WO2004111338A1

WO2004111338A1 - Security element with visually recognisable and machine readable characteristics

Info

Publication number: WO2004111338A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/006455
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthias Müller; Martin Bergsmann; Friedrich Kastner
Original assignee: Hueck Folien Ges.M.B.H
Priority date: 2003-06-17
Filing date: 2004-06-16
Publication date: 2004-12-23
Also published as: AT500871A1; AT500871B1; EP1654421A1

Abstract

The invention relates to security elements and film-type materials made of a carrier substrate (1) whereon one or several functional security characteristics are disposed. The carrier substrate (1) comprises, on one and/or both sides, a conductive covering (2a) on the entire or part of the surface and/or a metal covering (3) which appears to be metallic or reflective and which comprise recesses (4) in the shape of patterns, signs, geometric shapes, lines, guilloches and other similar elements. The recesses are surrounded by the non-permeable metal layer, which appears to be metallic or reflective, the non-permeable metal covering which appears to be metallic or reflective does not contain any recurrent pattern in the area of observation, and the metal covering (3) which appears to be metallic or reflective can be arranged above and/or below the conductive coating (2a). The invention also relates to the use and production thereof.

Description

Security elements with visually recognizable and machine-readable features

The invention relates to security elements with visually recognizable and machine-readable features that ensure increased security against forgery.

Security elements in the form of threads, strips, tapes, patches or other formats are used primarily in documents of value, for example banknotes, identification papers and the like. Most of these security elements have combined features, for example optical features and / or conductive features and / or magnetic features.

For example, EP 319 157 B1 discloses a security paper with a security device arranged at least partially between the two surfaces of the paper, the security device having a flexible, water-impermeable substrate which is provided with a continuous metal sheet with 10-50% cutouts. The continuous metal track can be a metallic coating or be produced by a metallic printing ink and can also be conductive.

From EP 330 733 B1 a security element in the form of a thread or tape for embedding in security documents is known, which consists of a translucent plastic film, which is provided with an opaque coating and has recesses, wherein at least in the areas congruent with the recesses coloring and / or luminescent substances are present which differ from the opaque coating in a color-contrasting form under suitable lighting conditions. A security element is known from EP 426 801 B1, which has an electrically conductive material above and / or below the license plates, so that the license plates are only visible in transmitted light.

The object of the invention was to provide security elements which have visually recognizable and machine-readable features and ensure increased security against forgery.

The invention therefore relates to security elements consisting of a carrier substrate to which one or more functional security features are applied, characterized in that the carrier substrate has one or both sides with a full-surface or partial conductive coating and / or a metallic or metallic-appearing or reflective coating Has recesses in the form of patterns, characters, geometric figures, lines, guilloches and the like, wherein the recesses are surrounded by the non-continuous metallic or metallic-appearing or reflective layer, the non-continuous metallic or metallic-appearing or reflective coating no recurring patterns has in the viewing area, is provided and the metallic or metallic-appearing or reflective coating can be arranged above and / or below the conductive coating.

Another object of the invention is a film material consisting of a carrier substrate to which one or more functional security features are applied, characterized in that the carrier substrate has a full or partial conductive coating on one or both sides and / or a metallic or metallic appearing or reflecting coating , which has cutouts in the form of patterns, characters, geometric figures, lines, guilloches and the like, the cutouts from the non-continuous metallic or metallic-appearing or reflective layer are surrounded, the non-continuous metallic or metallic-appearing or reflective coating has no recurring patterns in the viewing area, is provided and the metallic or metallic-appearing or reflective coating can be arranged above and / or below the conductive coating ,

The metallic or metallic-appearing or reflective coating can itself have conductive and / or magnetic and / or optical properties.

The security elements or film materials can furthermore be provided on one or both sides with one or different coloring layer (s), the coloring layer (s) not being applied over the entire surface, in particular in the region of the cutouts. If necessary, the design of the non-full-color layer can represent an additional security feature or authenticity feature or identification feature.

In addition to one of the layers described, the security elements or film materials can also have an optically effective structure, for example a surface relief, a diffraction grating or a hologram, wherein these structures can serve as an additional security feature, authenticity or identification feature.

These security elements or film materials can additionally have a full or partial layer with magnetic properties.

Furthermore, the security elements or film materials can have electrically conductive layers and / or structures, or elements or structures that can be excited by radio frequency, such as chips, for example polymer microcircuits or microcircuits based on Si or other semiconductors. Carrier substrates include, for example, carrier films, preferably flexible transparent plastic films, for example made of PI, PP, MOPP, PE, PPS, PEEK, PEK, PEI, PAEK, LCP, PEN, PBT ₁ PET, PA, PC, COC, POM, ABS, PVC in question.

The carrier films preferably have a thickness of 5 to 700 μm, preferably 5 to 200 μm, particularly preferably 5 to 50 μm.

Furthermore, metal foils, for example Al, Cu, Sn, Ni, Fe or stainless steel foils with a thickness of 5-200 μm, preferably 10 to 80 μm, particularly preferably 20-50 μm, can also serve as the carrier substrate. The films can also be surface-treated, coated or laminated, for example with plastics, or painted.

