阅读说明：本技术 具有高色饱和度和高亮度的效应颜料、其制备方法和用途 (Effect pigments having high color saturation and high brightness, method for the production thereof and use thereof ) 是由 M·格吕纳 G·考普 R·施耐德 于 2015-12-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及吸收效应颜料,其含有薄片状非金属基质和施涂于基质上的涂层,所述涂层含有至少一个间隔层。本发明还涉及吸收效应颜料的制备方法及其用途。(The invention relates to absorption effect pigments comprising a flake-form, non-metallic substrate and a coating applied to the substrate, said coating comprising at least one spacing layer. The invention also relates to a method for producing absorption effect pigments and to the use thereof.)

1. An absorption effect pigment comprising a flake-form non-metallic substrate and a coating applied to the substrate, wherein the coating comprises:

a) optionally a formation 1 containing or consisting of tin oxide, tin hydroxide and/or tin oxide hydrate,

b) a layer 2 containing at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate,

c) a layer 3 containing at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate,

wherein at least one of the layers 2 and 3 contains at least two different metal ions, and

layers 2 and 3 are separated by a spacer layer.

2. The absorption effect pigment according to claim 1, wherein the flake-form, non-metallic substrate is selected from the group consisting of natural mica flakes, synthetic mica flakes, ferromica, glass flakes, SiO₂Flakes of Al₂O₃Flakes, kaolin flakes, talc flakes, bismuth oxychloride flakes, and mixtures thereof, and the flake-form, non-metallic matrix is optionally coated with at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide, and/or metal oxide hydrate.

3. The absorption effect pigment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the effect pigment further comprises a further high refractive index layer and/or a low refractive index layer and optionally at least one further spacer layer.

4. The absorption effect pigment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least two different metal ions in layers 2 and 3 are selected from the metals Ti, Fe, Sn, Mn, Zr, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ni, Sb, Ag, Zn, Cu, Ce, Cr and Co, and wherein the proportion of non-colouring metal ions selected from the metals Ti, Sn, Zr, Ca, Sr, Ba and Zn is a total of ≦ 40 wt.%, and the proportion of colouring metal ions selected from the metals Fe, Ti, Sn, Mn, Ni, Sb, Ag, Cu, Ce, Cr and Co is a total of ≦ 4 wt.%, detected in each case by XRF analysis, calculated in each case as elemental metal and in each case based on the total weight of the absorption effect pigment of the invention.

5. The absorption effect pigment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the absorption effect pigment according to the invention the weight ratio between the non-colouring metal ions and the colouring metal ions is preferably <20, as detected by XRF analysis and calculated as elemental metal.

6. The absorption effect pigment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one spacing layer is arranged in a manner substantially parallel to the surface of the flake-like non-metallic substrate.

7. The absorption effect pigment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one spacer layer has an average height h of 5-120nm_a。

8. The absorption effect pigment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one spacer layer comprises joints and voids.

9. The absorption effect pigment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one spacer layer has a network density of < 85%.

10. A process for preparing absorption effect pigments according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the process comprises the following steps:

(i) optionally applying to the flake-form, non-metallic substrate an uncalcined layer containing or consisting of tin oxide, tin hydroxide and/or tin oxide hydrate,

(ii) successively applying three uncalcined layers A, B and C, each consisting of or comprising at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide, and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein layers A, B and C are directly on top of each other, and wherein the at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide, and/or metal oxide hydrate applied in layer B is different in metal ion from one or more metal ions of the metal oxide, metal hydroxide, and/or metal oxide hydrate in layers A and C,

(iii) (iii) calcining the product obtained in step (ii) at a temperature of 400 ℃ and 1000 ℃ to obtain the absorption effect pigment comprising at least one spacing layer.

11. A process for preparing absorption effect pigments according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the process comprises the following steps:

(i) successively applying two uncalcined layers B and C to the calcined, single-layer or multilayer-coated non-metallic substrate, each consisting of or comprising at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the layers B and C are directly on top of one another, and wherein the at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate applied in layer B is different in terms of metal ions from one or more metal ions of the metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate in layer C and in the layer directly adjoining layer B in the direction of the substrate,

(ii) (ii) calcining the product obtained in step (i) at a temperature of 400 ℃ and 1000 ℃ to obtain an absorption effect pigment comprising at least one spacing layer.

12. A method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the metal ions present in layer B diffuse at least partially into layer a and/or layer C, thereby forming at least one spacing layer in the calcined effect pigment.

13. The method of any of claims 10-12, wherein the successively applied two or three metal oxides, metal hydroxides, and/or metal oxide hydrates used to form layers B and C or layers A, B and C are free of any metal ions selected from Si, Mg, and Al.

14. Use of the absorption effect pigments according to any of claims 1 to 9 in cosmetic formulations, plastics, films, textiles, ceramic materials, glass, paints, printing inks, writing inks, varnishes, powder coatings and/or in functional applications.

15. An article comprising at least one absorption effect pigment according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

Technical Field

The invention relates to absorption effect pigments comprising a platelet-shaped non-metallic substrate and a coating applied to the substrate, wherein the coating comprises at least one spacing layer, to a method for producing absorption effect pigments and to the use thereof.

Background

Multilayer pigments comprising at least one layer sequence of alternating high, low and high refractive index layers on the basis of a flake-like, non-metallic matrix are known, see for example EP 1572812 a1, EP 1213330 a1, EP 1025168B 2, EP 1621585 a2, EP 0948572 a1, EP 0950693 a1, EP 1306412 a1, EP 1587881 a2, EP 2632988 a1 or EP 1474486 a 2. Depending on the optical layer thickness of the low refractive index layer, the multilayer pigments can change their visual appearance depending on the viewing angle, see for example EP 1375601 a1, EP 1281732 a1, EP 0753545 a2 and US 2004/0003758 a 1. All the above-mentioned applications have in common that a low-refractive-index layer consisting of a low-refractive-index metal oxide, for example silicon oxide, is included in the layer sequence.

Multilayer pigments have a higher gloss and in some cases a higher color saturation than single-layer effect pigments having only a single identical first layer, which of course here is assumed to have the same matrix and the same particle size.

EP 1029900 a1 discloses pigments coated with the following coatings: (A) pseudobrookite coating with high refractive index made of TiO₂And Fe₂O₃A mixture in a ratio of 10:1 to 1:3 and optionally ≤ 20 wt.% of one or more metal oxides, based on the layer (A); (B) a colorless coating layer having a refractive index n.ltoreq.1.8, and optionally an outer protective layer. This application does not mention any spacer layer in or between layers (a) and (B).

EP 1230308 a1 discloses pigments comprising at least two of the following layer sequences: (A) a colorless coating having a refractive index n of 1.8 or less; (B) pseudobrookite coating with high refractive index made of TiO₂And Fe₂O₃A mixture in a ratio of 1:0.1 to 1:5 and optionally ≦ 20 wt% of one or more metal oxides based on layer (B); and optionally (C) an outer protective layer. EP 1230308 a1 does not mention any spacing layer in or between layers (a) and (B).

EP 1230310A 1 discloses pigments comprising the following layer sequenceMaterial preparation: (A) coating with high refractive index, made of TiO₂And Fe₂O₃A mixture in a ratio of 1:0.1 to 1:5 and optionally ≦ 20 wt% of one or more metal oxides based on layer (B); (B) a colorless coating having a refractive index n of 1.8 or less; (C) having a refractive index n>1.8 of a colorless coating; (D) having a refractive index n>1.8 of an absorbing coating; and optionally (E) an outer protective layer. EP 1230310 a1 does not mention any spacing layer within or between the above layers.

WO2014/094993a1 discloses interference pigments based on multilayer-coated, platelet-shaped substrates, wherein on the substrate surface there is a layer sequence of the following composition: (A0) optionally made of TiO₂A layer of composition; (A) from TiO₂And Fe₂O₃A coating consisting of a mixture of (a) and (b), which may optionally be doped with one or more other oxides; (B) from SnO₂A layer of composition; (C) a layer having a high refractive index, which is capable of absorbing in the visible wavelength range; and optionally (D) an outer protective layer. In the layers (A) and/or (C), TiO₂And Fe₂O₃The mixing ratio therebetween is preferably 10:1 to 1: 3. To increase the color intensity of the layers (A) and/or (C), TiO may be added₂/Fe₂O₃Mixing one or more oxides, e.g. Al, in the mixture₂O₃、Ce₂O₃、B₂O₃、ZrO₂、SnO₂. WO2014/094993a1 does not disclose a spacer layer within or between the above layers.

CN 101289580a discloses a method of preparing gold colored pigments with strong interference colors, which are said to have the appearance of 24K gold. In this case, the mica matrix is suspended in water and TiCl is added₄To be covered with a first layer, FeCl is added₃And TiCl₄To be covered with a second layer, adding SnO₂To be covered with a third layer and TiCl is added₄To be covered with a fourth layer. After filtration and washing, the pigment was dried at 120-200 ℃ and calcined at 820 ℃. CN 101289580a does not disclose a spacer layer in the coating.

EP 1422268 a2 discloses pigments having a multilayer structure, wherein the pigment has two or more metal oxide layers, wherein at least one metal (ion) of the metal oxide layers is selected from cerium, tin, titanium, iron, zinc and zirconium. The object of this application is a pigment having high color saturation and high brightness and having as few pores of minimum size as possible in its coating. According to EP 1422268 a2, it is said that small pore volumes are used to ensure coatings with high visual quality.

US 2015/0344677 a1 relates to effect pigments, which are based on coated platelet-shaped substrates. The coating comprises first and second high refractive index layers, and a third component for partial or 100% diffusion into one or both of the high refractive index layers. The third component may be SiO₂Or other metal oxides. The object of this application is to have D₅₀By SiO in the case of effect pigments having a value of 15 μm or less₂Covered and no aggregates.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide pigments having high color saturation, which have high gloss and high hiding power, have high mechanical stability and high chemical stability and at the same time can be prepared in a simple manner with low material usage.

This object is achieved by providing an absorption effect pigment comprising a flake-form, non-metallic substrate and a coating applied to the substrate, wherein the coating comprises:

a) optionally a formation 1 containing or consisting of tin oxide, tin hydroxide and/or tin oxide hydrate,

b) a layer 2 containing at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate,

c) a layer 3 containing at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate,

wherein at least one of layers 2 and 3 contains at least two different metal ions and layers 2 and 3 are separated by a spacer layer.

