Paint Taggant Composition for Non-Destructive Coating Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of easy and non-destructive methods to verify the correct application of specialist paints with specific properties, such as fire resistance or antibacterial properties, and to identify the materials used in building elements, leading to potential safety risks and inefficiencies in recycling plastics.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a taggant, which emits a unique signature emission spectrum when excited by specific wavelengths of light, into paints and building materials to allow non-destructive authentication and thickness verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specialist paints with fire-resistant or antibacterial properties are used, then safety and functional properties are improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies taggants locally within the paint formulation to provide verification functionality. The taggants are distributed throughout the paint at concentrations of 0.01-10% by weight, allowing specific areas or layers to be authenticated without requiring the entire paint system to be expensive specialist paint. This enables cost-effective implementation of safety verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The taggant acts as an intermediary substance that provides verification of paint authenticity and application quality. Rather than relying on expensive specialist paints alone, the taggant serves as a mediator that enables authentication through light interaction, allowing verification of both paint identity and application thickness without destructive testing.
2Reliability
If multiple layers of specialist paint are applied to ensure sufficient fire resistance, then safety is improved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The taggant provides feedback mechanism for verifying paint application quality. By incorporating light-emitting or light-absorbing taggants that can be detected after application, the system enables verification of both paint authenticity and sufficient layer thickness without requiring multiple expensive specialist layers. The optical detection provides immediate feedback on application quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical verification methods (destructive sampling, physical thickness measurement) with optical detection methods. The taggants interact with light to provide verification of paint identity and application quality, eliminating the need for complex multi-layer specialist paint systems and destructive testing procedures.
3Reliability
If paint application is monitored to ensure sufficient thickness, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The paint system performs self-verification through the taggant embedded within it. The taggant automatically provides authentication and thickness verification capabilities through its optical properties when exposed to light. This eliminates the need for external monitoring systems or complex inspection procedures, allowing the paint to verify its own application quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical monitoring and measurement systems with optical detection methods. The taggant's interaction with light provides automatic verification of paint identity and application thickness, replacing complex monitoring systems and manual inspection procedures with simple optical detection.
4Adaptability or versatility
If building materials are labelled with recycling symbols, then recyclability information is provided, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and sorting with optical detection systems. The taggant embedded in materials provides machine-readable authentication and identification information that can be automatically detected through light interaction, replacing manual sorting processes with automated optical recognition systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The taggant serves as an optical copy or representation of material identity and recyclability information. Rather than requiring manual reading of physical symbols, the taggant encodes verification information in its optical properties, allowing automated systems to read and process material identification data without human intervention.
5Measurement precision
If destructive testing is performed to verify paint properties, then measurement precision is improved, but the protective layer is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces destructive mechanical testing with non-destructive optical detection. The taggant's interaction with light provides verification of paint identity, composition, and application quality without physically damaging the protective coating. This maintains the integrity of the painted surface while providing accurate verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The taggant serves as an intermediary that enables verification without direct contact or damage to the protective layer. By embedding the verification mechanism within the paint matrix itself, the system allows authentication and thickness verification through optical means, eliminating the need for destructive sampling or physical intervention.
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
Enables quick and accurate verification of paint application and material identification, ensuring compliance with safety standards and facilitating efficient recycling by providing a traceable and forgery-resistant method.
Implementation Method 1
a taggant which emits a unique signature emission spectrum when excited by specific wavelengths of light
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
There is provided a taggant composition for addition to a paint or varnish. The taggant composition comprising one or more inorganic or ceramic taggants, one or more additives, and a dispersant. The one or more taggants correspond to the one or more additives. The one or more taggants are evenly dispersed and suspended in the dispersant, and have a particle size or particle size range suitable for remaining in suspension. For authentication of the taggant composition in a paint or varnish on a substrate, the one or more taggants are excitable by infra-red or ultraviolet light at one wavelength to emit light at one or more other wavelengths. The emission wavelength or spectrum of the one or more taggants is indicative of the one or more additives in the taggant composition for use in authenticating the taggant composition as part of a paint or varnish. The taggant includes fire-resistant components and/or antibacterial, antiviral and/or antifungal components, and the taggant emits red or green light respectively when excited, for indicating those components are present when the composition is in paint or varnish on a substrate. A method of adding the taggant composition to a paint or varnish is also provided, along with paint or varnish comprising taggant.