Furthermore, paper or composites with paper, for example composites with plastics with a basis weight of 20-500 g / m ² , preferably 40-200 g / m ² , can also be used as carrier substrates.

Furthermore, woven or non-woven fabrics, such as continuous fiber non-woven fabrics, staple fiber non-woven fabrics and the like, which can optionally be needled and / or calendered, can be used as carrier substrates. Such fabrics or nonwovens preferably consist of plastics, such as PP, PET, PA ₁ PPS and the like, but woven or nonwovens made of natural, optionally treated fibers, such as viscose fibers, can also be used. The nonwovens or fabrics used have a weight per unit area of approximately 20 g / m ² to 500 g / m ² . If necessary, the nonwovens or fabrics must be surface-treated.

The conductive coating can be a metallic or non-metallic or a polymeric conductive coating. The electrically conductive polymers can be, for example, polyacetylene, poly-p-phenylene, polypyrroles, polythiophenes, poly-p-phenylene vinylene, low molecular weight macrocyclic semiconductors, organopolysilanes,

Be poly-sulfur nitride and / or polyanilines and / or their derivatives. Polyaniline or polythiophenes are preferably used as electrically conductive polymers. Polyethylene dioxythiophene is particularly preferably used as the electrically conductive polymer.

The polymers can be applied to a carrier substrate in the form of a dispersion or in the form of their monomers or prepolymers with subsequent application of an initiator and / or catalyst or already in a mixture with an initiator and / or catalyst.

Baytron ^® P from HC Stark, for example, can be used as a commercially available electrically conductive polymer suspension. Examples of suitable dispersants are inert solvents, preferably aqueous solvents or alcohols, such as i-propanol. Optionally, matrix polymers, for example water-soluble polyesters, polyurethanes, polystyrene sulfonates, polyacrylates or ethylene acrylate copolymers, can also be added to the polymer dispersions as matrix polymers. For example, polyethylene dioxythiophene with polystyrene sulfonate can be used as the matrix polymer.

The particle size of the polymers in the dispersion is preferably 20-500 nm.

However, the monomers or prepolymers for forming the electrically conductive polymers are preferably applied and polymerized in situ.

Both radical and redox or photo initiator and / or catalysts and / or catalysts, for example UV initiators, can be used as initiators and / or catalysts. Both monomer and initiator and / or catalyst and / or catalyst are preferably provided in a solvent or dispersion medium, for example in an alcohol, such as propanol or n-butanol.

Fe (III) toluenesulfonate is particularly preferably used as initiator / catalyst. Fe (III) toluenesulfonate is a radical initiator or catalyst which also initiates a redox reaction during the polymerization. The Fe (III) ion acts as an initiator and the toluene sulfonate forms the matrix in the conductive polymer

So is ethylenedioxythiophene as a monomer, for example, Baytron ^® M or Baytron ^® M-V2 Fa. HC Stark, and Fe (III) toluenesulfonate, for example Baytron ^® C grades, for example, Baytron ^® CB-40 from Bayer, as initiator and / or catalyst is used, the polymer present on the carrier substrate after the polymerization

Polyethylene dioxythiophene / toluenesulfonate (PEDT-TS). Higher layer thicknesses can also be tolerated

Polyethylene dioxythiophene / polystyrene sulfonate can be used-

In order to avoid the possibility of hazardous residues in the conductive layer is the initiator and / or catalyst, ie in particular Fe (III) -toluenesulfonate, for example Baytron ^® CB 40, Fa. Bayer in large excess compared to the monomer resp. Prepolymer (eg ethylenedioxythiophene, such as Baytron ^® M or Baytron ^® M-V2 from Bayer) is used. The weight ratio of monomer or prepolymer to initiator and / or catalyst is about 1:20 - 1: 100, preferably 1:50 to 1:80. The excess of initiator and / or catalyst ensures a complete and safe conversion of the entire monomer even during shorter available reaction times, which ensures that ^" no harmful residues remain. Furthermore, this excess of initiator and / or catalyst achieves optimal film formation. Depending on the solvent used, the polymerization takes place at the point in time at which a temperature is reached which causes the solvent to evaporate. In order to avoid premature or too strong polymerization before application to the carrier substrate in the storage containers or too rapid polymerization immediately after application to the carrier substrate, depending on the temperature prevailing in the storage containers, monomer advantageously becomes from the storage containers provided or solvent, if necessary, by means of a pump, when adding the solvent (for example an alcohol such as propanol or n-butanol) care should be taken to ensure that large amounts of solvent do not remain in the layer after the polymerization, which subsequently occurs must be removed, so that a balanced metering takes place. However, the undesired polymerization is preferably controlled by metering in the monomer which is present in a highly diluted form in the solvent.

