A multi-layered pigment includes a metal core such as AlSiO.sub.2. A high refractive index layer such as TiO.sub.2 is applied by an aqueous organic two-phase process to and surrounding the metal core. The high refractive index layer has a thickness greater than 120 nm wherein the high refractive index layer is uniform and crack-free.

A particle including a core particle; and a vapor deposited colorant including an organic colored material that encapsulates the core particle. The particle can be a special effect pigment or a thin film interference pigment. Methods of making the particle are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a metal effect pigment including a metallic substrate in platelet form and a coating applied thereto, wherein the coating includes a spacer layer. The invention further relates to a process for production of and to the use of the metal effect pigment.

A color metallic pigment according to the present invention contains at least a metallic pigment, an amorphous silicon oxide film layer that is formed on the surface of the metallic pigment, a metal oxide layer that is formed on the surface of the amorphous silicon oxide film layer and contains a metal oxide other than silicon oxide, and metal particles that are formed on the surface of the metal oxide layer, wherein the metal particles are so formed as to directly cover a part of the metal oxide layer.

The invention relates to metallic effect pigments with coating, comprising a platelet-shaped substrate, where the coating comprises at least one hybrid inorganic/organic layer, the hybrid layer having at least partly an inorganic network that has one or more inorganic oxide components, and having at least one organic component, the organic component being at least partly an organic oligomer and/or polymer which is covalently bonded at least partly to the inorganic network via one or more organic network formers. The invention further relates to a method of producing these metallic effect pigments, and to their use.

A process of forming a multi-layered pigment includes the steps of: providing a metal core material; dispersing the metal core material in a first solvent and organic binder mixture; depositing a high refractive index material onto the metal core material; drying the deposited high refractive index and metal core material wherein the high refractive index layer is uniform and crack-free.

Metallic coatings containing metallic flakes with optical coatings are provided. The metallic flakes can be coated with multiple optical layers or a photonic crystal layer. The metallic flakes can also be coated with a pigment layer.

The present invention relates to a particularly effective protective coating for metallic objects, the coating method, and the special applications thereof. The particularly high protective effect is achieved by the adaptation of the inorganic fraction and the organic polymer fraction of the coating to the specific surface of the object. Further adjustments of the coating can be used for further optimization, for example of the protection properties or other product properties.

The present invention relates to colored effect pigments, in particular to those containing an organic color pigment layer, to a preparation method thereof and to the use of these pigments especially in a composition comprising the colored effect pigments.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a coloured effect pigment, comprising the steps of (a) preparing in an aqueous coating medium at least one layer of a hydroxyl-containing metal oxide on a substrate, thereby obtaining in the aqueous coating medium a first coloured pigment material CPM1 comprising the substrate coated with the hydroxyl-containing metal oxide, wherein the substrate is made of aluminium or aluminium alloy which optionally comprises at least one passivating layer, and wherein the hydroxyl-containing metal oxide is a hydroxyl-containing iron oxide or a hydroxyl-containing titanium oxide or a mixture thereof, (b) providing the first coloured pigment material CPM1 in a liquid post-treatment medium comprising one or more high boiling organic liquids, and (c) heating the liquid post-treatment medium to a temperature of at least 90 C. so as to convert the first coloured pigment material CPM1 to a second coloured pigment material CPM2.