According to the invention, the term "spacer" means that the layers 2 and 3 are separated or kept at a distance from each other by a spacer layer.

According to the invention, the generic term "metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate" denotes "metal oxide and/or metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate". This also applies when the metal or metal ions are specified as, for example, titanium (ions), iron (ions), tin (ions), zirconium (ions), etc.

According to the present invention, the term "metal ion" or "iron ion" does not mean a single metal ion or iron ion, but means a plurality of metal ions or iron ions.

In a preferred embodiment, optional layer 1 is directly adjacent to the flake-form non-metallic substrate, layer 2 is then directly on layer 1, and layer 3 is then on layer 2, with layers 2 and 3 being separated by a spacer layer.

In another embodiment, layer 2 is directly adjacent to the flake-like non-metallic substrate, and layer 3 is then on top of layer 2, with layer 2 and layer 3 being separated by a spacer layer.

Preferred embodiments of the absorption effect pigments can be found in the detailed description below.

In addition, the object can be achieved by providing a process for preparing the absorption effect pigments according to the invention, wherein the process comprises the following steps:

(i) optionally applying to the flake-form, non-metallic substrate an uncalcined layer containing or consisting of tin oxide, tin hydroxide and/or tin oxide hydrate,

(ii) successively applying three uncalcined layers A, B and C, each consisting of or comprising at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide, and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein layers A, B and C are directly on top of each other, and wherein the at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide, and/or metal oxide hydrate applied in layer B is different in metal ion from one or more metal ions of the metal oxide, metal hydroxide, and/or metal oxide hydrate in layers A and C,

(iii) (iii) calcining the product obtained in step (ii) at a temperature of 600 ℃ and 1000 ℃ to obtain the absorption effect pigment comprising at least one spacing layer.

Alternatively, the object can be achieved by providing a process for preparing the absorption effect pigments according to the invention, which comprises the following steps:

(i) successively applying two uncalcined layers B and C to the calcined, single-layer or multilayer-coated non-metallic substrate, each consisting of or comprising at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the layers B and C are directly on top of one another, and wherein the at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate applied in layer B is different in terms of metal ions from one or more metal ions of the metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate in layer C and in the layer directly adjoining layer B in the direction of the substrate,

(ii) (ii) calcining the product obtained in step (i) at a temperature of 600 ℃ and 1000 ℃ to obtain the absorption effect pigment comprising at least one spacing layer.

The present invention also provides for the use of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention in cosmetic formulations, plastics, films, textiles, ceramic materials, glass, paints, printing inks, writing inks, varnishes, powder coatings and/or in functional applications, for example for laser marking, IR reflection, photocatalysis.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an article, wherein the article comprises at least one absorption effect pigment according to the invention.

Description of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a scanning electron microscope photomicrograph at 50,000 times magnification (based on Polaroid 545) of an effect pigment according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a scanning electron microscope photomicrograph at 50,000 times magnification (based on Polaroid 545) of an effect pigment according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a scanning electron microscope photomicrograph at 20,000 times magnification (based on Polaroid 545) of an effect pigment according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a detail of a scanning electron microscope cross-sectional photograph from FIG. 2 with a baseline drawn at the interface of the flake-like non-metallic substrate to the coating and a line disposed perpendicular to the baseline. The intersections at these interfaces are marked with "x".

FIG. 5 scanning electron microscope cross-sectional photograph of a pearlescent pigment SYMIC C261 (from ECKART GmbH) coated with titanium dioxide at a magnification of 20,000 times (based on Polaroid 545).

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a spacer layer.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the position of the spacer layer.

FIG. 8: concentration profile of example 12 prior to calcination (line scan) using a cross section in a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive microanalyzer (EDX).

FIG. 9: the concentration profile of example 12 after calcination (line scan) was determined using the cross section in a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive microanalyzer (EDX).

Detailed Description

The flaky non-metallic substrate to be coated may be selected from natural mica flakes, synthetic mica flakes, glass flakes, iron mica flakes, SiO₂Flakes of Al₂O₃Flakes, kaolin flakes, talc flakes and bismuth oxychloride flakes. The absorption effect pigments of the invention may also be based on mixtures of the abovementioned flaky nonmetallic substrates. The flake-form, non-metallic matrix can also have one or more layers consisting of or comprising at least one high and/or low refractive index metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate. The substrates used may also be, for example, single-or multilayer-coated pearlescent or interference pigments. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate used in the present invention is an uncoated, flake-form, non-metallic substrate.

Preferably, the non-metallic platelet-shaped substrate is selected from natural mica flakes, synthetic mica flakes, glass flakes, SiO₂Flakes of Al₂O₃Flakes, and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferably, the non-metallic platelet-shaped substrate is selected from the group consisting of natural mica platelets, synthetic mica platelets, glass platelets, and mixtures thereof. Synthetic mica flakes and/or glass flakes and mixtures thereofThe compounds are particularly preferably used as flake-form nonmetallic substrates. In particular, glass flakes are preferably used as the flaky non-metallic matrix.

The glass flakes which can be used as matrix can consist in their composition of silicate glass, for example soda-lime glass, lead crystal glass, E-glass, A-glass, C-glass, ECR-glass, Duran glass, window glass, laboratory glass, aluminosilicate glass or borosilicate glass. The glass flakes preferably have a composition as described in EP 1980594B 1, in particular as described in their main claim, more preferably have a composition as described in EP 1829833B 1 or EP 2042474B 1, in particular as described in their main claim. Glass flakes useful as substrates are preferably prepared according to the method described in EP 289240B 1.

In another embodiment, the glass flakes may be colored in a controlled manner during their preparation by the addition of at least one inorganic colorant. Suitable colorants are those that do not decompose at the particular melting temperature of the glass composition. The proportion of colorants here is preferably from 0.1 to 50% by weight in total, more preferably from 1 to 35% by weight in total, most preferably from 5 to 25% by weight in total, based in each case on the total weight of the glass composition. Suitable colorants are in particular noble metal elements, for example Au, Pd or Pt, cations or complex anions of the elements Cu, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ti and/or Co, and also mixtures of the abovementioned colorants.

In another embodiment, the refractive index of the glass flakes that can be used as a matrix is from 1.45 to 1.80, preferably from 1.50 to 1.70.

In another embodiment, the flake-like substrate, in particular a glass flake, may be encapsulated in a layer comprising or consisting of silicon oxide, silicon hydroxide, silicon oxide hydrate. For example, when glass flakes are used, the coating protects the glass surface from chemical changes such as swelling, bleeding of glass components, or dissolution in aggressive acidic coating solutions.

Synthetic mica flakes useful as substrates may have a composition as set forth in the main claim of CN 102718229 a or the main claim according to US2014/0251184 a 1. They can additionally be prepared according to the details described on pages 3 to 4 of EP 0723997A 1.

Synthetic mica flakes useful as substrates are preferably of the formula KMg₃AlSi₃O₁₀F₂、KMg₂1/2(Si₄O₁₀)F₂Or NaMg₂1/2(Si₄O₁₀)F₂Of fluorophlogopite, in particular of the formula KMg₃AlSi₃O₁₀F₂Preferably having the composition shown in table 1 as the corresponding metal oxide in the ranges listed therein, according to X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis.

TABLE 1 preferred composition of synthetic mica flakes according to XRF analysis.

The average thickness of the flaky non-metallic substrate to be coated is preferably in the range of 50 to 5000nm, more preferably 60 to 3000nm, most preferably 70 to 2000 nm. According to the invention, the term "average thickness" means the arithmetic mean unless otherwise specified.

In one embodiment, the glass flakes have an average thickness of 750-1500nm, preferably 850-1400nm, more preferably 900-1300nm, as the flaky non-metallic substrate to be coated. Thinner flake-like substrates result in a smaller overall thickness of the absorption effect pigments of the invention. Thus, glass flakes having an average thickness of 50-700nm, more preferably 101-600nm, particularly preferably 160-500nm, most preferably 200-400nm are also preferably used as the flaky non-metallic matrix.

In another embodiment, the natural or synthetic mica flakes used as the non-metallic substrate in flake form to be coated preferably have an average thickness of 80 to 1300nm, more preferably 90 to 1000nm, more preferably 99 to 800nm, most preferably 200 to 600 nm.

If the flake-form, non-metallic matrix is coated, for example with a high-refractive-index metal oxide, to an average thickness of less than 50nm, very brittle pigments are obtained, which may already break during introduction into the respective application medium, which in turn causes a significant reduction in gloss.

When the average substrate thickness is more than 5000nm, the pigment becomes too thick as a whole. This is accompanied by a poor hiding power, i.e. a lower coverage area per unit weight of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention. In addition, such thick pigments are oriented in the application medium to a lesser extent in a direction parallel to the substrate in the plane. Poor orientation in turn leads to reduced gloss. Effect pigments that are too thick can also be disadvantageous in terms of tactile properties in applications.

In one embodiment, the relative standard deviation of the thickness distribution of the non-metallic, platelet-shaped matrix is 15 to 100%, preferably 17 to 70%, more preferably 19 to 61%, most preferably 21 to 41%. The relative standard deviation [% ] is the quotient between the calculated standard deviation and the average thickness.

The average thickness of the platelet-shaped, non-metallic substrates is determined using a cured varnish film in which the absorption effect pigments according to the invention are arranged in a manner such that the planes are substantially parallel to the substrate, see section IIk "below for details on the average thickness of the platelet-shaped, non-metallic substrates, the average layer thicknesses of the layers 2 and 3, the average layer thickness of the entire coating, the average height h of the spacing layer_aAnd the average height h of the voids_H". To this end, the cross-section of the cured clear-coat film is examined with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), in which the thickness of the platelet-shaped nonmetallic substrate of at least 100 effect pigments is examined and statistically averaged. In the present invention, the term "average" always means an arithmetic average unless otherwise specified.

Scanning electron micrographs were obtained with a Supra 35 scanning electron microscope (from Zeiss) using a cross section of the absorption effect pigment according to the invention.