Excess initiator and / or catalyst and, if appropriate, catalyst residues and other contaminating reaction products can likewise be removed in situ or, if appropriate, subsequently by treatment with a solvent, for example water, demineralized water, deionized water, alcohols, such as ethanol, propanols, butanols and the like or Water / solvent mixtures are removed from the layer.

The initiator and / or excess catalyst is preferably removed by water which is processed, for example, by reverse osmosis, ion exchanger, distillation or physical water treatment plants.

The reaction can be influenced during the washing process by a defined setting of the ion content of the water, in particular the content of alkali and / or alkaline earth ions. By attaching the ions present in the water to the O atoms of the ethylenedioxythiophene units, complexes are formed, which causes the configuration of the macromolecules is changed and thus the band gap in the absorption spectrum and thus that

Absorption maximum is shifted.

At the same time, this complex formation also changes the conductivity and can therefore be defined in a defined manner by the ion content in the water.

The water treated as described above is therefore optionally adjusted to a defined ion content by adding alkali and / or alkaline earth ions in the form of salts, for example Na salts, for example NaCl or alkaline earth metal salts such as Mg salts, for example MgCl ₂ .

The washing process is preferably carried out by applying the selected washing liquid by means of one or more nozzle bars, the pressure and angle of the washing liquid hitting the coating preferably being adjustable.

The excess water on the polymer coating is squeezed, wiped, dried, removed by suitable devices, such as squeezing devices, drying devices, air doctor blades, or suction units, and fed into a recycling circuit.

If appropriate, a catalyst can additionally be added to accelerate the reaction, for example a Ziegler-Natta catalyst or a Pt catalyst, in which case the amount of initiator and / or catalyst added may then be less.

Depending on the use, the electrically conductive polymer layers can each have a thickness of 0.1-50 μm, preferably 0.5-10 μm. For certain uses, thinner layers of 0.001 - 50 μm, preferably 0.05 - 10 μm, can easily be produced. Furthermore, these polymeric layers are extremely conductive. The stretchability of the layer can be variably controlled depending on the polymerization process.

The electrically conductive polymer layers are generally temperature-resistant; temperature resistances from -40 ° to> 100 ° C can be achieved if necessary.

If desired, a transparency of> 80% can be achieved with the electrically conductive polymer layers.

The electrically conductive polymers can also be pigmented, all known pigments being suitable. If the transparency is not to be significantly influenced, however, strongly covering or coloring pigments such as carbon black or graphite are not suitable.

The proportion of pigments in the solid can be up to 40%.

If necessary, the carrier material can be treated beforehand with an adhesion promoter to improve the adhesion of the conductive polymer used. In general, however, especially when using the in situ polymerization of the monomers or prepolymers, the adhesion of the electrically conductive polymers to all carrier substrates is more than satisfactory.

The non-metallic conductive layer used is, for example, a dispersion or solution pigmented with carbon black, graphite, amorphous or crystalline ceramic pigments such as ITO, ATO ₁ FTO and the like in ethylene acrylate copolymer, nitrocellulose, PVB, PA, acrylate or PVC or their copolymers. The pigment content can be up to 90%, if necessary the binder content can be 20-70%.

Suitable metallic conductive layers are, for example, paints or lacquers with metal pigments (for example copper, aluminum, silver, gold, iron, chromium and the like), metal alloys such as copper-zinc or copper-aluminum.

Furthermore, doped or undoped semiconductors such as silicon, germanium or ion conductors such as amorphous or crystalline metal oxides or metal sulfides can also be used as additives. Furthermore, polar or partially polar compounds such as surfactants or non-polar compounds such as silicone additives or hygroscopic or non-hygroscopic salts can be used or added to adjust the electrical properties of the layer.

The electrically conductive layer can be applied in any known conventional manner, for example by spin coating, brushing on, vapor deposition, by printing, (gravure printing, flexographic printing, screen printing, offset printing, digital printing and the like) by spraying, sputtering or roller application techniques.

The electrically conductive layer can be applied over the entire surface or partially on one or both sides of the carrier substrate.

The partial electrically conductive layer can be applied in the form of characters and patterns, flat or line-shaped, wavy or zigzag-shaped and similar or analog structures, such as guilloches, along and / or transversely to the machine direction of the substrate.

Linear or analog structures have a conductivity directed in a preferred direction in accordance with the orientation of the structures. In addition, these structures ensure additional security against destruction by transverse cracks in this layer and, if necessary, above and / or below it, since these are prevented from tearing at the gaps. If such an electrically conductive layer is protected by an additional layer, for example a lacquer layer or by lamination, the spaces or recesses ensure improved sealing of the conductive layer.

These structures may also represent 2-dimensional coding.

In one embodiment, for example, line-wave-shaped or zigzag-shaped structures or guilioches for increasing the line cross-section can be connected via cross-connections, which can have different widths or shapes and, if appropriate, can also be arranged at different angles to the basic structure.

The widths of the lines, waves or zigzag structures or guilioches can be, for example, 0.05-10 mm, preferably 0.1-0.3 mm, those of the cross connections 0.05 to 100 mm, preferably 1 to 10 mm.

