylene waxes, Fischer-Tropsch waxes, silicone oils, beeswax, candelilla wax, lignite wax, carnauba wax, and mixtures thereof. According to one embodiment, the wax described herein is a polyethylene wax. Preferably, the wax is present in an amount of about 0.1% by weight to about 3% by weight, more preferably about 0.2% by weight to about 2% by weight, the weight percentages being independently based on each of the first composition, the second composition, and the third composition. The waxes described herein are present in the first, second, and third compositions, wherein the amounts of wax compounds in each layer may be the same or different.

[0054] The first, second, and third compositions may independently further comprise one or more additives, including but not limited to compounds and materials for adjusting the physical, rheological, and chemical parameters of the compositions. The one or more additives are preferably selected from the group consisting of defoamers, wetting agents, dispersants, surfactants, viscosity modifiers, and mixtures thereof. The additives described herein may be present in the first, second, and third compositions disclosed herein in amounts and forms known in the art, including in the form of so-called nanomaterials.

[0055] The first, second, and third compositions described herein preferably have a pH between about 7 and 9 independently. Preferably, and as mentioned herein, the first, second, and third compositions described herein independently comprise an aqueous composition containing the acrylic resin described herein, the aqueous composition having a pH between about 7 and 9. If the pH of the first, second, and third compositions described herein is below about 7.0, the compositions may further independently comprise one or more neutralizing agents, wherein the one or more neutralizing agents may be inorganic bases, organic bases, or any combination thereof. Examples of inorganic bases include, but are not limited to, alkali metal hydroxides (particularly lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium), alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal bicarbonates, and alkali metal salts of inorganic acids, such as sodium borate (borax), sodium phosphate, sodium pyrophosphate, ammonia, and mixtures thereof. Examples of organic bases include, but are not limited to, amines.

[0056] At least one of the first, second, and third compositions described herein comprises an antistatic agent. According to one embodiment, the second composition comprises an antistatic agent. According to another embodiment, the third composition comprises an antistatic agent. According to another embodiment, both the second and third compositions comprise antistatic agents. Preferably, the antistatic agent is selected from the group consisting of amines, long-chain aliphatic amides, quaternary ammonium salts, polyethylene glycol or polyol esters, polyvinyl dioxythiophene, polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), metal oxides, metal-like oxides, and mixtures thereof. According to one embodiment, the antistatic agent described herein is a metal oxide, metal-like oxide, or mixture thereof, and is preferably selected from the group consisting of oxides such as aluminum, barium, bismuth, cadmium, calcium, cerium, cesium, chromium, cobalt, copper, dysprosium, erbium, gadolinium, germanium, hafnium, holmium, indium, iridium, iron, lanthanum, lead, lithium, lutetium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, neodymium, nickel, niobium, palladium, potassium, praseodymium, rhodium, rubidium, ruthenium, samarium, scandium, silicon, silver, sodium, strontium, tantalum, terbium, thallium, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, ytterbium, yttrium, and zirconium, and is preferably selected from the group consisting of indium oxide, tin oxide, and titanium oxide. Metal or metal-like oxide materials used as antistatic agents can consist of particles of different shapes, such as spherical or needle-like particles, fibers, and nanowires. Particles made from the metal oxides and metal-like oxides described herein can be coated with, for example, antimony-doped tin oxide or indium-doped tin oxide. Commercially available antistatic agents are known, for example, NeoCryl® FL-735.Commercially available metal oxide-based antistatic agents are known, for example, those named Iriotec® 7310, 7315, 7320, 7325, 7330 and 7340 (Merck); SN-100P, SN-100D, FS-10P, FS-10D, ET-300W, ET-500W, ET-600W, FT-1000, FT-2000 and FT-3000 (ISHIHARA SANGYO KAISHA Ltd.); ECT-F (TIANJIN JINLIN Co Ltd); W-1 and W-4 (MITSUBISHI MATERIALS). When present, the antistatic agent is preferably present in an amount of about 1% to about 20% by weight, the percentage of which is independently based on each of the first composition, the second composition and the third composition. Preferably, the antistatic agent described herein is present in the second composition and / or the third composition, wherein the amount of antistatic agent in each layer may be the same or may be different. According to one embodiment, the amount of antistatic agent in the compositions is different, wherein the amount of antistatic agent in the second composition is preferably higher than the amount in the third composition. According to one embodiment, the antistatic agent is preferably present in the second composition in an amount of about 10% to 20% by weight, more preferably about 15% to 20% by weight, weight percentage based on the second composition, and / or the antistatic agent is preferably present in the third composition in an amount of about 1% to 10% by weight, more preferably about 1% to 5% by weight, weight percentage based on the third composition.

