Novel Particulate Production Processes to Create Unique Security Materials

摘要

Particles are frequently used to impart security features to high value items. These particles are typically produced by traditional methods, and therefore the security must be derived from the chemical composition of the particles rather than the particle production process. Here, we present new and difficult-to-reproduce particle production processes based on spray pyrolysis that can produce unique particles and features that are dependent on the use of these new-to-the-world processes and process trade secrets. This process has been utilized to make security materials ranging from spherical up-convertors to ink-jettable phosphors to unique composition infrared phosphors. Specifically a number of luminescent materials are described that exhibit unique luminescent characteristics that can be incorporated into security applications using machine-readable spectroscopic detection systems.