Depending on the type of electrically conductive layer, the partial application of the electrically conductive layer can be carried out in any known conventional manner, for example by partial spin coating, brushing on, vapor deposition, by printing, (gravure printing, flexographic printing, screen printing, offset printing, digital printing and the like) Spraying, sputtering or roller application techniques are carried out or, for example in the case of metallic electrically conductive layers, by known demetallization processes using an etchant or preferably a soluble wash color.

In a first step, a paint application which is soluble in a solvent is preferably applied to one or both sides of the carrier substrate, which has already been coated, in a second step this layer is treated by means of an inline plasma, corona or flame process and in one third step, a layer of a material to be structured is applied, which layer can consist of metals, metal compounds or alloys, whereupon in a fourth step the paint application is removed by means of a solvent, optionally combined with a mechanical action.

The color application can be carried out by any method, for example gravure printing, flexographic printing, screen printing, digital printing and the like. The color or the color lacquer used is soluble in a solvent, preferably in water, but a color soluble in any solvent, for example in alcohol, esters and the like, can also be used. The color or the colored lacquer can be conventional compositions based on natural or artificial macromolecules. The soluble color can be pigmented or unpigmented. All known pigments can be used as pigments. TiO ₂ , ZnS, kaolin and the like are particularly suitable.

The printed carrier substrate is then treated by means of an inline plasma (low pressure or atmospheric plasma), corona or flame process. High-energy plasma, for example Ar or Ar / O2 plasma, cleans the surface of toning residues from the printing inks. The necessary sharp delimitation of the contours of the cutouts, which is necessary for the necessary precision of the coding, is achieved. At the same time, the surface is activated. Terminal polar groups are created on the surface. This improves the adhesion of metals and the like to the surface.

If necessary, a thin metal or metal oxide layer can be applied as an adhesion promoter, for example by sputtering or vapor deposition, simultaneously with the application of the plasma or corona or flame treatment. Cr, Al, Ag, Ti, Cu, TiO ₂ , Si oxides or chromium oxides are particularly suitable. This adhesive layer generally has a thickness of 0.1 nm - 5 nm, preferably 0.2 nm - 2 nm, particularly preferably 0.2 to 1 nm.

As a result, the adhesion of the structured functional layer applied partially or over the entire surface is further improved. This is a prerequisite for the creation of functional layers with high precision and good adhesion.

The metallic conductive layer is then applied. This layer consists of a metal, a metal compound or an alloy. Layers of Al, Cu ₁ Fe ₁ Ag, Au, Cr, Ni, Zn and the like are suitable as the metal layer. Examples of suitable metal compounds are oxides or sulfides of metals, in particular TiO ₂ , Cr oxides, ZnS, ITO, ATO, FTO, ZnO, Al ₂ O ₃ or silicon oxides. Suitable alloys are, for example, Cu-Al alloys, Cu-Zn alloys and the like.

This layer can be applied by known methods, for example by vapor deposition, sputtering, printing (gravure, flexographic, screen, digital printing and the like), spraying, electroplating and the like. The thickness of the functional layer is 0.001 to 50 μm, preferably 0.1 to 20 μm.

The paint layer is then removed using a suitable solvent which is matched to the composition of the paint layer. The paint application is preferably water-soluble. If necessary, the detachment can be supported by mechanical action.

In order to further improve the dissolving of the covered color layer, a thin pigmented color layer or a pure pigment layer can also be applied over the entire surface or in register, the thickness of this layer being approximately 0.01-5 μm. By detaching the paint application with the areas of the functional layer located above the paint application, the desired partial structure is obtained.

The non-continuous metallic or metallic-appearing or reflective coating has recesses in the form of patterns, characters, geometric figures, lines, guilloches and the like, the recesses being surrounded by the non-continuous metallic or metallic-appearing layer. The non-continuous metallic or metallic appearing or reflective coating does not form a recurring pattern in the viewing section.

For example, the metallic or metallic appearing or reflective coating around the contours of the recesses in the form of patterns, characters, geometric figures, lines, guilloches and the like can be applied in a defined width and height without a continuous connection to a metallic surrounding an adjacent contour or to have a metallic or reflective coating. The gaps can be completely free of a metallic or metallic-appearing or reflective coating, or the intermediate metallic or metallic-appearing or reflective coating, for example in the form of a grid, a code, in the form of guilloches, lines, strips and the like ,

The metallic or metallic-appearing or reflective coating can optionally be arranged above and / or below the conductive coating.

Metallic coatings mean both metal coatings and coatings with metal compounds. For example, layers of Al, Cu, Fe, Ag, Au, Cr, Ni, Zn and the like are suitable as metallic coatings. Examples of suitable metal compounds are oxides or sulfides of metals, in particular TiO ₂ , Cr oxides, ZnS ₁ ITO, ATO ₁ FTO, ZnO, Al ₂ O ₃ or silicon oxides. Suitable alloys are, for example, Cu-Al alloys, Cu-Zn alloys and the like.