[0057] At least two of the first, second, and third compositions described herein contain mica compounds. The mica compounds described herein may be natural compounds and / or synthetic compounds, and may be selected from the group consisting of muscovite compounds, sodium mica compounds, biotite compounds, lepidolite compounds, phlogopite compounds, lithium iron phosphate mica compounds, and mixtures thereof. According to one embodiment, the mica compound is selected from the group consisting of phlogopite compounds, muscovite compounds, and mixtures thereof. According to one embodiment, the mica compound is a magnesium-containing phlogopite compound having the structure KMg3(AlSi3O10)X2, wherein X can be OH or F (fluorophlogopite), preferably the magnesium-containing phlogopite compound KMg3(AlSi3O10)F2. The mica compound described herein may be coated with a metal oxide layer, such as titanium dioxide and / or iron oxide.

[0058] The mica described herein preferably has a sheet-like shape and a size d50 determined by laser diffraction between about 3 micrometers and 35 micrometers, more preferably between about 5 micrometers and 30 micrometers.

[0059] Preferably, the mica compound described herein is present in a total amount of about 0.2 wt% to about 30 wt%, about 0.5 wt% to about 30 wt%, about 1 wt% to about 30 wt%, about 5 wt% to about 30 wt%, and about 10 wt% to about 30 wt%; more preferably, about 0.2 wt% to about 25 wt%, about 0.5 wt% to about 25 wt%, about 1 wt% to about 25 wt%, about 5 wt% to about 25 wt%, and about 10 wt% to about 25 wt%; more preferably, about 0.2 wt% to about 20 wt%, about 0.5 wt% to about 20 wt%, about 1 wt% to about 20 wt%, about 5 wt% to about 20 wt%, and about 10 wt% to about 20 wt%; preferably, about 0.2 wt% to about 20 wt%, about 0.5 wt% to about 20 wt%, about 1 wt% to about 20 wt%, and about 5 wt% to about 20 wt%. About 10% by weight to about 20% by weight; more preferably about 0.2% by weight to about 17% by weight, about 0.5% by weight to about 17% by weight, about 1% by weight to about 17% by weight, about 5% by weight to about 17% by weight, about 10% by weight to about 17% by weight, the weight percentages being based on the total weight of the mica compound contained in the first composition, the second composition, and the third composition; by “total” means the sum of the amounts of mica compound in each layer of each of the opaque systems (x10) described herein.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the mica described herein is present in the first composition and the second composition, wherein the amounts of mica compound in each layer may be the same or may be different. According to another embodiment, the mica described herein is present in the first composition and the third composition, wherein the amounts of mica compound in each layer may be the same or may be different.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the mica described herein is present in the first composition, the second composition, and the third composition, wherein the amounts of mica compound in each layer may be the same or may be different. According to one embodiment in which a mica compound is present in the first, second, and third compositions and wherein the amount of said mica compound is different in the compositions, the amount of mica compound in the first composition is preferably higher than the amount in the second and third compositions, and more preferably the amount of mica compound in the first composition is higher than the amount in the second composition.

[0062] Suitable mica compounds are available, for example, from Lingshou Huajing Mica Co., Ltd. under the names HC15, HC30, and HC40, and from Kolortek under the name KT-7101.