The absorption effect pigments of the invention optionally contain a layer 1 which contains or consists of tin oxide, tin hydroxide and/or tin oxide hydrate. Layer 1 may optionally be present at least partially as a mixed layer with a layer directly adjacent to layer 1, for example layer 2.

The layers 2 and 3 of the effect-absorbing pigments according to the invention are preferably each, after calcination, a high-refractive-index layer, the refractive index n of which is preferably >1.8, more preferably n.gtoreq.1.9, most preferably n.gtoreq.2.1. According to the invention, at least two different metal ions in the layers 2 and/or 3 are selected such that one or more metal oxides, one or more metal hydroxides and/or one or more metal oxide hydrates are formed in the layers 2 and/or 3, each preferably having an average refractive index n > 1.8.

At least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate in layers 2 and 3 contains at least two different metal ions, preferably selected from the metals Ti, Fe, Sn, Mn, Zr, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ni, Sb, Ag, Zn, Cu, Ce, Cr and Co, more preferably from the metals Ti, Fe, Sn, Mn, Zr, Ag, Zn, Cu and Ce, more preferably from the metals Ti, Fe, Sn, Ag, Zr and Ce, more preferably from the metals Fe, Sn, Ag, Zr and Ce, most preferably from the metals Zr, Fe and Sn. According to the invention, at least two different metal ions are selected such that the resulting effect pigments according to the invention are absorptive. In the context of the present invention, the term "absorption effect pigments" denotes their hiding quotient D_qIs defined as D_q＝L^*25black/L^*25White, is 0.41 or more, preferably 0.45 or more, more preferably 0.50 or more, most preferably 0.55 or more. Here, the hiding quotient was determined by applying a nitrocellulose varnish (Erco 2615e bronze mixed varnish colorless; from Maeder Plastiklack AG) as a varnish onto a black/white hiding power table (Byko Chart2853, Byk-Gardner) in accordance with the details described in the IIc "hiding comparison" below, wherein 6% by weight of the particular effect pigment according to the invention had been incorporated in this varnish. Here, L^*25Black and L^*25White is the brightness value detected at 25 deg. detection angle on a black and white background of a black/white mask table, preferably with a Byk-mac multi-angle colorimeter from Byk-Gardner.

The proportion of non-colouring metal ions selected from the metals Ti, Sn, Zr, Ca, Sr, Ba and Zn is preferably in total 40% by weight, the proportion of non-colouring metal ions is more preferably in total 0.1 to 35% by weight, more preferably in total 1 to 24% by weight, and the proportion of colouring metal ions selected from the metals Fe, Ti, Sn, Mn, Ni, Sb, Ag, Cu, Ce, Cr and Co is preferably in total 4% by weight, the proportion of colouring metal ions is more preferably in total 5 to 80% by weight, most preferably in total 20 to 72% by weight, in each case measured by XRF analysis, calculated in each case as elemental metal and based in each case on the total weight of the absorption effect pigment according to the invention. The weight ratio between the non-colouring metal ions and the colouring metal ions in the absorption effect pigments according to the invention is preferably <20, more preferably <10, more preferably <1, most preferably < 0.8.

The colouring metal ions chosen from the metals Ti and Sn relate in particular to Ti in the +3 or +2 oxidation state, and to Sn in the +2 oxidation state.

The at least two different metal ions are preferably distributed homogeneously in the layers 2 and/or 3 or form a gradient therein. In special cases, the at least two different metal ions may also be distributed non-uniformly in the layers 2 and/or 3.

In the present invention, the term "at least two different metal ions" means at least two metal ions in which different elements are present, such as titanium and iron ions, or titanium and tin ions, or titanium and zirconium ions, or iron and tin ions, or iron and zirconium ions, and the like. In the layer 2 and/or the layer 3 of the effect-absorbing pigments according to the invention, different metal ions can be present in the mixture of metal oxides and/or metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates and/or in the mixed oxides and/or mixed hydroxides and/or mixed oxide hydrates. Layer 2 and/or layer 3 may contain or consist of such a mixture of metal oxides and/or metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates, and/or mixed oxides, and/or mixed hydroxides, and/or mixed oxide hydrates.

Preferably, according to the invention, in the case of the use of the metal ions Ti and Fe, the component containing iron ions in the respective layer is preferably present in the layer 2 and/or layer 3 in the calcined absorption effect pigment according to the invention as iron titanate, preferably as pseudobrookite and/or pseudorutile.

In one embodiment, one of the two layers 2 and 3 contains only one metal ion, preferably selected from the metals Fe, Ti, Sn and Zr, more preferably from Fe, Ti and Sn. Correspondingly, the respective other of the two layers 3 and 2 comprises at least two different metal ions, preferably selected from the metals Ti, Sn, Zr and Fe, more preferably from Ti, Sn and Fe.

In a preferred embodiment, both layer 2 and layer 3 comprise at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions of the at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate comprise or consist of at least two different metal ions selected from the metals Ti, Sn, Zr and Fe, more preferably from Ti, Sn and Fe.

In another embodiment, layers 2 and 3, which are separated by a spacer layer, are substantially identical in their respective compositions.

If the absorption effect pigments according to the invention contain at least one coloring metal ion from the group of the metals Fe, Ti, Sn, Mn, Cu, Cr, Co, Ag and Ce, the proportion thereof, as detected by XRF analysis in each case and calculated in each case as elemental metal, is preferably ≥ 4% by weight in total, more preferably 6-85% by weight in total, more preferably 8-79% by weight in total, most preferably 10-76% by weight in total, based in each case on the total weight of the absorption effect pigment.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the layers 2 and 3 contains at least two different metal ions selected from the metals Ti, Fe, Sn, Mn, Zr, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ni, Sb, Ag, Zn, Cu, Ce, Cr and Co, wherein at least one of the two metal ions is selected from the metals Ti, Sn, Zr and Zn, and wherein the proportion of the colouring metal ions selected from the metals Fe, Ti, Sn, Mn, Cu, Cr, Co, Ag and Ce, detected in each case by XRF analysis and calculated in each case as elemental metal, is preferably in total > 4% by weight, based on the total weight of the absorption effect pigment according to the invention.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, at least one of the layers 2 and 3 contains a metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions of the metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate contain or are the metals Ti and Fe, wherein the weight ratio between Ti and Fe, detected by XRF analysis in each case and calculated as elemental metal in each case, is preferably <15, preferably <10, more preferably <5, most preferably <1, and wherein the proportion of Fe, detected by XRF analysis and calculated as elemental metal, is preferably > 4% by weight, based on the total weight of the absorption effect pigment according to the invention.

In another particularly preferred embodiment, at least one of the layers 2 and 3 contains a metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions of the metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate contain or are metallic Fe and Sn, wherein the weight ratio between Fe and Sn, detected in each case by XRF analysis and calculated in each case as elemental metal, is preferably in the range from 1 to 80, more preferably from 2 to 60, more preferably from 3 to 50, most preferably from 4 to 40, and wherein the proportion of Sn, detected by XRF analysis and calculated as elemental metal, is preferably from 1 to 25% by weight, more preferably from 2 to 19% by weight, more preferably from 4 to 15% by weight, based in each case on the total weight of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention.

In another particularly preferred embodiment, at least one of the layers 2 and 3 contains a metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions of the metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate contain or are the metals Fe and Zr, wherein the weight ratio between Fe and Zr is preferably selected from the range from 1 to 75, more preferably from 2 to 65, more preferably from 4 to 48, most preferably from 8 to 36, in each case based on the total weight of the absorption effect pigment according to the invention, detected by XRF analysis and calculated in each case as elemental metal.

The content of metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates in the absorption effect pigments according to the invention is detected as corresponding metal oxides by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis and can be calculated as corresponding elemental metals. For this purpose, the absorption effect pigments were added to lithium tetraborate glass preforms, fixed in solid sample detection cups and analyzed. The Advantix ARL system from Thermo Scientific was used as the detection device.

The average layer thickness of layer 1 is preferably less than 10nm, more preferably less than 5nm, most preferably less than 3nm, wherein layer 1 completely or incompletely surrounds the lamellar non-metallic matrix or the optional coating.

The average layer thickness of the layers 2 and 3 of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention is preferably in the range from 30 to 350nm, more preferably from 35 to 310nm, more preferably from 90 to 340nm, more preferably from 40 to 280nm, most preferably from 50 to 210nm, each.

In a preferred embodiment, the average layer thicknesses of layers 2 and 3 are substantially the same. In the present invention, the term "substantially the same average layer thickness" means that the quotient between the average layer thickness of the layer 2 and the average layer thickness of the layer 3 is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 1.8, more preferably 0.7 to 1.6, more preferably 0.8 to 1.4, most preferably 0.9 to 1.2.

In another embodiment, where layers 2 and 3 have different physical compositions, their respective optical layer thicknesses are substantially the same, wherein the optical layer thicknesses of layers 2 and 3 may or may not follow the well-known Lambda/4 law. The optical layer thickness is defined as the product of the refractive index of the respective layer and the average layer thickness.

The average layer thickness of the overall coating of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention is preferably ≦ 800 nm. The average layer thickness of the entire coating is preferably 45 to 650nm, more preferably 65 to 530nm, most preferably 80 to 380 nm.

The term "entire coating" means a complete coating that starts from the substrate surface and extends vertically in one direction.

In one embodiment, the relative standard deviation of the layer thickness profile of layers 2 and 3 is from 2 to 74%, preferably from 3 to 63%, more preferably from 4 to 57%, most preferably from 5 to 49%, and the relative standard deviation of the layer thickness profile of the entire coating is from 0.3 to 31%, preferably from 1 to 27%, more preferably from 1.2 to 24%, most preferably from 1.9 to 22%. The relative standard deviation [% ] is the quotient between the calculated standard deviation and the average thickness.

The spacing layer between layers 2 and 3 is preferably substantially parallel to the surface of the flake-like non-metallic substrate. In the present invention, the term "substantially parallel" means that the regression line arranged through the spacer layer has a slope preferably close to 0 with respect to the regression line drawn on the surface of the flaky non-metallic substrate in the cross-sectional photograph of a scanning electron microscope.