The non-continuous metallic coatings can be produced either by printing a printing ink containing metal pigments in any known printing process, or by vapor deposition, sputtering or deposition. Metallization and optionally subsequent partial demetallization can be applied by means of etching techniques or using a previous soluble paint application as already described and the like.

Metallic-appearing or reflective coatings are understood to mean coatings that reflect electromagnetic waves, preferably in the visible range, for example pigments, paints, glass or ceramic coatings, plastic pigments or metallic effect paints. Metal effect paints are paints or varnishes, for example: based on doped or undoped semiconductor pigments, preferably in the form of platelets. Examples of such pigments are, for example, silicon, gallium or tellurium pigments which have a metallic luster. These pigments and the paint or varnish produced using these pigments have a metallic luster and therefore appear visually as a metallic shiny or reflective coating. Metallic effect paints are also understood here to mean paints or lacquers based on mica coated with belegtO ₂ or Fe.

The paints or varnishes made with semiconductor pigments are not conductive at room temperature. However, these metallic effect pigment colors show a PTC / NTC effect which serves as an additional security, authenticity or identification feature. The semiconductor pigments can be coated, for example, with magnetic and / or conductive and / or optically active layers, for example by vapor deposition, coating, chemical deposition and the like. For example, the semiconductor pigments with iron, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, copper, zinc, tin and the like or their compounds, alloys or salts (for example oxides or sulfides) or hard or soft magnetic steel grades can be used.

The described (optionally coated) semiconductor pigments can be used both in solvent-free and in solvent-containing systems, optionally with a binder as a paint or varnish.

Examples of suitable solvents are water or organic solvents, such as alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, aliphates or aromatics and the like.

Various natural or synthetic binders are suitable as binders, e.g. use natural oils and resins such as phenol formaldehyde, urea, melamine, ketone, aldehyde, epoxy, polyterpene resins. For example, polyesters, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl acetates, ethers, propionates and chlorides, poly (methyl) acrylates, polystyrenes, olefins, nitrocellulose, polyisocyanate, urethane systems and the like can be used as additional binders.

The security element can also optionally have a coloring layer, which can be arranged below and / or above the metallic or metallic-appearing or reflecting layer and / or above and / or below the conductive layer, the coloring layer at least in that area which is defined by the recesses in the metallic or metallic-appearing or reflecting layer, is not present over the entire surface. This creates an additional barrier for counterfeiting, since it is difficult to exactly imitate the structure that is not all over the surface, in particular in addition to the other properties.

In the area of the cutouts, the coloring layer can be in the form of patterns, characters, geometric figures, lines, guilloches in the form of a grid and the like.

The coloring layer can, for example, be present within the recesses essentially following the contour of the recess at a defined distance. Furthermore, the coloring layer can be present in the form of a grid or in the form of lines, optionally also with a varying width, in the semitone or in the full tone in the region of the cutouts. Outside the defined cutouts, the coloring layer can be present at least partially over the entire surface. The arrangement and design of the coloring layer can also take the form of a code (visually recognizable under certain conditions).

The recesses can also be present in register with the other layers with defined properties.

If necessary, the rasters or lines, patterns and the like of the coloring layer can also be multicolored.

The optical properties of the layer are determined by visible dyes or pigments, luminescent dyes or pigments which fluoresce or phosphoresce in the visible, in the UV range or in the IR range, through TiO ₂ , ZnS, kaolin, ATO, FTO, aluminum , Chromium and silicon oxides or, for example, organic pigments such as phthalocyanine blue, indolide yellow, dioxazine violet and the like, are adjusted by effect pigments such as liquid crystals, pearlescent, bronzes and / or multilayer color change pigments and / or heat-sensitive colors or pigments. These can be used in all possible combinations. In addition, these pigments can also be used individually or in combination with other dyes and / or pigments. Furthermore, the security elements according to the invention can also have optically effective structures, for example surface reliefs, diffraction gratings or holograms. These optically effective structures can also be present partially or over the entire area in the region of the cutouts defined by the metallic or metallic-looking feed.

The optically active structures can be produced in any known manner. However, these diffraction-effective structures are preferably obtained by coating the carrier substrate, which may already have one or more of the layers described, with a radiation-curable lacquer, which is precured to the gel point by excitation with radiation of a defined wavelength, and simultaneous molding of the surface structure, whereupon the further Curing (main curing) of the radiation-curable lacquer is carried out by excitation of radiation of a wavelength different from that of the pre-curing step, which is followed by post-curing if necessary.

The radiation-curable lacquer can, for example, be a radiation-curable lacquer system based on a polyester, an epoxy or polyurethane system which contains 2 or more different photoinitiators which are known to the person skilled in the art and which can initiate curing of the lacquer system to different extents at different wavelengths. For example, one photoinitiator can be activated at a wavelength of 200 to 400 nm, the second photoinitiator can then be activated at a wavelength of 370 to 600 nm. Sufficient difference should be maintained between the activation wavelengths of the two photoinitiators so that the second photoinitiator is not excited too strongly while the first photoinitiator is activated. The range in which the second photoinitiator is excited should be in the transmission wavelength range of the carrier substrate used. Electron radiation can also be used for the main curing (activation of the second photoinitiator).