[0063] At least one of the second and third compositions comprises a silica compound, said silica being different from the mica described herein.Preferably, the silica compound is present in an amount of about 0.1% by weight to about 5% by weight, more preferably about 0.1% by weight to 2% by weight, based on the second composition. Preferably, the silica compound is present in the third composition in an amount of about 5% by weight to about 15% by weight, more preferably about 8% by weight to 12% by weight, based on the third composition. Silica compounds are useful additives because they can be obtained in various grades, in various grades of particle size, porosity, hydrophilic and hydrophobic forms, as untreated silica or as surface-treated silica with various surface treatments to meet the requirements of specific applications. Silica compounds can be obtained as amorphous silica particles with a porous structure, such as fumed amorphous silica particles, as precipitated amorphous silica particles, and amorphous silica particles obtained from the sol-gel method. The silica compounds contained in the compositions described herein are characterized by d50 values ​​determined by laser diffraction in the range of about 1 μm to about 25 μm, preferably about 2 μm to about 15 μm, and more preferably about 3 μm to about 10 μm. Suitable amorphous silica particles include, for example, those named Syloid® from Grace (e.g., Syloid® C906, Rad 2105, 7000, ED30), those named Acematt® from Evonik (e.g., Acematt® OK412, OK500, OK520, OK607, OK900, 3600, TS100), those named AEROSIL® from Evonik, those named PPG Lo-Vel® from PPG (e.g., PPG Lo-Vel® 66, 2023, 8100, 8300), those named Gasil® from PQ Corporation (e.g., Gasil® UV55C, UV70C, HP210, HP240, HP380, HP860), those named Sylysia™ from Fuji Silysia Chemical Comp., those named Biosilico® from BSB Nanotech, and those named OX-50 from Degussa. AG, available commercially from Cabot Corp. under the name Cab-O-SilTM.

[0064] According to one embodiment, the kit described herein comprises:

[0065] a) a first composition comprising, in preferred amounts herein, water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a water-soluble or water-dispersible resin, a white pigment, the waxes and mica compounds described herein, and an antifoaming agent and a wetting agent as additives described herein;

[0066] b) a second composition comprising, in preferred amounts herein, water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a water-soluble or water-dispersible resin, a white pigment, a wax, a mica compound, a silica compound, and an antistatic agent described herein, and an antifoaming agent and a wetting agent as additives described herein; and

[0067] c) a third composition comprising, in preferred amounts herein, water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a water-soluble or water-dispersible resin, a white pigment, a wax, a mica compound, a silica compound, and an antistatic agent described herein, and an antifoaming agent and a wetting agent as additives described herein.

[0068] According to one embodiment, the kit described herein comprises:

[0069] a) a first composition comprising, in preferred amounts herein, water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a water-soluble or water-dispersible resin, a white pigment, the waxes and mica compounds described herein, and an antifoaming agent and a wetting agent as additives described herein;

[0070] b) a second composition comprising, in preferred amounts herein, water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a water-soluble or water-dispersible resin, a white pigment, a wax, a mica compound, a silica compound, and an antistatic agent described herein, and an antifoaming agent and a wetting agent as additives described herein; and

[0071] c) a third composition comprising, in preferred amounts herein, water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a water-soluble or water-dispersible resin, a white pigment, a wax, a silica compound, and an antistatic agent described herein, and an antifoaming agent and a wetting agent as additives described herein.

[0072] The first, second, and third compositions described herein are generally prepared by a method comprising the steps of grinding and / or dispersing and / or mixing all the ingredients described herein. Alternatively, the first, second, and third compositions described herein may be prepared by a method comprising the steps of grinding and / or dispersing and / or mixing all the components described herein except for the mica compound, which is added at a later stage.

[0073] The kit described herein is suitable for fabricating opaque systems (x10, x10-a, x10-b) on one or both sides of a polymer transparent substrate (x00), wherein each of the first, second, and third compositions is used to prepare the first layer (x11) as an opaque layer, the second layer (x12) as a conductive layer, and the third layer (x13) as a receiving layer, respectively.When applied to a polymer transparent substrate (x00), the first opaque layer (x11) is at least partially in direct contact with the substrate (x00) and the second conductive layer (x12); the second conductive layer (x12) is at least partially in direct contact with the first opaque layer (x11) and the third receiving layer (x13); and the third receiving layer (x13) is at least partially in direct contact with the second conductive layer (x12) and faces the environment, as shown in FIG1. ​​

[0074] According to one embodiment shown in FIG1, the opaque system (x10-a, x10-b) described herein is applied to both sides of the polymer transparent substrate (x00). The opaque system (x10) may completely coat the substrate (x00) (see FIG1A) or may partially coat the substrate (x00) (see FIG1B, FIG1C and FIG2).

[0075] According to one embodiment and as shown in FIG1B, a polymer transparent substrate (x00) carries two opaque systems (x10-a and x10-b) described herein, one of the systems (x10-a) being applied partially to one side of the substrate (x00) and the other system (x10-b) being applied completely to the other side of the substrate (x00) to leave at least one transparent area (referred to in the art as a half-window) visible from one side of the substrate (x00), on or in which a security element or security feature may be placed to further increase resistance to counterfeiting or fraud, the at least one transparent area being optionally visible in transmission from the side of the opaque system (x10-a) that is fully covered by the substrate (x00).