The position of the spacer layer within the overall coating can vary. If, for example, the average layer thicknesses of layers 2 and 3 are substantially the same, the spacer layer is located approximately midway through the coating relative to the entire coating, which preferably consists of optional layer 1 and layers 2 and 3, since optional layer 1 is preferably very thin, more preferably only a few atomic layers thick. The spacer layer is preferably located between one sixth and six sixths of the total coating layer relative to the total coating layer. Here, "one-sixth" denotes the portion of the entire coating layer facing the flake-like non-metallic substrate, and "six-sixth" denotes the portion of the entire coating layer facing away from the flake-like non-metallic substrate (FIG. 7).

The spacer layer formed between the layers 2 and 3 preferably has a connection, which can also be referred to as a spacer, which serves on the one hand to connect the layers adjoining either side of the spacer layer and on the other hand to keep these layers spaced apart from one another. As can be seen from the cross-sectional photographs taken using a scanning electron microscope, these junctions or spacers may be arranged, for example, in the form of strips or columns, at an angle of about 90 °, for example 80-100 °, to the surface of the flake-like, non-metallic substrate. However, they may be formed at any other angle between 5 ° and 175 °. The longitudinal axes of the spacers, in particular of the strips, preferably of the spacers, preferably of the strips, are preferably aligned at an angle of from 15 ° to 150 °, more preferably of from 35 ° to 135 °, in each case relative to the surface of the flake-like, non-metallic substrate. When detecting the angle, the substrate plane forms a first arm. One outer side of the strip observed in each case forms a second arm. Starting from the angular point of the two arms, the angle formed is detected, wherein in a top view of a cross-sectional photograph taken using a scanning electron microscope, it is assumed that 0 ° is formed with respect to the left side in the plane of the substrate and 180 ° is formed with respect to the right side in the plane of the substrate.

The connections or spacers may have different geometries, preferably being evenly distributed over the entire spacer layer. For example, the junctions or spacers may be mesh, lattice, trapezoidal, sponge, or honeycomb. In some cases, it is also possible to have structural elements similar to those in photonic crystals or photonic inverse crystals, see for example EP 2371908 a2, EP 1546063 a1 or EP 1121334 a 1.

The junction or spacer comprises at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate. In a preferred embodiment, the junctions or spacers contain the same physical composition as the layers located on either side of the spacer layer. Alternatively, a gradient between different metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates can also be formed at the connection or within the spacer.

In a preferred embodiment, the junction or spacer comprises a metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions of the metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate comprise or are selected from at least two metal ions of the following metals: ti, Fe, Sn, Mn, Zr, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ni, Ag, Zn, Cu, Ce, Cr and Co, more preferably selected from Ti, Fe, Sn, Mn, Zr, Ag, Zn, Cu and Ce, more preferably selected from Ti, Fe, Sn, Zr, Ag and Ce, most preferably selected from Ti, Fe and Sn.

The inventors believe that the junctions or spacers may also play a mechanically stabilizing role for the adjoining layers and thus for the absorption effect pigments of the invention. It is believed that the formation of the mechanically very stable effect pigments may be due to the number of connections or spacers that may be present in the spacer layer, the different angles and geometries of the connections or spacers, and their preferably uniform distribution over the entire area of the spacer layer. In the case of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention, the adhesion between the entire coating and the flake-form, nonmetallic substrate is very good. The absorption effect pigments of the invention are even able to withstand extreme shear conditions, such as those occurring in the so-called Waring Blender (Waring Blender) experiments, without detectable damage. The waring blender experiment was performed as described in subsection IIf, "waring blender experiment," below.

In addition to having very good mechanical stability, the absorption effect pigments according to the invention also have good chemical stability, which is described in detail in section IIg "test chemical stability" below.

The spacer layers of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention preferably have an average height h of from 5 to 120nm_aMore preferably 9-95nm, more preferably 16-76nm, more preferably 21-69nm, more preferably 22-62nm, most preferably 26-56nm (FIG. 6).

In order to detect the average height h of the spacer layer_aAverage layer thicknesses of layers 2 and 3 and average layer thickness of the entire coating, cross-sectional photographs of a scanning electron microscope were used to establish the upper and lower substrate surfaces as baseline. The term "upper and lower substrate surfaces" denotes in each case the longer sides of the flake-form, non-metallic substrates in a scanning electron microscope cross-sectional picture. In the scanning electron microscope cross-sectional photograph, a base line is drawn along the surface of the flaky non-metallic substrate. The cross-sectional pictures from the scanning electron microscope were analyzed using AxioVision4.6.3 image processing software (from Zeiss).

At an angle of 90 deg. to these two base lines, as shown in the scanning electron microscope cross-sectional photograph (fig. 4), a sufficient number of parallel lines were drawn at 50nm intervals so that the grid was laid out on the effect pigments. The magnification of the cross-sectional photograph of the scanning electron microscope is preferably at least 50,000 times, based on Polaroid 545(4 "x 5"). Starting from the respective base line of the flake-like, non-metallic substrate, the points of intersection between a plurality of parallel lines perpendicular to the respective base line and the respective interface of the optional layer 1 to the layer 2, the layer 2 to the spacer layer, the spacer layer to the layer 3 and the layer 3 to the external environment or to possible further coatings are measured manually, in the direction of the respective outer layer 3 or of the respective outermost layer. Here, one of the lines drawn at intervals of 50nm may also be directly on the connection point or the spacer. In this case only the respective intersection points of the lines at the interface of the layer 3 to the external environment or to possible further coatings are recorded.

From these measured values, the difference yields the layer thicknesses of layers 2 and 3, the layer thickness of the entire coating,the layer thicknesses of the optionally present further layers, and the height h of the spacer layer_a. The layer thickness of layer 2 is derived from the difference between the respective detection cross-over point at the respective interface of layer 2 to the spacer layer and the respective detection cross-over point at the respective interface of the optional layer 1 to layer 2 or the base line to layer 2, provided that the flake-like non-metallic matrix is not previously covered by other layers. The layer thickness of the layer 3 is derived from the difference between the respective detection cross point of the layer 3 for the external environment or possibly other coatings and the respective detection cross point of the spacer layer for the layer 3. The layer thickness of the entire coating is derived from the difference between the respective detected crossing point and the respective baseline of layer 3 for the external environment or possibly other coatings. Height h of the spacer layer_aIs derived from the difference between the corresponding detection cross point of the spacer layer for layer 3 and the corresponding detection cross point of layer 2 for the spacer layer. The layer thicknesses of possible further coatings are determined in a similar manner and the differences should be taken into account accordingly.

From the layer thickness or height h detected in this way_aObtaining the corresponding arithmetic mean value, and determining the average layer thickness or the average height h_aNumerical values. For meaningful statistical results, the above-described measurements were performed on at least 100 parallel lines perpendicular to the baseline.

Height h_maThe midpoint of the spacer layer is indicated. This is as the layer thickness of optional layer 1, layer 2 and spacer height h_aIs calculated as the sum of half of. Relative height h of the midpoint of the spacer layer_RmaIs from h_maAnd the ratio of the layer thickness of the entire coating. Standard deviation of relative height σ h_RmaPreferably 0.2-18%, more preferably 0.3-15%, more preferably 0.4-11%, most preferably 0.5-8%. Standard deviation of relative height σ h_RmaIs a measure of the spacing layer disposed in a defined position within the overall coating parallel to the surface of the flake-form non-metallic substrate.

If the absorption effect pigments according to the invention have at least one further spacer layer, their height h is also determined by the above-described method using a cross-sectional photograph of a scanning electron microscope_maAnd at least one of itIt has a relative height h of the middle point of the spacing layer_Rma. For relative height standard deviation σ h_RmaThe above-mentioned values of (a) also apply correspondingly to the other spacer layers.

Those skilled in the art know that pearlescent pigments coated with, for example, titanium dioxide have pores in the coating, which are distributed statistically throughout the coating (fig. 5). These pearlescent pigments have no spacing layer. In contrast, the spacing layers and the voids located therein in the absorption effect pigments according to the invention are not distributed statistically throughout the coating but are arranged in a manner parallel to the surface of the lamellar, non-metallic substrate.

The distance from the midpoint of the statistically distributed wells to the substrate surface was also measured using a cross-sectional photograph taken with a scanning electron microscope in accordance with the method described above. For this purpose, at an angle of 90 ° with respect to the upper and lower baselines corresponding to both surfaces of the flake-like substrate, a sufficient number of parallel lines were drawn at intervals of 50nm so that the grid was arranged on the pearlescent pigment without the spacer layer as shown in the scanning electron microscope cross-sectional photograph. If one of these parallel lines is located on one or more wells, their height, their well midpoint and the distance from the one or more well midpoint to the substrate surface are detected. Statistical distribution of the points in the wells can also be used to determine the standard deviation.

In the pearlescent pigments of the prior art, i.e. in the case of pearlescent pigments without a spacer layer, the standard deviation of the distance from the midpoint of the statistically distributed pores to the substrate surface is > 20%. Thus, the standard deviation of the distance from the midpoint of the statistically distributed pores to the substrate surface is significantly different from the standard deviation of the relative heights of the midpoints of the spacer layers of the effect-absorbing pigments of the present invention.

Thus, the standard deviation of the distance from the midpoint of the pores of the pearlescent pigment without a spacing layer to the surface of the substrate can be compared to the standard deviation of the relative heights of the midpoints of the spacing layers of the effect-absorbing pigments of the present invention.

In addition, the number of junctions or spacers per micron, and the network density, which is defined as the percentage of the number of junctions or spacers relative to the number of lines, were determined using the above-described plurality of lines drawn at 50nm intervals in the scanning electron micrograph.

If the absorption effect pigments according to the invention have more than one spacing layer within the entire coating, the above-described methods for detecting the individual layers and spacing layers are correspondingly converted.

In one embodiment, the relative standard deviation in the height distribution of the spacer layer is 4 to 75%, preferably 7 to 69%, particularly preferably 9 to 63%, most preferably 13 to 60%. The relative standard deviation [% ] of the height distribution is the quotient between the calculated standard deviation and the average height.

In a preferred embodiment, the absorption effect pigments of the invention having at least one spacing layer have a number of connections or spacers per micrometer of from 0 to 11, more preferably from 0 to 9, more preferably from 1 to 7, most preferably from 1 to 3.

