Chemical Marking Agent for Object Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for authenticating and identifying objects are hindered by the lack of a stable, mechanical, and thermal marking solution that can be homogeneously integrated into the object's mass, making it difficult to distinguish originals from counterfeits, especially in series products where labels are prone to detachment, damage, and high costs.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a chemical marking agent that is inseparably integrated into the object's carrier, using selected chemical elements in specific concentrations to create an encryption code, which can be determined through qualitative and quantitative analysis, ensuring reproducible and reliable detection regardless of the marking location within the object.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If labels are attached to the surface of the object for identification, then the authentication code can be clearly proven or measured, but the mechanical and thermal stability is low, causing detachment or damage under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication code is extracted from the surface label and embedded directly into the object's material matrix. The marking agent is incorporated into the bulk material during manufacturing, making the authentication code an intrinsic part of the object rather than a separate surface attachment. This resolves the contradiction by eliminating the surface label while preserving detectability through bulk material analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
A chemical marking agent serves as an intermediary substance that is integrated into the object's material structure. This marking agent contains the authentication code and can be detected through chemical analysis, bridging the gap between the object's bulk material and the authentication requirement without requiring surface labels.
2Reliability
If labels are used for authentication, then security features can be implemented, but the costs are relatively high, especially for series products with large quantities and low individual value
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication function is merged with the object's manufacturing process itself. The marking agent is incorporated into the material during standard manufacturing operations, combining the authentication code embedding with the object production. This eliminates separate authentication labeling steps and reduces individual costs for series products.
Solution Approach 2:
The concentration of the marking agent in the material can be varied to encode different authentication information. By changing the chemical concentration parameters during manufacturing, different authentication codes can be created without additional processing steps or materials, reducing costs for mass production.
3Stability of the object's composition
If marking substances are introduced into the mass of the object, then homogeneous marking is achieved, but the marking agent may diffuse, extract, or trigger reactions in the object
Solution Approach 1:
The marking agent is formulated as a composite material system where the active marking components are embedded within a stable carrier matrix. This composite structure provides homogeneous distribution of the authentication code throughout the object while the carrier matrix prevents diffusion, extraction, and unwanted chemical reactions with the object material.
4Measurement precision
If surface labeling is used, then authentication can be performed, but the labels can be copied due to accessibility, providing no effective protection against plagiarism
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication code is extracted from the accessible surface and embedded deep within the object's bulk material. The marking agent is distributed throughout the material matrix, making it inaccessible to copying methods that only affect the surface. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining detectability while eliminating copyability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method allows for reliable and unambiguous identification and authentication of objects, providing chemical-structural stability and inertness, reducing the risk of extraction or unwanted reactions, and enabling the use of the same marking agent across various substrates, thus protecting against plagiarism effectively.
Implementation Method 1
DE 100 83 295 T1 describes a similar method, in which at least one marking substance emits an X-ray upon excitation with an energy beam
Implementation Method 2
EP 1 556 837 B1 describes a method according to which fluorescent compounds are introduced into objects and detected by excitation with visible light
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for authenticating and/or identifying an object containing a chemical marking agent that is enclosed in an essentially inseparable manner in a marker as a carrier and contains selected chemical elements and/or compounds in the form of marking elements having concentrations on the basis of a defined encoding code, said method comprising the following steps: i) qualitative and/or quantitative determination of the marking elements of the chemical marking agent, and ii) trimming the values determined in step i) with the defined encoding code.