[0076] Alternatively, as shown in FIG1C, a polymer transparent substrate (x00) carries two opaque systems (x10-a and x10-b) described herein, each system being partially applied to each side of the substrate (x00) to leave at least one transparent area (referred to in the art as a window) visible from both sides of the substrate (x00), wherein the window may be symmetrical (FIG. 1C1) or asymmetrical (FIG. 1C2).

[0077] The half-windows and windows described herein may include security elements or features in the form of applied, embossed, or printed security elements or features to further increase resistance to counterfeiting or fraud.

[0078] This document also describes a polymer transparent substrate (x00) comprising one or two opaque systems (x10-a, x10-b) as described herein, wherein each system independently comprises the three layers (x11, x12, and x13) as described herein:

[0079] a first layer, which is an opaque layer (x11) and constitutes a dried layer made of the first composition described herein,

[0080] a second layer, which is a conductive layer (x12) and constitutes a dried layer made of the second composition described herein, and

[0081] a third layer, which is a receiving layer (x13) constituted by a dried layer made of the third composition described herein,

[0082] the first layer (x11) is at least partially in direct contact with the polymer transparent substrate (x00), the second layer (x12) is at least partially in direct contact with the first layer (x11) and the third layer (x13), and the third layer (x13) is at least partially in direct contact with the second layer (x12) and faces the environment.

[0083] The third layer (x13) described herein and made from the third composition described herein advantageously exhibits a gloss value between about 2 and 12, preferably between about 3 and 7, said gloss value being measured at 60° using a gloss meter from Byk.

[0084] The first, second, and third compositions described herein are preferably applied independently to the polymer transparent substrate (x00) described herein by a printing method selected from the group consisting of gravure printing, flexographic printing, and screen printing, more preferably gravure printing, and dried to form the first layer (x11), the second layer (x12), and the third layer (x13) described herein. First, the first composition is applied at least partially or completely to a polymer transparent substrate (x00) as described herein and dried to form a first layer (x11) as an opaque layer; then, the second composition is applied at least partially or completely to the first layer (x11) as described herein and dried to form a second layer (x12) as a conductive layer; then, the third composition is applied at least partially or completely to the second layer (x12) as described herein and dried to form a third layer (x13) as a receiving layer, as per specification page 10 / 15, 13 CN 122422447 A.If the polymer transparent substrate (x00) described herein contains a second opaque system (x10-b) and as shown, for example, in FIG1A, the first composition is first applied, as described herein, at least partially or completely, to the side of the polymer transparent substrate (x00) that does not contain the first opaque system (x10-b), and dried to form a first layer (x11-b) as an opaque layer; subsequently, the second composition is applied, as described herein, at least partially or completely, to the first layer (x11-b) and dried to form a second layer (x12-b) as a conductive layer; subsequently, the third composition is applied, as described herein, at least partially or completely, to the second layer (x12-b) and dried to form a third layer (x13-b) as a receiving layer.

[0085] The drying step described herein includes heating the respective first, second, and third compositions. The temperature used to dry the respective compositions is generally above about 45°C and below the temperature that may cause deformation and / or deterioration of the polymer transparent substrate (x00) and the first, second, and third layers (x11, x12, x13) described herein. Typically, the drying steps described herein use a suitable heat source, including but not limited to conventional heating means such as hot plates, ovens, hot air streams, and radiation sources.

[0086] Preferably, the polymer transparent substrate (x00) has a thickness between about 60 micrometers and about 90 micrometers, the first layer (x11) serving as an opaque layer has a thickness between about 3 micrometers and about 7 micrometers; the second layer (x12) serving as a conductive layer has a thickness between about 3 micrometers and about 7 micrometers; and the third layer (x13) serving as a receiving layer has a thickness between about 3 micrometers and about 7 micrometers, wherein the thicknesses of the first layer (x11), the second layer (x12), and the third layer (x13) may be the same or may be different.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the opaque system (x10, x10-a, x10-b) described herein independently comprises a single first layer serving as the opaque layer (x11, x11-a, x11-b) described herein. According to another embodiment, the opaque system (x10, x10-a, x10-b) described herein independently comprises two first layers (x11-1 and x11-2; x11-a1 and x11-a2; x11-b1 and x11-b2), each being an opaque layer (x11) described herein, wherein said layers are made of the same composition and preferably have a thickness between about 2 micrometers and about 3.5 micrometers.