In a preferred embodiment, the absorption effect pigments according to the invention have a network density in at least one of the spacer layers, which network density is defined as the percentage of the number of connections or spacers relative to the number of lines and is < 85%, preferably 1-75%, more preferably 1-63%, most preferably 1-49%.

In the present invention, when the network density is higher than 85%, it is no longer referred to as a spacer layer, since such a high proportion of junctions or spacers results in a substantially very continuous coating.

In a more preferred embodiment, the absorption effect pigments of the invention comprise at least one spacing layer which is essentially parallel to the surface of the platelet-shaped, non-metallic substrate, wherein the at least one spacing layer has in each case an average height h of from 19 to 83nm_aMore preferably 27-66nm, most preferably 33-57 nm.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the absorption effect pigments of the invention have an average height h_aAt least one spacer layer of 16-79nm, preferably 21-66nm, most preferably 23-57nm, wherein the number of junctions or spacers per micrometer in the at least one spacer layer is 0-8, preferably 0-6, more preferably 1-5, most preferably 1-4。

Together with the above-mentioned junctions or spacers, the spacer layer contains voids which are spatially unrestricted by the layers 2 and 3 and the junctions or spacers.

Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX analysis) of these voids cannot be shown to be a solid or liquid material, so the inventors used currently available analytical methods, assuming that the voids within the spacer layer contain a gas, possibly air. In contrast, the junction or spacer contains at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide, and/or metal oxide hydrate, as described above.

The voids in the spacer layer of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention may have an average height h of from 2 to 119nm_HPreferably 6-105nm, more preferably 11-85nm, most preferably 18-53 nm. The term "height h_H"means the maximum distance between the uppermost and lowermost boundaries of the void. This is based on the above-mentioned detection height h_aIn which a plurality of parallel lines are drawn at an interval of 50nm at an angle of 90 DEG to the surface of the flaky non-metallic substrate in a cross-sectional photograph obtained using a scanning electron microscope. The difference between these lines and the two intersections between the upper and lower void boundaries is represented as height h_H. Here again, for meaningful statistical results, the above-described detection is carried out for at least 100 lines. Therefore, average height h_aDenotes the average height h_HIs measured. Thus, a plurality of voids may also be stacked on top of each other within the spacer layer.

Average height h of spacer layer_aAnd the average height h of the voids_HMeasured using a cured varnish film in which the absorption effect pigments according to the invention are arranged essentially plane-parallel to the substrate, the average thickness of the platelet-shaped, non-metallic substrate, the average layer thicknesses of the layers 2 and 3, the average layer thickness of the entire coating, the average height h of the spacing layer, being measured according to section IIk "below_aAnd the average height h of the voids_H"is said. For this purpose, the cross-section of the hardened clear lacquer film is examined with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), as described above for h_aAnd (4) measuring. Except for these cross sectionsOut of the sides, the absorption effect pigments of the invention can be cut by FIB (focused ion beam) methods. For this purpose, a highly accelerated thin ion beam (for example gallium, xenon, neon or helium) is focused on one point by means of an ion-optical system and directed line by line over the surface of the effect pigment to be treated. When colliding with the surface of effect pigments, the ions release most of their energy and destroy the coating at this point, which results in the removal of material line by line. The average height h can also be determined in the manner described above using the recorded SEM pictures_aThe average layer thickness of layers 2 and 3, and the average layer thickness of the entire coating. The average thickness of the flaky non-metallic substrate can also be measured using a scanning electron micrograph of the effect pigment cut by the FIB method.

In another embodiment, the proportion of the area containing voids of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention in the spacer layer distributed over the effect pigments, as determined on the basis of a cross-sectional picture taken with a scanning electron microscope, is from 51 to 99%, preferably from 63 to 96%, more preferably from 76 to 95%, most preferably from 84 to 94%. The connection or spacer preferably has an area ratio of 1 to 49%, preferably 4 to 37%, more preferably 5 to 24%, most preferably 6 to 16%.

It is further preferred that the total volume occupied by the joints or spacers in the spacer layer is less than the total volume occupied by the voids.

Preferably, the total volume occupied by the joints or spacers in the spacer layer is less than 50 volume percent, more preferably less than 30 volume percent, more preferably less than 20 volume percent, and most preferably less than 10 volume percent, based on the total volume occupied by the voids.

In the absorption effect pigments according to the invention, the voids in the spacer layer are very advantageous compared with the pores described in EP 1422268A 2. According to EP 1422268 a2, it is desirable that the coating has a low porosity and as few pores as possible to obtain a pigment with high color saturation and high brightness. The pigments according to EP 1422268 a2 do not have a spacing layer. According to the invention, the voids are not randomly distributed throughout the coating, but are essentially parallel to the surface of the flake-form, non-metallic matrix in the spacer layer, without any adverse effect on the optical properties of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention. In contrast, the absorption effect pigments of the present invention are characterized by higher gloss and higher color saturation than pigments coated with a single coating layer, provided of course that they have the same flake-like non-metallic matrix, the same particle size and the same first coating layer. At the same time, depending on the coating thickness and the type of coating, different interference colors and/or different absorption colors can be obtained.

This higher gloss and higher color saturation can be explained by the maximum difference in refractive index between the spacer layer and its adjacent layers, which in each case leads to the maximum reflection at these interfaces according to the Fresnel's law. For voids, the basis used here is an air refractive index of about 1. The light beam impinging on the spacer layer is partially reflected at the interface of the spacer layer, wherein the corresponding reflection intensity according to the Fresnel's law depends on the difference in refractive index of the layers adjacent to the spacer layer. Since this partial reflection occurs at each interface, the total reflection also increases as the number of interfaces increases. In the case of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention, the light beam is thus partially reflected a plurality of times; this has the effect of significantly greater gloss and greater interference color strength than conventional single-layer coated pigments.

If the voids are statistically distributed throughout the coating, i.e., not substantially parallel to the flake-like, non-metallic substrate, the optical path length varies throughout the coating. This results in failure to sufficiently satisfy the interference condition, and hence no strengthening or disappearance occurs.

The gloss of the absorption effect pigments of the invention is measured on a black/white hiding power card using a Byk-Gardner Micro-TRI-gloss meter, as described in subsection IId "gloss measurement" below. The color saturation of the absorption effect pigments of the invention is also determined on the basis of a black/white hiding power card with a ByK-mac multi-angle colorimeter (Byk-Gardner), as described in section IIb "Angle-dependent color detection" below. Other optical effects, such as sparkle and granularity, are detected as described in section IIe "Effect detection" below.

In one embodiment, the absorption effect pigments of the invention contain, in addition to the above-described layers 1, 2 and 3, further layers of high and/or low refractive index; viewed from the lamellar non-metallic matrix, these layers may be below optional layer 1 or layer 2 and/or above layer 3. These other layers may comprise metal oxides, metal hydroxides, metal oxide hydrates, wherein the metal ions of the metal oxides, metal hydroxides, metal oxide hydrates comprise or are at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of: the metals Ti, Fe, Sn, Mn, Zr, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ni, Ag, Zn, Cu, Ce, Cr and Co, preferably selected from the metals Ti, Fe, Sn, Zr, Ag, Zn, Cu, Ce, Cr, more preferably from the metals Ti, Fe and Sn. In addition, these further layers may contain a translucent metal selected from Ag, Al, Cr, Ni, Au, Pt, Pd, Cu, Zn and Ti, preferably from Ag, Au and Cu, or from their respective alloys and/or mixtures. The further layers are selected according to the invention such that the proportion of the colouring metal ions selected from the metals Fe, Ti, Sn, Mn, Cu, Cr, Co, Ag and Ce, detected in each case by XRF analysis and calculated in each case as elemental metal, is preferably > 4% by weight in total, more preferably 5 to 82% by weight in total, more preferably 7 to 72% by weight in total, most preferably 10 to 68% by weight in total, based in each case on the total weight of the absorption effect pigment. In addition, the proportion of the at least one translucent metal, as determined by XRF analysis, is preferably ≥ 1% by weight in total, more preferably from 2 to 20% by weight in total, most preferably from 3 to 12% by weight, in each case based on the total weight of the absorption-effect pigment. If the absorption effect pigments according to the invention contain at least one coloring metal ion and at least one semitransparent metal, independently of whether they are in a lamellar nonmetallic matrix or in a coating, the proportion thereof is preferably in total ≥ 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the absorption effect pigment.

In one embodiment, each layer of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention can have a dopant, wherein the dopant can comprise a metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate and the metal ions of the metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate comprise or are at least one metal ion selected from the metals Ca, Mg, Al, Ce, Zr or Sn, preferably Al, Zr or Sn. The proportion of dopants is preferably ≦ 1% by weight in total, more preferably ≦ 0.5% by weight in total, most preferably ≦ 0.2% by weight in total, based in each case on the total weight of the absorption effect pigment.

In a further embodiment, together with the abovementioned spacing layer, the entire coating of the effect-absorbing pigments according to the invention may also contain at least one further spacing layer, which is also arranged between the layers 2 and 3 in a manner substantially parallel to the surface of the flake-form, non-metallic substrate. The absorption effect pigments of the invention preferably have not more than four spacer layers in the entire coating, otherwise their optical quality would be reduced. According to the invention, even when the absorption effect pigments according to the invention contain more than one spacing layer, there are no spacing layers in one sixth or in six sixth of the total coating for the total coating.

The absorption effect pigments of the invention may have any desired average particle diameter D₅₀. D of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention₅₀The value is preferably 3 to 350. mu.m. D of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention₅₀The value is preferably 4 to 211. mu.m, more preferably 6 to 147. mu.m, still more preferably 7 to 99 μm, most preferably 8 to 56 μm. Particularly preferably, D of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention₅₀The value is 3-15 μm or 10-35 μm or 25-45 μm or 30-65 μm or 40-140 μm or 135-250 μm.

D of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention₁₀The value is preferably 1 to 120. mu.m. More preferably, D of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention₁₀The value is 1-5 μm or 5-25 μm or 10-30 μm or 20-45 μm or 25-65 μm or 75-110 μm.

