Polymer Layer Composite for Secure Document Anti-Forgery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing security and valuable documents, particularly those made of polycarbonate, face issues with delamination and forgery due to the use of printing technologies that do not adequately secure personalized and individualized features, leading to potential counterfeiting and falsification.

Innovation Solution

A polymer layer composite is developed with at least two cohesively connected polymer layers, one surface printed with an absorbing layer covering 50-95% of the area, and free surface areas forming windows or patterns, which enhances security features by preventing delamination and ensuring the document's integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If printing technology is used to apply personalized and individualized features to polycarbonate documents, then the flexibility and customization of the document is improved, but the document becomes susceptible to delamination and forgery

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility and customizationVSAvoidsecurity against delamination and forgery
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a printing layer composed of polycarbonate binder and pigment to the polycarbonate substrate. This composite material approach ensures that the printed layer is chemically compatible with the substrate, preventing delamination while maintaining customization capabilities. The binder-pigment mixture creates a secure bond that resists separation attempts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the printing layer, including binder molecular weight (200-20,000), pigment concentration (1-50 wt%), and printing area fraction (50-95%). By controlling these parameters, the printing layer achieves optimal adhesion to the polycarbonate substrate while maintaining the desired visual characteristics and security properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a printing layer is applied to cover 50-95% of the surface area, then the security against counterfeiting is improved, but the aesthetic appearance and visibility of features may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against counterfeitingVSAvoidaesthetic appearance and visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent allows different surface areas to have different printing densities and characteristics. The printing layer can be applied with varying pigment concentrations and binder ratios in different regions, enabling secure printed areas (50-95% coverage) while maintaining aesthetic quality in specific zones. This local variation in printing properties resolves the contradiction between security coverage and aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional printing inks are used on polycarbonate, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the layers become prone to delamination during lamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of printingVSAvoidlayer adhesion during lamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses polycarbonate binder that is chemically homogeneous with the polycarbonate substrate. This homogeneity ensures that the printing layer integrates seamlessly with the substrate during lamination, preventing delamination. The matching chemical composition creates uniform adhesion throughout the layered structure, resolving the contradiction between ease of printing and layer stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

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 effectively prevents delamination and enhances the security of the document by ensuring that personalized and individualized features remain intact, making counterfeiting and falsification practically impossible.

Implementation Method 1

at least one surface printed with an absorbing layer forming at least one printing area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP2209653B2Polymer layer composite for a secure and/or valuable document, and method for the production thereof
Publication Date: 2021.03.17 COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AG
  • EP2209653B2 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2209653B2 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP2209653B2 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

In order to create novel security features in secure and/or valuable documents, the invention proposes a polymer layer composite (1, 2, 3), which has at least two polymer layers that are bonded to each other in a material fit, wherein at least one surface printed with an absorbing printed layer (5) within the visible region in and/or on the composite is located on a polymer layer of the composite, the absorbing printed layer forms at least one printed region, and all printed regions of the printed surface of the polymer layer have a total surface area of at least 50% and not more than 95%.