[0088] The polymer transparent substrate (x00) comprises the first layer (x11), the second layer (x12), and the third layer (x13) described herein and applied in the order / sequence described herein.As described herein, the first layer (x11) is at least partially in direct contact with the polymer transparent substrate (x00) (i.e., the first layer (x11) may be present continuously or discontinuously on top of the polymer transparent substrate (x00), thereby leaving more than one portion or area of ​​the polymer transparent substrate (x00) that is not in direct contact with the first layer (x11). As described herein, the first layer (x11) is at least partially in direct contact with the second layer (x12) (i.e., the second layer (x12) may be present continuously or discontinuously on top of the first layer (x11), thereby leaving more than one portion or area of ​​the first layer (x11) that is not in direct contact with the second layer (x12). As described herein, the second layer (x12) is at least partially in direct contact with the third layer (x13) (i.e., the third layer (x13) may be present continuously or discontinuously on top of the second layer (x12), thereby leaving more than one portion or area of ​​the second layer (x12) that is not in direct contact with the third layer (x13). The areas where the first layer (x11), the second layer (x12), and / or the third layer (x13) are discontinuously present on top of the polymer transparent substrate (x00), the first layer (x11), and the second layer (x12) are referred to as “shadowmarks”.

[0089] The polymer transparent substrate (x00) may further include more than one watermark security feature in the form of more than one mark, formed by selectively changing the thickness of the first layer (x11) and / or the second layer (x12) and / or the third layer (x13).

[0090] The polymer transparent substrate (x00) may further include one or more applied watermark security features in the form of one or more markings, preferably one or more printed watermark security features, wherein the one or more watermark security features may be present between the transparent substrate (x00) and the first layer (x11), between the first layer (x11) and the second layer (x12) and / or between the second layer (x12) and the third layer (x13), provided that the order of the first layer (x11), the second layer (x12) and the third layer (x13) described herein is maintained, and provided that the first layer (x11) is at least partially in direct contact with the second layer (x12) and the second layer (x12) is at least partially in direct contact with the third layer (x13).The watermark security features described herein, preferably printed watermark security features, can be prepared from a composition comprising water, a water-soluble or water-dispersible resin, a white pigment, wax, and optionally one or more additives described herein, particularly from compositions similar to the first, second, and third compositions described herein, particularly from compositions similar to the first and second compositions described herein.

[0091] As mentioned herein, the first composition described herein is applied to the polymer transparent substrate (x00) described herein, wherein the polymer transparent substrate (x00) may be in the form of a mesh or sheet. As shown below, the polymer transparent substrate (x00) comprising one or two opaque systems (x10-a, x10-b) described herein advantageously exhibits improved stiffness, thereby allowing for improved feed performance during sheet feed application methods.

[0092] Security documents comprising the polymer transparent substrate (x00) and the opaque systems (x10-a, x10-b) described herein are also described herein. Security documents include, but are not limited to, valuable documents and valuable goods. Typical examples of valuable documents include, but are not limited to, banknotes, identity documents such as passports, ID cards, visas, driver's licenses, bank cards, credit cards, transaction cards, passes or cards, checks, vouchers, land title certificates, stocks, educational certificates, and certificates and ownership certificates. Alternatively, a security document can be a film used to package high-value goods for anti-counterfeiting purposes. According to one embodiment, the security documents described herein are banknotes, films used to package high-value goods for anti-counterfeiting purposes, and security cards.

[0093] For the purpose of further increasing resistance to counterfeiting or fraud, the security documents described herein typically include additional security features, particularly printed security features. As mentioned above, security documents, particularly banknotes, carry several overlapping or partially overlapping features, which are applied in subsequent and independent steps.

[0094] According to one embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the opaque system (x10-a, x10-b) portion of the polymer transparent substrate (x00) described herein is covered with one or more additional security features (x14), particularly printable security features, which are present on both sides of the substrate (x00) and on the opaque system (x10-a, x10-b), or alternatively (not shown) on one side of the substrate (x00).