D of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention₉₀The value is preferably 6 to 500. mu.m. More preferably, D of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention₉₀The value is 8-250 μm or 10-150 μm or 40-70 μm or 68-110 μm or 120-180 μm or 400-490 μm.

D of cumulative frequency distribution of volume-average size distribution function obtained by laser diffraction method₁₀、D₅₀Or D₉₀The values represent 10% of the effect pigments tested, respectively50% or 90% have a volume mean diameter which is equal to or less than the values indicated in each case. Here, the size distribution curve of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention is determined with a Malvern's Mastersizer 2000 apparatus according to the manufacturer's guidelines. The scattered light signal was evaluated according to the Fraunhofer theory, which also includes the refraction and absorption behavior of the particles.

In a preferred embodiment, the absorption effect pigments of the invention have a span Δ D, which is defined as Δ D ═ D (D)₉₀-D₁₀)/D₅₀And is 0.7 to 2.0, preferably 0.7 to 1.5, more preferably 0.8 to 1.3, more preferably 0.8 to 1.2, most preferably 0.85 to 1.1. The advantages of the resulting effect pigments with regard to narrow size classification of color purity and/or gloss can be found, for example, in EP 2217664 a1, EP 2346950 a1, EP 2356181 a1, EP 2346949 a1, EP 2367889 a 1.

The absorption effect pigments of the invention can be prepared as follows:

-suspending the flake-like non-metallic matrix in water at a temperature of 50-100 ℃,

optionally applying a non-calcined layer containing or consisting of tin oxide, tin hydroxide and/or tin oxide hydrate by adding a water-soluble tin salt and simultaneously adding an inorganic base,

-successively applying three uncalcined layers A, B and C in the form of metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates by successively adding three water-soluble metal salts and in each case simultaneously adding an inorganic base, wherein the second water-soluble metal salt used for forming layer B is different in metal ion from the other two water-soluble metal salts used for forming layers A and C,

-separating the coated substrate from the one or more coating solutions, optionally washing and/or optionally drying the coated substrate,

calcining the coated substrate at a temperature of 600-.

In a preferred embodiment, the absorption effect pigments according to the invention are prepared according to the above-described process.

The application, preferably deposition, of the corresponding metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates is preferably carried out at a constant pH in the range from pH 1.4 to 10.0, depending on the metal salt.

In addition to the at least three metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates applied, preferably deposited, in succession, further metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates can of course also be applied beforehand and/or subsequently, so that these further layers can be arranged below or above the abovementioned layer sequence [ optional layer 1/layer 2/spacer layer/layer 3 ].

During calcination, it has surprisingly been found that the metal ions present in layer B diffuse into layer a and/or layer C, thereby forming mixed metal oxides, and/or mixed metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates, and/or mixtures of metal oxides and/or metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates in layer a and/or layer C. Since metal ions diffuse from layer B into layer a and/or layer C during calcination, layers 2 and 3 of the invention and a spacer layer located between them are formed, wherein at least one of the two layers 2 and 3 contains at least two different metal ions. Thus, from the first three successively deposited layers A, B and C, during calcination, layers 2 and 3 and a spacing layer located therebetween are formed, wherein at least one of the two layers 2 and 3 contains at least two different metal ions.

It is believed that the different mobilities of the metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate relative to each other during calcination is one of the factors contributing to the formation of the spacer layer. Here, the mobility of the metal ions contained in the layer B competes with the mobility of the metal ions contained in the layers a and/or C, provided that the metal ions diffuse from the layer B into at least one of the adjacent layers a and/or C and the metal ions diffuse from at least one of the layers a and/or C into the layer B. At present, the inventors consider that this is one possible explanation for forming the spacer layer if the mobility of the metal ions contained in layer B during calcination is higher than the mobility of the metal ions contained in layers a and/or C. In addition, it is believed that the concentration gradient in the metal ions promotes the formation of a spacer layer, i.e., more mobile metal ions can diffuse from layer B into one of the adjacent layers a and/or C than in the opposite direction. In summary, the formation of the spacer layer is believed to be caused by a very wide range of complex interactions of various other factors during calcination, such as entropy and/or enthalpy effects, but the specific principles are not yet clear. The above explanations apply, of course, correspondingly for the formation of the at least one further spacer layer.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and third of the three metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates applied, preferably deposited, in succession contain at least one metal ion selected from the metals Fe, Ti and Sn. After application, the first and third metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates produce layer a or layer C. The second of the three metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates applied, preferably deposited, in succession produces layer B and contains at least one metal ion selected from the metals Fe, Sn, Zr and Ce, which is different from the metal ions deposited for forming the metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates of layers a and C. In layers a and C, the applied, preferably deposited, metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates can be identical to or different from one another with respect to the metal ions.

Alternatively, the absorption effect pigments of the invention can be prepared as follows:

-suspending the calcined, single-or multilayer-coated, flake-like, non-metallic substrate in water at a temperature of 50-100 ℃,

applying two uncalcined layers B and C in succession in the form of metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates by adding two water-soluble metal salts in succession and in each case simultaneously an inorganic base, wherein the first water-soluble metal salt used for forming layer B is different in metal ion from the other water-soluble metal salt used for forming layer C and from the layer directly adjoining layer B in the direction of the substrate,

-separating the coated substrate from the one or more coating solutions, optionally washing and/or optionally drying the coated substrate,

calcining the coated substrate at a temperature of 600-.

Here, the application, preferably deposition, of the corresponding metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates is also preferably carried out at a constant pH in the range from pH 1.4 to 10.0, depending on the metal salt.

It is believed that during calcination, metal ions present in layer B diffuse at least into layer C, thereby forming a mixture of mixed metal oxides, and/or mixed metal hydroxides, and/or metal oxide hydrates, and/or metal oxides, and/or metal hydroxides, and/or metal oxide hydrates in layer C. Calcination forms layer 3 of the present invention as well as the spacer layer because metal ions diffuse from layer B into layer C. Thus, during calcination, a layer 3 and a spacer layer are formed from the two layers B and C deposited in succession initially, wherein at least layer 3 contains at least two different metal ions. Layer 2 is already present here. Layer 2 represents the outermost layer of the calcined, single-or multi-layer coated flake-like non-metallic substrate used as the starting material.

The concentration profile on a cross-sectional basis (line scan) in a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive microanalyzer (EDX) showed a clear position-dependent change in the chemical composition of the coating before and after calcination (fig. 8 and 9).

Fig. 8 shows the concentration profile of example 12 after coating and drying, but before calcination. Using the concentration curves of Ti and Fe, the maximum value in each case of the Ti and Fe-containing layer can be confirmed. In contrast, the concentration profile of oxygen has a significantly uniform distribution with no identifiable minimum or maximum.

Fig. 9 also shows the concentration profile of example 12 after coating and drying, but after calcination. It was found that the Fe maximum in fig. 9 has decreased and shifted. The Fe ions have diffused into the surrounding Ti-containing layer. It is further emphasized that there is a marker minimum in the oxygen concentration curve, which clearly indicates the position of the spacer layer. At the same location, there is a corresponding minimum in the Ti and Fe concentration curves.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the two or three successively applied, preferably deposited, metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates used to form layers B and C or to form layers A, B and C are free of any metal ions selected from the metals Si, Mg and Al.

In the case of the successive application of two uncalcined layers B and C to the coated and optionally calcined substrate, the layer on which the layer B is to be applied according to the invention contains metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates having a high refractive index.

In the case of the successive application of three uncalcined layers A, B and C to the coated and optionally calcined substrate, the layer on which layer a is to be applied according to the invention may contain metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates having a high or low refractive index.

The above will be described in more detail below with reference to different coating examples.

For example, if a water-soluble titanium (IV) salt, a water-soluble iron (III) salt and again a water-soluble titanium (IV) salt are added successively to the suspension of the optionally coated, lamellar, nonmetallic substrate, it is observed in the SEM cross section that, starting from the substrate, after the optional coating, calcination gives the following layers: layer 2 comprising a metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions of the metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate comprise or are titanium ions and/or iron ions; a spacer layer; and a layer 3 comprising a metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions of the metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate comprise or are titanium ions and/or iron ions. At least one of the layers containing a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide and/or a metal oxide hydrate, in which metal ions of the metal oxide, the metal hydroxide and/or the metal oxide hydrate contain or are titanium ions and/or iron ions, contains iron titanate, preferably pseudobrookite and/or pseudorutile. With respect to the amount, the above description may also apply to colored and non-colored metal ions.

If, for example, a water-soluble titanium (IV) salt is added to the suspension of the optionally coated, flake-form, nonmetallic substrate, calcined after the deposition of titanium dioxide, titanium hydroxide and/or titanium oxide hydrate, this product is resuspended after calcination, and a water-soluble iron (III) salt and a water-soluble tin (IV) salt are added in succession, then, as observed in the SEM cross-section, further calcination, starting from the substrate, after the optional coating and the layer 2 which contains metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates, where the metal ions of the metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates contain or are titanium ions, gives the following layers: a spacer layer; and a layer 3 containing a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide and/or a metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions of the metal oxide, the metal hydroxide and/or the metal oxide hydrate contain or are iron ions and/or tin ions.

If the absorption effect pigments according to the invention comprise, in addition to at least two or three successively applied, preferably deposited, metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates, further layers comprising metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates, further spacing layers can also be formed in the further layers, provided that the process steps described above for at least two or three successively applied, preferably deposited, metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates also apply.

In one embodiment, the calcination is carried out under reducing conditions, preferably in the presence of a forming gas (N)₂/H₂) In the presence of (a). Calcination under reducing conditions may be associated with lower brightness values L than in the case of calcination in air,

the absorption effect pigments according to the invention may optionally have at least one outer protective layer, which can further increase the weather stability and/or the chemical stability and/or reduce the photoactivity. UV stability and condensate stability were tested as described in subsections IIj "UV stability" and IIi "condensate experiments" below.

The optionally present protective layer contains metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates whose metal ions are selected from the group consisting of the metals Si, Ce, Cr, Al, Zr, Zn and mixtures thereof, preferably from the group consisting of the metals Si, Ce, Al, Zr and mixtures thereof. The proportion of the optionally present protective layer here is preferably from 0.1 to 7.0% by weight, more preferably from 0.2 to 5.2% by weight, most preferably from 0.3 to 3.1% by weight, based in each case on the total weight of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention.