A water-dilutable lacquer can also be used as the radiation-curable lacquer. Polyester-based paint systems are preferred.

The surface structure, i.e. the diffraction, diffraction or relief structure, is molded, for example, at a controlled temperature using a matrix or using an embossing mold in the radiation-curable lacquer layer, which was pre-cured to the gel point by activation of the first photoinitiator and at the time of the impression at this stage.

If a water-thinnable radiation-curable lacquer is used, pre-drying may be carried out beforehand, for example using IR emitters.

The layer thickness of the radiation-curable lacquer applied can vary depending on the requirements of the end product and the thickness of the substrate and is generally between 0.5 and 50 μm, preferably between 2 and 10 μm, particularly preferably between 2 and 5 μm.

The surface structure is molded to register with the coating of the carrier substrate, whereby a tolerance of +/- 0.5 mm can be maintained. This is achieved through register control

The embossing shape can be transparent, it can be a welded, glued, soldered or seamless metal sleeve or plastic sleeve. Nickel sleeves are preferably used. In order to obtain an accurate embossing of the surface structure, it is advisable to mount the embossing tool on a temperature-controlled pneumatic and flow-cooled or heated clamping cylinder. The carrier substrate is in contact with the temperature-controlled

Brought clamping cylinder, the surface structure is preferably embossed only when the carrier substrate coated with the radiation-curable lacquer is in contact with the cylinder.

The process parameters, such as pressure and in particular temperature, are checked precisely in order to be too fast or too slow

Avoid changing the state of the paint layer.

The UV lacquer is then cured and then one

Post-curing.

Both the metallic conductive layer and the metallic or metallic appearing coating can be used as the reflective layer for the optically active structures. It is also possible to use a high refractive index layer as the reflection layer.

Furthermore, the security features according to the invention can additionally have a partial layer with magnetic properties, the magnetic properties being constant or varying.

The layer with magnetic properties can optionally on one or both sides of the carrier substrate above and / or below the conductive layer, and / or above the metallic or metallic-appearing layer and / or above and / or below the coloring layer and / or above and / or be located under the layer with diffractive structures.

All known magnetic pigment colors are suitable. Magnetic colors which are capable of producing a magnetic field with a high flux density are particularly suitable for the production of layers with variable magnetic properties. The measurable gradient of the magnetic flux is then generated by modulating the thickness of the magnetic layers. Magnetic pigment inks with pigments based on Fe oxides, such as Fe ₂ O ₃ or Fe ₃ O ₄ , iron, nickel, cobalt and their alloys, barium or cobalt ferrites, hard and soft magnetic iron and steel types in aqueous are particularly suitable or solvent-based dispersions. Examples of suitable solvents are i-propanol, ethyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, methoxypropanol and mixtures thereof.

The pigments are preferably incorporated in acrylate polymer dispersions with a molecular weight of 150,000 to 300,000, in acrylate urethane dispersions, acrylate styrene or PVC-containing dispersions or in solvent-containing dispersions of this type.

Magnetic inks with pigments based on Cr / Ni steel are particularly suitable. In contrast to the conventional magnetic colors, which appear black, brown or gray, these magnetic colors have a silvery appearance and at the same time have the required magnetic properties described above.

This makes it possible to produce the shiny metallic appearance desired or required for many applications in one step by printing these magnetic inks. Overprinting or coating with metallic or metal layers to produce the desired appearance is therefore not necessary, but can be done without problems, for example, for introducing further identification features.

Such described magnetic colors enable the necessary gradients of the magnetic flux to be generated over small changes in layer thickness.

The optionally already coated carrier substrate is preferably printed using a laser-exposed printing cylinder or a printing plate, preferably using the gravure printing process, the printing tool (cylinder or printing plate) being designed such that the coded magnetic Layer can be printed simultaneously with the characters, patterns, letters, geometric figures, lines, guilloches and the like to be imaged.

Such a cylinder usable for printing an encoded magnetic layer can be manufactured as described below.

A cylinder blank that is suitable for gravure printing is provided with a copper layer that is at least 80 μm thick, for example in a known galvanic process, depending on the material of the blank, for example aluminum, iron, etc., if appropriate an adhesion promoter layer, for example made of nickel, being applied beforehand can. The thickness of the copper layer is at least 80 μm, usually 100 to 1500 μm, preferably 250 to 500 μm.

The cylinder blank is turned to the exact circumference and then ground to the appropriate roughness. The roughness value Ra is preferably 0.03-2.0, particularly preferably 0.05-1.5, in particular 0.06-1.2.

Subsequently, on a side of a engraving machine, for example a Hell or Ohio type engraving machine, a register cross in a defined size, for example 5x5 mm, thickness 0.2 mm, is engraved.

The cylinder prepared in this way is coated with a commercially available photoresist, for example LD 100 from Think. The thickness of this coating is about 3 - 5 μm.