[0095] The polymer transparent substrate (x00) carrying the opaque system (x10) described herein is particularly suitable for subsequent processing by one or more security printing methods, preferably selected from the group consisting of offset printing, gravure printing, letterpress printing, numbering methods, screen printing, flexographic printing, and inkjet printing.Furthermore, polymeric transparent substrates (x00) carrying the opaque systems (x10, x10-a, x10-b) described herein are particularly suitable for subsequent processing with oxidative offset inks and oxidative gravure inks. Oxidative drying inks are dried by oxidation in the presence of oxygen, particularly atmospheric oxygen. During the drying process, oxygen combines with one or more components of the ink, causing the ink to transform into a semi-solid or solid state. This process is typically accelerated by using desiccants such as metal salts, also known in the art as catalysts, siccative agents, desiccative agents, or desicators, and / or by applying heat treatment. Oxidative drying inks may suffer from a so-called "smudge" problem, which occurs when ink is transferred from one sheet of printing to the back of the next sheet in a stack, or to the back of consecutive sheets in a web. The use of the opaque systems (x10, x10-a, x10-b) described herein ensures good drying performance and / or advantageously allows for improved drying performance of the printed security feature (x14) at least partially applied thereto, which is made of the security inks described herein, particularly oxidized offset inks and oxidized gravure inks, without altering manufacturing process conditions such as temperature rises that may cause undesirable film deformation.

[0096] Embodiment Description 12 / 15 pages 15 CN 122422447 A

[0097] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to non-limiting embodiments. The following embodiments provide further details for the production of a polymer transparent substrate (x00) carrying two opaque systems (x10-a, x10-b) applied independently to each side of the substrate (x00), as shown, for example, in FIG1A.

[0098] Tables 1-3 disclose the first, second, and third compositions used to prepare Examples E1-E7 and Comparative Examples CO-C2, wherein the first layer (x11) is an opaque layer and is prepared using the first composition disclosed in Table 1, the second layer (x12) is a conductive layer prepared using the second composition disclosed in Table 2, and the third layer (x13) is a receiving layer and is prepared using the composition.

[0099] The first, second, and third compositions were prepared individually by mixing the components listed in Tables 1-3 at 700 rpm for 10 minutes in a Lab mixer (for compositions I1-I4 and I8-I12) or at 2500 rpm for 4 minutes in a Speedmixer (for compositions I5-I7).

[0100] The polymer transparent substrate (x00) used to produce Examples E1-E7 and Comparative Examples CO-C2 is a corona-treated BOPP substrate with a thickness of 72 micrometers.

[0101] Preparation of Examples and Comparative Examples

[0102] To simulate the industrial application of the first, second, and third compositions by gravure printing, starting with the first composition in Table 1, a layer with a thickness of 12 micrometers was formed by manual coating using a coating machine Nr 2 and dried by heating at 50°C for about 25 seconds. Then, the second composition in Table 2 was applied and dried, and then the third composition in Table 3 was applied and dried to form the first opaque system (x10-a), while the compositions in Tables 1-3 were applied sequentially on top of each other on a polymer transparent substrate (x00). After the first opaque system (x10-a) was prepared, the second opaque system (x10-b) was prepared in the same manner but on opposite sides of the substrate (x00). Each of the layers of the two opaque systems had a thickness of about 4.5 micrometers.

[0103] Table 4 provides combinations of the compositions in Tables 1-3 used to prepare the examples and comparative examples.

[0104] Measurement of stiffness of coated substrate (Fig. 3)

[0105] To evaluate the stiffness of polymer transparent substrates (300) (E1-E7) and comparative examples C0-C2 carrying opaque systems (310-a, 310-b) on each side of a substrate (x30), samples (size: 10cm × 5cm) were fixed to supports such that 4mm of the substrate along its length was on the supports and the remaining 96mm was suspended outside the supports (as schematically shown in Fig. 3, which is not drawn to scale), wherein the stiffness was measured in the direction of the printing machine. The distance (d) between the edge of the substrate and the fixing point was measured (see Fig. 3). A larger distance (d) indicates a more rigid substrate.

[0106] Gloss values ​​(E1-E7)

[0107] The third layer (x13) of Examples E1-E7 exhibits a gloss value of approximately 5, which was measured at 60° using a gloss meter from Byk.