The protective layer optionally present may additionally be surface-modified, for example with silanes. The silane may have no functional linking group or one or more functional linking groups. Silanes having at least one functional linking group are also referred to hereinafter as organofunctional silanes.

For example, one or more silanes may have been applied to such an outermost protective layer. The silane may be an alkylsilane, which has a branched or unbranched alkyl group having from 1 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably from 6 to 18 carbon atoms.

In a more preferred embodiment, the silane having no functional linking group is an alkylsilane. The alkylsilane preferably has the formula R_(4-z)Si(X)_z. In this formula, z is an integer from 1 to 3, R is a substituted or unsubstituted, unbranched or branched alkyl chain having from 10 to 22 carbon atoms, and X represents halogen and/or alkoxy. Alkylsilanes having an alkyl chain of at least 12 carbon atoms are preferred. R can also be attached to Si in a cyclic manner, where z is usually 2 in this case.

In another embodiment, at least one organofunctional silane that allows chemical attachment to plastics, varnish or paint adhesives and the like may also be used for surface modification. The functional group of the organofunctional silane may also be referred to as a coupling group or a functional linking group and is preferably selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, amino, acryloyl, methacryloyl, vinyl, epoxy, isocyanate, cyano and mixtures thereof.

Organofunctional silanes having suitable functional groups that are preferably used as surface modifiers are commercially available, such as are manufactured and sold under the trade name "Dynasylan" by Evonik. Other products are available from Momentive (Silquest silane) or from Wacker, such as the standard silanes and alpha-silanes from the GENIOSIL product family. Examples of such silanes are 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (Dynasylan MEMO, Silquest A-174NT), vinyltris (meth) ethoxysilane (Dynasylan VTMO and VTEO, respectively, Silquest A-151 and A-171), methyltris (meth) ethoxysilane (Dynasylan MTMS and MTES, respectively), 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (Dynasylan MTMO; Silquest A-189), 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (Dynasylan GLYMO, Silquest A-187), tris [3- (trimethoxysilyl) propyl ] isocyanurate (Silquest Y-11597), bis [3- (triethoxysilyl) propyl ] tetrasulfide (Silquest A-1289), bis [3- (triethoxysilyl) propyl disulfide (Silquest A-1589), beta- (3, 4-epoxycyclohexyl) ethyltrimethoxysilane (Silquest A-186), bis (triethoxysilyl) ethane (Silquest Y-9805), gamma-isocyanatopropyltrimethoxysilane (Silquest A-Link 35, GENIOSIL GF40), methacryloxymethyltris (meth) ethoxysilane (GENIOSIL XL 33, XL36), (methacryloxymethyl) (meth) ethyldimethoxysilane (GENIOSIL XL 32, XL 34), (isocyanatomethyl) methyldimethoxysilane, (isocyanatomethyl) trimethoxysilane, 3- (triethoxysilyl) propylsuccinic anhydride (GENIOSIL GF 20), (methacryloxymethyl) methyldiethoxysilane, 2-acryloxyethylmethyldimethoxysilane, 2-methacryloxyethyltrimethoxysilane, 3-acryloxypropylmethyldimethoxysilane, 2-acryloxyethyltrimethoxysilane, 2-methacryloxyethyltriethoxysilane, 3-acryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-acryloxypropyltripropoxysilane, 3-methacryloxypropyltriethoxysilane, 3-methacryloxypropylmethyldimethoxysilane, vinyltrichlorosilane, vinyltrimethoxysilane (GENIOSIL XL 10), vinyltris (2-methoxyethoxy) silane (GENIOSIL GF 58), vinyltriethoxysilane or mixtures thereof.

Preferred for use as organofunctional silanes are: 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (Dynasylanmemo, Silquest A-174NT), vinyltris (meth) ethoxysilane (Dynasylan VTMO and VTEO, respectively, Silquest A-151 and A-171), methyltris (meth) ethoxysilane (Dynasylan MTMS and MTES, respectively), β - (3, 4-epoxycyclohexyl) ethyltrimethoxysilane (Silquest A-186), bis (triethoxysilyl) ethane (Silquest Y-9805), γ -isocyanatopropyltrimethoxysilane (Silquest A-Link 35, GENIOSILG 40), methacryloxymethyltris (meth) ethoxysilane (GENIOSIL XL 33, 36), (methacryloxymethyl) (meth) ethyldimethoxysilane (GENIOSIL XL 32, XL 34), 3- (triethoxysilyl) propylsuccinic anhydride (GENIOSIL 20), vinyltrimethoxysilane (GENIOSIL XL 10) and/or vinyltris (2-methoxyethoxy) silane (GENIOSIL GF 58).

Other organofunctional silanes may also be applied to the particles according to the invention or to the pigments according to the invention.

In addition, an aqueous prehydrolyzate may be used, such as is commercially available from Degussa. These include aqueous aminosiloxanes (Dynasylan Hydrosil 1151), aqueous amino/alkyl functional siloxanes (Dynasylan Hydrosil 2627 or 2909), aqueous diamino functional siloxanes (Dynasylan Hydrosil 2776), aqueous epoxy functional siloxanes (Dynasylan Hydrosil 2926), amino/alkyl functional oligosiloxanes (Dynasylan 1146), vinyl/alkyl functional oligosiloxanes (Dynasylan 6598), oligovinylsilanes (Dynasylan 6490) or oligomeric short chain alkyl functional silanes (Dynasylan 9896).

In a preferred embodiment, the organofunctional silane mixture contains at least one amino-functional silane in addition to the at least one silane having no functional linking group. Amino functionality is a functional group that is capable of one or more chemical interactions with most of the groups present in the adhesive. This may include covalent bonds, such as with isocyanate or carboxylate functional groups of the adhesive, or hydrogen bonds, such as with OH or COOR functional groups, or ionic interactions. Therefore, amino functionality is very suitable for chemical bonding between pigments and different types of binders.

The following compounds are preferred for this purpose: 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (Dynasylan AMMO; Silquest A-1110), 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (Dynasylan AMEO), [3- (2-aminoethyl) aminopropyl ] trimethoxysilane (Dynasylan DAMO, Silquest A-1120), [3- (2-aminoethyl) aminopropyl ] triethoxysilane, triaminofunctional trimethoxysilane (Silquest A-1130), bis (gamma-trimethoxysilylpropyl) amine (Silquest A-1170), N-ethyl-gamma-aminoisobutyltrimethoxysilane (Silquest A-Link 15), N-phenyl-gamma-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (Silquest Y-9669), 4-amino-3, 3-dimethylbutyltrimethoxysilane (Silquest A-1637), ((cyclohexylamino) methyl) (diethoxy) methylsilane (GENIOSIL XL 924), N-cyclohexylaminomethyltriethoxysilane (GENIOSIL XL 926), N-phenylaminomethyltrimethoxysilane (GENIOSILXL 973), or mixtures thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the optionally present protective layer has the composition described in the respective main claims of WO 2006/021386 a1, WO 2012/130897 a1 or WO 2014/053454 a 1.

In addition, the absorption effect pigments of the invention can be surface-modified, which facilitates, for example, the incorporation of the effect pigments in different media. When the absorption effect pigments according to the invention are used, for example, in powder coatings, the effect pigments preferably have one of the surface modifications described in the main claims of EP 2698403 a1 or EP 2576702 a 1. Alternatively, the absorption effect pigments of the invention may have an outermost coating according to claim 32 of WO2006/136435 a2, which is preferably applied by the spray drying method of claim 1 of WO2006/136435 a 2.

When the absorption effect pigments according to the invention are used in cosmetic formulations, they can facilitate incorporation into O/W, W/O or W/Si emulsion systems, for example by hydrophobic surface covering, for example using triethoxycaprylylsilane (INCI), and enable a more permanent emulsion stability to be achieved.

The absorption effect pigments of the invention can also be used in the desired applications in each case as a mixture with transparent and/or opacifying (inorganic) organic white, colored, black pigments and/or metallic effect pigments and/or pearlescent pigments and/or fillers. The amount of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention depends, among other things, on the particular application and the optical effect to be achieved.

The absorption effect pigments of the invention can be used in cosmetic formulations, plastics, films, textiles, ceramic materials, glass, paints, printing inks, writing inks, varnishes and/or powder coatings. In addition, the absorption effect pigments according to the invention can also be used in functional applications, such as laser marking, greenhouse films or agricultural films.

In cosmetic formulations, for example body powders, loose powders, compacted or loose powders, creams; eye color cosmetics such as eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, eyebrow pencil, lip gloss, lipstick, lip gloss, lip liner; hair styling compositions, such as hair sprays, hair mousses, hair gels, hair waxes, hair pastes, permanent or semi-permanent hair dyes, temporary hair dyes; skin care compositions, such as lotions, gels, emulsions, nail polish compositions, the absorption effect pigments of the present invention may be used in combination with raw materials, adjuvants and active ingredients suitable for the respective application. The total concentration of the absorption effect pigments of the invention in the cosmetic formulation can be between 0.001% by weight for cleaning products and 40.0% by weight for leave-on products, in each case based on the total weight of the formulation.