The cylinder is then optionally provided with an overcoat with a layer thickness of 1-5 μm, for example with OC-40 from the above-mentioned company or with an analogous, similar, commercially available composition. The cylinder is then exposed, for example using an Ar / Ne laser. To control the zero point and the north impulse, the reference point is determined on the ThinkLaser with the help of optics and a camera (CCD camera).

The parts required as a protective layer are exposed. The laser beam usually has a tool width of 5 μm, which corresponds to a resolution of 40,000 dots / mm ² .

The exposed cylinder is then developed, for example in a sodium carbonate solution (0.5% solution), usually followed by a cleaning process with water, after which the cylinder is dried

The exposed and developed cylinder is then etched to the first desired depth with a CuCb solution, or the thickness of the copper layer on the surface is reduced accordingly using a known galvanic process.

The first photoresist layer is then removed, whereupon a new photoresist is applied, as described above, and another

Exposure takes place and then the etching or galvanic

Copper removal to the desired second depth.

In this way, different depths on the cylinder or

Printing tool can be manufactured. The process described can be repeated until one encounters the adhesion promoter layer, if necessary

For example, depending on the desired structures and the desired magnetic coding, the first depth is 10-150 μm, preferably 12-80 μm, particularly preferably 50-60 μm, for the second depth 10-150 μm, preferably 12-80 μm, 30-40 μm particularly preferred.

Depending on the geometry and arrangement of the recesses, either the greatest depth or the smallest etching depth is created in the first step. The production of a printing plate is possible in an analogous manner.

A printing tool provided with a surface and depth-variable surface in this way is used to produce the security feature according to the invention. The depth modulation results in signal modulation when printing a corresponding magnetic printing ink, as a result of which a layer with variable magnetic properties and also structures in the form of patterns, characters, lines and the like can be produced in one operation.

Such variable magnetic structures are preferred, although a magnetic coded layer is not located exclusively in the edge region of the carrier substrate or the film material or security element.

Furthermore, the security elements according to the invention can be provided with a protective lacquer layer on one or both sides. The protective lacquer can be pigmented or unpigmented, with all known pigments or dyes, for example TiO ₂ , ZnS, kaolin, ATO, FTO, aluminum, chromium and silicon oxides or, for example, organic pigments such as phthalocyanine blue, indolidine yellow, dioxazine violet and the like as pigments can be used. Furthermore, luminescent dyes or pigments which fluoresce or phosphoresce in the visible, UV or IR range, effect pigments such as liquid crystals, pearlescent, bronzes and / or multilayer color change pigments and heat-sensitive colors or pigments can be added. These can be used in all possible combinations. In addition, phosphorescent pigments can also be used alone or in combination with other dyes and / or pigments.

Furthermore, the security element according to the invention can be provided on one or both sides with a hot or cold seal adhesive or a self-adhesive coating for application to or for embedding in a substrate. Furthermore, the security element according to the invention can be laminated with one or more carrier substrates, which optionally have functional and / or decorative layers, optionally using a laminating adhesive

Examples of security features according to the invention are shown in FIGS. 1-5.

1 is the carrier substrate, 2a is a polymeric conductive layer, 2b is a metallic conductive layer, 3 is a metallic or metallic-appearing layer with recesses 4, 5 is a coloring layer, 6 is a layer with magnetic properties, 7 is a layer with diffractive structures, 8 a protective lacquer layer, 9 an adhesive layer, 9a a laminating adhesive layer.

The security elements or the film material, if appropriate, are therefore suitable as security features in data carriers, in particular value documents such as ID cards, cards, banknotes or labels, seals and the like, but also as packaging material, for example in the pharmaceutical, electronics and / or food industry, for example in the form of blister films, folding boxes, covers, film packaging and the like.

For use as security features, the substrates or film materials are preferably in strips or threads or _. Patches cut, the width of the strips or threads preferably being 0.05-10 mm and the patches preferably having average widths or lengths of 0.3-20 mm.

For use in or on packaging, the film material is preferably cut into strips, tapes, threads or patches, the Width of the threads, strips or tapes is preferably 0.05-50 mm and the patches preferably have average widths and lengths of 0.5-200 mm.

A corresponding security thread or strip can also be used as edge reinforcement of packaging, value documents and the like in the area of the edges, but also, for example, as a longitudinal or transverse reinforcement in the packaging or in the value document, with a plurality of threads or strips at a defined distance from one another can be provided.

Claims

claims:

1) Security elements consisting of a carrier substrate to which one or more functional security features are applied, characterized in that the carrier substrate on one and / or both sides with a full-surface or partial conductive coating and / or a metallic or metallic-appearing or reflecting coating, the recesses in the form of patterns, characters, geometric figures, lines, guilloches and the like, the recesses being surrounded by the non-continuous metallic or metallic-appearing or reflective layer, the non-continuous metallic or metallic-appearing or reflective coating not having any recurring patterns in the Has viewing area, is provided and the metallic or metallic appearing or reflective coating can be arranged above and / or below the conductive coating.

