Gold Interference Pigment for Offset Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional golden interference pigments fail to achieve a warm, strong reddish gold tone with high gloss and hiding power suitable for all common printing processes, particularly in offset and intaglio printing, due to limitations in particle size and layer thickness, leading to insufficient color saturation and shiny effects.
Innovation Solution
A golden interference pigment with a synthetically produced transparent platelet-shaped substrate having a green intrinsic interference color, coated with a mixture or mixed oxide of Fe2O3 and TiO2, which provides a high refractive index difference and precise geometric thickness, enabling enhanced optical properties and alignment in printing applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional interference pigments are used with larger particle sizes to achieve gloss effects, then gloss and glitter effects are improved, but hiding power deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the particle size of the interference pigment to a specific range (d50: 5-20 μm, d95: ≤40 μm) and optimizing the layer thickness (50-200 nm) to achieve both gloss and hiding power simultaneously. This resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal parameter values that satisfy both requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining a transparent substrate with specific refractive index (1.5-1.8) and metal oxide layers (TiO2, Fe2O3, or mixed oxides) to create an interference pigment with enhanced optical properties. The composite structure enables both gloss and hiding power to be achieved through controlled optical interference.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional interference pigments are reduced to very fine particle sizes for offset and intaglio printing, then adaptability to printing processes is improved, but gloss effects deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the particle size parameters specifically for printing applications by controlling d50 to 5-20 μm and d95 to ≤40 μm, which is fine enough for offset and intaglio printing processes while maintaining sufficient gloss effects. This resolves the contradiction between particle size requirements for printing and gloss effects.
3Quantity of substance
If the layer thickness is increased to enhance color saturation, then color saturation is improved, but the achievable layer thickness in printing processes deteriorates due to process limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the layer thickness parameter to 50-200 nm, which is thin enough to be achievable in printing processes (especially offset and intaglio printing with very thin layers) while still providing sufficient color saturation through optical interference effects. This resolves the contradiction between color saturation requirements and printing process limitations.
4Illumination intensity
If common gold effect pigments are used with high brightness values, then illumination intensity is improved, but color tone deteriorates by appearing dazzlingly bright rather than rich golden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the optical parameters by controlling the refractive index of the substrate (1.5-1.8) and the composition/thickness of metal oxide layers to achieve a specific interference effect that produces a rich golden color tone with warmth, rather than dazzling brightness. The particle size distribution (d50: 5-20 μm, d95: ≤40 μm) is also optimized to achieve the desired color perception.
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
The solution achieves rich, warm, shiny gold tones with high hiding power and color saturation in printed images, suitable for various printing processes, including offset and intaglio, while maintaining mechanical and chemical stability.
Implementation Method 1
The optical interplay between the carrier and the coating leads to interference effects, producing not only interference colors but also gloss.
Implementation Method 2
If the high-refractive-index layers contain Fe2O3, pigments with an orange-red body color and, if appropriate, interference colors in a similar color spectrum are obtained.
Implementation Method 3
The resulting luster pigments exhibit body colors in the orange-red range and/or a generally greenish golden interference.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a gold interference pigment which is suitable in particular for printing processes, to a method for producing such a pigment and to the use thereof.