In another embodiment, the absorption effect pigments of the invention may be present in the form of compacted granules. The term "compacted particulate form" denotes a granulate, which is preferably in the form of a cylinder and/or a bead. The cylinder here preferably has a diameter of 0.2-4.2cm, more preferably 0.5-2.3cm, most preferably 0.7-1.7cm, and a length of preferably 0.2-7.1cm, more preferably 0.6-5.3cm, most preferably 0.8-3.7 cm. The beads preferably have a radius of 1cm or less, more preferably from 0.2 to 0.7cm, most preferably from 0.3 to 0.5 cm.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to an absorption effect pigment comprising a flake-form non-metallic substrate, preferably synthetic mica flakes or glass flakes, and a coating applied to the substrate, wherein the coating comprises:

a) optionally a formation 1 containing or consisting of tin oxide, tin hydroxide and/or tin oxide hydrate,

b) layer 2 comprising at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions comprise or are selected from at least one metal ion of the metals Ti, Sn and Fe,

c) layer 3 comprising at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions comprise or are selected from at least one metal ion of the metals Ti, Sn, Ce and Fe,

wherein at least one of the layers 2 and 3 contains at least two different metal ions selected from the abovementioned groups, wherein the proportion of the colouring metal ions, detected in each case by XRF analysis and calculated in each case as elemental metal, is from 7.5 to 75% by weight, based on the total weight of the effect pigments, and the layers 2 and 3 are defined by an average height h_aA standard deviation h of the relative height for a spacer spacing of 10-66nm_RmaIs in the range of 0.2-11% and the network density is in the range of 1-79%.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to an absorption effect pigment comprising a flake-form non-metallic substrate, preferably synthetic mica flakes or glass flakes, and a coating applied to the substrate, wherein the coating comprises:

a) optionally a formation 1 containing or consisting of tin oxide, tin hydroxide and/or tin oxide hydrate,

b) layer 2 comprising at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions comprise or are selected from at least one non-colouring metal ion of the metals Fe, Ti, Sn and Zr,

c) a layer 3 comprising at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions comprise or are selected from at least one non-colouring metal ion of the metals Fe, Ti, Sn and Zr,

wherein at least one of the layers 2 and 3 contains at least two different metal ions selected from the above, the layers 2 and 3 being separated by a spacer layer, and wherein the effect pigments have a span Δ D of 0.8-1.9.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to an absorption effect pigment comprising a flake-form non-metallic substrate, preferably synthetic mica flakes or glass flakes, and a coating applied to the substrate, wherein the coating comprises:

a) optionally a formation 1 containing or consisting of tin oxide, tin hydroxide and/or tin oxide hydrate,

b) layer 2 comprising at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions comprise or are selected from at least one metal ion of the metals Ti, Fe, Sn and Zr,

c) layer 3 comprising at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions comprise or are selected from at least one metal ion of the metals Ti, Fe, Sn and Zr,

wherein at least one of the layers 2 and 3 contains at least two different metal ions, wherein the proportion of the colouring metal ions, detected in each case by XRF analysis and calculated in each case as elemental metal, is from 4.0 to 79% by weight in total, preferably from 5.0 to 72% by weight in total, in each case based on the total weight of the effect pigments; the layers 2 and 3 are separated by a spacer layer and the effect pigment has chemical resistance and dE is <3, preferably < 2.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to an absorption effect pigment comprising a flake-form, non-metallic substrate, preferably synthetic mica flakes or glass flakes, and a coating applied to the substrate, wherein the coating comprises:

a) optionally a formation 1 containing or consisting of tin oxide, tin hydroxide and/or tin oxide hydrate,

b) layer 2 comprising at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions comprise or are selected from at least two metal ions of the metals Fe and Sn,

c) layer 3 comprising at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions comprise or are selected from at least two metal ions of the metals Fe and Sn,

and the layers 2 and 3 are separated by a spacer layer, wherein the coating further comprises a further high-low refractive index layer and/or a low refractive index layer, and the effect pigment comprises at least one further spacer layer which is substantially parallel to the surface of the flake-form, non-metallic substrate and has an average height h_aIs 11-76nm, preferably 19-54 nm.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to an absorption effect pigment comprising a flake-form non-metallic substrate, preferably synthetic mica flakes or glass flakes, and a coating applied to the substrate, wherein the coating comprises:

a) optionally a formation 1 containing or consisting of tin oxide, tin hydroxide and/or tin oxide hydrate,

b) layer 2 comprising at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions comprise or are selected from at least one metal ion of the metals Zr, Sn and Fe,

c) layer 3 comprising at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the metal ions comprise or are selected from at least one metal ion of the metals Zr, Sn, Ce and Fe,

wherein at least one of the layers 2 and 3 contains at least two different metal ions selected from the above, the quotient of the average layer thickness of the layer 2 and the average layer thickness of the layer 3 is preferably in the range from 0.5 to 1.8, and the standard deviation h of the relative heights_RmaIs in the range of 0.2-11%.

In another embodiment, the absorption effect pigments of the invention have a hue angle h within the CIE LCh color space₁₅Is 0-60 DEG and 120-And 140-360 deg., most preferably 0-30 deg. and 145-360 deg.. Preferably, the color saturation C within the aforementioned hue angle range₁₅Is that>15, more preferably>20, most preferably>30. Here, the hue angle h₁₅And color saturation C₁₅Tested using a varnish applied on a black/white hiding table (Byko-hart 2853 from Byk-Gradner) using a nitrocellulose varnish (Erco bronze mixed varnish 2615e colourless; Maeder Plastiklack AG) mixed with 6% by weight of the specific effect pigments of the invention, the details of which can be seen in paragraph IIb "angle-dependent colour testing" below.

The CIE LCh color space is the CIELab color space, in which the cylinder coordinates C (color saturation, relative color saturation, distance from the L-axis) and h (hue angle, hue angle in the CIELab color circle) are reported instead of the cartesian coordinates a, b.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to an absorption effect pigment comprising a flake-form, non-metallic substrate, preferably synthetic mica flakes or glass flakes, and a coating applied on the substrate, wherein the coating has at least one spacing layer substantially parallel to the surface of the flake-form, non-metallic substrate, and the effect pigment is obtainable by: i) optionally applying a layer of uncalcined tin oxide, tin hydroxide and/or tin oxide hydrate to the flake-form non-metallic substrate, ii) successively applying three uncalcined metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates, wherein the second of the three uncalcined metal oxides, metal hydroxides and/or metal oxide hydrates is physically different from the others and can diffuse into at least one other uncalcined metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, and iii) calcining the product obtained in step ii) at a temperature of 400 ℃. and 980 ℃, optionally under reducing conditions.

In a very particularly preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to an absorption effect pigment comprising a sheetlike, non-metallic substrate, preferably synthetic mica flakes or glass flakes, and a coating applied to the substrate, wherein the coating has a baseAt least one average height h substantially parallel to the surface of the non-metallic platelet-shaped substrate_aA spacer layer of 14-51nm, and the effect pigment can be obtained by: i) optionally, applying an uncalcined tin oxide, tin hydroxide and/or tin oxide hydrate layer to the flake-form non-metallic substrate using a water-soluble tin (IV) salt, ii) successively applying the first layer A using a water-soluble iron (III) salt, applying the second layer B using a water-soluble tin (IV) salt and/or titanium (IV) salt, applying the third layer C using a water-soluble iron (III) salt, and III) calcining the product obtained in step ii) at a temperature of 400-.

In a preferred embodiment, the coating of the effect-absorbing pigments of the invention comprises, in each case before drying and/or calcining: at least one high refractive index layer composed of or containing titanium oxide, titanium hydroxide and/or titanium oxide hydrate; and at least two non-adjacent high refractive index layers consisting of or containing iron oxide, iron hydroxide and/or iron oxide hydrate; wherein the weight ratio between titanium and iron in the effect pigment is <1, preferably in the range of 0.01-0.9, more preferably 0.1-0.8.

In a further preferred embodiment, the coating of the effect-absorbing pigments of the invention comprises, in each case before drying and/or calcining: at least one high refractive index layer composed of or containing tin oxide, tin hydroxide and/or tin oxide hydrate; and at least two high refractive index layers consisting of or containing iron oxide, iron hydroxide and/or iron oxide hydrate; wherein the weight ratio between tin and iron in the effect pigment is <1, preferably in the range of 0.01-0.9, more preferably 0.1-0.8. In this embodiment, it is particularly preferred to apply at least one iron oxide, iron hydroxide and/or iron oxide hydrate high-refractive-index layer first directly to the flake-form substrate or to the respective uppermost layer close to the substrate, and then to apply at least one tin oxide, tin hydroxide and/or tin oxide hydrate high-refractive-index layer and a further iron oxide, iron hydroxide and/or iron oxide hydrate high-refractive-index layer. Alternatively, a layer of metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal oxide hydrate, or an incipient cladding thereof, wherein the metal ions contain or are selected from the group consisting of Sn and Si, may be deposited directly onto the flake-like non-metallic substrate, or onto the respective uppermost layer in proximity to the substrate, before the application of the at least one layer of iron oxide, iron hydroxide and/or iron oxide hydrate high refractive index layer, wherein the thickness of this layer may be a few nanometers, preferably less than 10nm, more preferably less than 5nm, most preferably less than 3nm, and said layer need not completely surround the substrate. The tin oxide, hydroxide and/or hydrate may be at least partially present in the mixed layer with iron oxide, hydroxide and/or hydrate.

In a further preferred embodiment, the coating of the effect-absorbing pigments of the invention comprises, in each case before drying and/or calcining: at least one high refractive index layer of iron oxide, iron hydroxide and/or iron oxide hydrate, wherein at least one further layer of tin oxide, tin hydroxide and/or tin oxide hydrate has been applied to the above-mentioned at least one layer in a proportion of from 1 to 25% by weight, preferably from 2 to 20% by weight, more preferably from 3 to 16% by weight, most preferably from 4 to 13% by weight, in each case based on the absorption effect pigment. Alternatively, at least one of the iron oxide, iron hydroxide and/or iron oxide hydrate high refractive index layers may have been doped with Mg and/or Ce. After calcination, the iron oxide present in the coating may be present in the form of hematite and/or goethite.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to absorption effect pigments comprising a flake-form, non-metallic substrate, preferably synthetic mica flakes or glass flakes, and a coating applied to the substrate, wherein the coating has at least one spacing layer essentially parallel to the surface of the flake-form, non-metallic substrate, and the absorption effect pigments have been calcined under reducing conditions or have a translucent metal layer in the entire coating, preferably as the outermost layer directly below an optionally present protective layer.

In one embodiment, instead of at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, the coating of the effect-absorbing pigments according to the invention contains the corresponding metal sub-oxides, metal fluorides, metal nitrides, metal oxynitrides, metal oxyhalides and/or metal sulfides.

In one embodiment, the effect pigment-absorbing coating according to the invention contains, in addition to the at least one metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, at least one metal sub-oxide, metal fluoride, metal nitride, metal oxynitride, metal oxyhalide and/or metal sulfide.

The present invention is described in more detail below by way of some examples, but these examples do not limit the present invention. All percentages in the examples and comparative examples are in weight%.

I preparation of the absorption effect pigments according to the invention