2) Security elements according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier substrate has a coloring layer which is not applied over the entire surface, at least in the region of the recesses defined by the metallic or metallic appearing or reflective coating.

3) Security elements according to claim 2, characterized in that the coloring layer is situated above and / or below the conductive and / or above and / or below the metallic or metallic appearing or reflecting layer. 4) Security elements according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the carrier substrate has an optically effective structure.

5) Security elements according to claim 4, characterized in that the optically effective structure is present over the entire surface or partially in the area of the recesses and / or in the area of the metallic or metallic-appearing or reflective coating.

6) Security elements according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the carrier substrate additionally has a layer with constant or variable magnetic properties.

7) Security elements according to claim 6, characterized in that the layer with magnetic properties above and / or below the conductive layer, and / or above and / or below the metallic or metallic-appearing or reflecting layer and / or above and / or below the coloring and / or below and / or above the optically active layer.

8) Security elements according to one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the security element is provided on one or both sides with a protective lacquer layer.

9) Security elements according to claim 8, characterized in that the protective lacquer layer is pigmented.

10) Security element according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the security element is laminated with one or more carrier substrate (s), which / which optionally has / have functional and / or decorative layers. 11) Security element according to claim 10, characterized in that the laminating adhesive is pigmented.

12) Security elements according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the security element is provided on one or both sides with a hot or cold seal adhesive or a self-adhesive coating.

13) Security elements according to claim 12, characterized in that the hot or cold seal adhesive or the self-adhesive coating is applied over the entire surface or partially or in a structured manner.

14) Security elements according to claim 13, characterized in that the hot or cold seal adhesive or the self-adhesive coating is pigmented.

15) Foil material consisting of a carrier substrate to which one or more functional security features are applied, characterized in that the carrier substrate has one or both sides with a full or partial conductive coating and / or a metallic or metallic appearing or reflecting coating, the cutouts in the form of patterns, characters, geometric figures, lines, guilloches and the like, the recesses being surrounded by the non-continuous metallic or metallic-appearing or reflective layer, the non-continuous metallic or metallic appearing or reflective coating having no recurring patterns , is provided and the metallic or metallic-appearing or reflective coating can be arranged above and / or below the conductive coating. 16) Foil material according to claim 15, characterized in that the carrier substrate has a coloring layer which is not applied over the entire surface, at least in the region of the recesses defined by the metallic or metallic appearing or reflective coating.

17) Foil material according to claim 16, characterized in that the coloring layer is located above and / or below the conductive and / or above and / or below the metallic or metallic appearing or reflecting layer.

18) Foil material according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the carrier substrate has an optically effective structure.

19) Foil material according to claim 18, characterized in that the optically active structure is present over the entire surface or partially in the region of the cutouts and / or in the region of the metallic or the metallic-appearing or reflective coating.

20) Foil material according to one of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that the carrier substrate additionally has a layer with constant or variable magnetic properties.

21) Foil material according to claim 20, characterized in that the layer with magnetic properties above and / or below the conductive layer, and / or above and / or below the metallic or metallic-appearing or reflecting layer and / or above and / or below the coloring and / or below and / or above the optically active layer. 22) Foil material according to one of claims 15-21, characterized in that the foil material is provided on one or both sides with a protective lacquer layer.

23) Film material according to claim 22, characterized in that the protective lacquer layer is pigmented.

24) Foil material according to one of claims 15-23, characterized in that the security element is laminated with one or more carrier substrate (s), which optionally have / have functional and / or decorative layers.

25) film material according to claim 24, characterized in that the laminating adhesive is pigmented.

26) Foil material according to one of claims 15 to 25, characterized in that the security element is provided on one or both sides with a hot or cold seal adhesive or a self-adhesive coating.

27) Film material according to claim 26, characterized in that the hot or cold seal adhesive or the self-adhesive coating is applied over the entire surface or partially or in a structured manner.

28) Film material according to claim 27, characterized in that the hot or cold seal adhesive or the self-adhesive coating is pigmented.

29) Use of the security elements according to one of claims 1 to 14, possibly after assembly as security features in data carriers, in particular value documents such as ID cards, cards, banknotes or labels, seals on or as packaging material, for example in the pharmaceutical, electronics and / or food industry, for example in the form of blister films, folding boxes, covers, film packaging.

30) Use of the film material according to one of claims 15 to 28, optionally after assembly as security elements in data carriers, in particular value documents such as ID cards, cards, banknotes or labels, seals on or as packaging material, for example in the pharmaceutical, electronics and / or food industry, for example in the form of blister films, folding boxes, covers, film packaging.

31) documents of value having a security feature according to one of claims 1 to 14.

32) Securities which have at least one security feature according to one of claims 1 to 14, fully or partially embedded in the form of a thread, a window thread or a patch or at least partially applied to one or both surfaces.

33) packaging having a security feature according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

34) Use of the security elements or film materials assembled as threads or strips according to one of claims 1-14 or 15-28 as edge reinforcement or longitudinal or transverse reinforcement in documents of value or packaging.