[0108] Table 1 Compositions for the first layer (x11) 13 / 15 pages 16 CN 122422447 A

[0109]

[0110] The amounts provided in Table 1 are in weight %

[0111] Table 2 Compositions for the second layer (x12)

[0112]

[0113] The amounts provided in Table 2 are in weight % 14 / 15 pages 17 CN 122422447 A

[0114] Table 3 Compositions for the third layer (x13)

[0115]

[0116] The amounts provided in Table 3 are in weight %

[0117] Table 4 Examples and Comparative Examples

[0118] Specification 15 / 15 pages 18 CN 122422447 A Figure 1A Figure 1B Figure 1C1 Figure 1C2 Drawings 1 / 2 pages 19 CN 122422447 A Figure 2 Figure 3 Drawings 2 / 2 Page 20 CN 122422447 A.

Claims

1. A kit for fabricating an opaque system (x10) on one or both sides of a polymer transparent substrate (x00), said kit comprising: a) A first composition for manufacturing an opaque layer (x11), b) The second composition used to manufacture the conductive layer (x12), and c) The third layer composition used to manufacture the acceptor layer (x13), in, The first composition, the second composition, and the third composition comprise i) water, ii) a water-soluble or water-dispersible resin, iii) a white pigment, iv) a wax, and v) optionally one or more additives. At least one of the first composition, the second composition, and the third composition contains an antistatic agent, and At least two of the first composition, the second composition, and the third composition contain a mica compound.

2. The kit according to claim 1, wherein each of the first composition, the second composition, and the third composition comprises a water-soluble or water-dispersible resin selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, styrene resins, urethane resins, epoxy resins, polyvinyl alcohol resins, and mixtures thereof, wherein the amount of the water-soluble or water-dispersible resin is preferably from about 10% by weight to about 40% by weight, the weight percentage being independently based on the total solids content of the first composition, the second composition, and the third composition.

3. The kit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mica compound has a flake-like shape and a d50 between about 3 micrometers and 35 micrometers.

4. The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first composition and the second composition comprise the mica compound.

5. The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first composition, the second composition, and the third composition comprise the mica compound.

6. The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the white pigment is selected from the group consisting of clay, kaolin clay, barium sulfate, talc, calcium carbonate, zinc oxide, titanium oxide and mixtures thereof, preferably wherein the white pigment is present in the first composition in an amount of about 20% to about 40% by weight, the weight percentage being based on the total weight of the first composition.

7. The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the wax is selected from the group consisting of microcrystalline wax, paraffin wax, polyethylene wax, fluorocarbon wax, polytetrafluoroethylene wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax, silicone oil, beeswax, candelilla wax, lignite wax, carnauba wax, rice bran wax, and mixtures thereof.

8. The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of defoamers, wetting agents, dispersants, surfactants, viscosity modifiers, and mixtures thereof.

9. A polymer transparent substrate (x00) comprising a polymer transparent layer and one or two opaque systems (x10-a and x10-b), each system independently comprising three layers (x11, x12 and x13): The first layer is an opaque layer (x11) and is composed of a dried layer made of the first composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The second layer is a conductive layer (x12) and is composed of a dried layer made of the second composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8, and The third layer is a receiving layer (x13) consisting of a dried layer made of the third composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The first layer (x11) is at least partially in direct contact with the polymer transparent substrate (x00), the second layer (x12) is at least partially in direct contact with the first layer (x11) and the third layer (x13), and the third layer (x13) is at least partially in direct contact with the second layer (x12) and faces the environment.

10. The polymer transparent substrate (x00) according to claim 9, wherein the first layer, the second layer and the third layer are independently prepared by a printing method selected from the group consisting of gravure printing, flexographic printing and screen printing.

11. The polymer transparent substrate (x00) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein each layer (x11, x12, x13) independently has a thickness between about 3 micrometers and about 7 micrometers, and wherein the polymer transparent substrate (x00) has a thickness between about 60 micrometers and about 90 micrometers.

12. The polymer transparent substrate (x00) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the polymer transparent substrate (x00) is made of polypropylene, preferably biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP).

13. A secure document, preferably a banknote, comprising a polymer transparent substrate (x00) as described in any one of claims 9 to 12 and one or two opaque systems (x10-a, x10-b), and further comprising one or more security features (x14) that at least partially cover the third layer (x13).

14. The security document according to claim 13, wherein the one or more security features are printed security features prepared by a printing method selected from the group consisting of: offset printing method, gravure printing method, letterpress printing method, numbering method, screen printing method, flexographic printing method, and inkjet printing method.

15. The security document of claim 14, wherein the one or more printed security features (x14) are prepared by oxidative drying ink.

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