AT501320B1 - PASSIVE ACTIVE SAFETY FEATURE - Google Patents

Description

2 AT 501 320 B1

The invention relates to a passive security feature for application to value documents, such as banknotes, identity documents and the like, which is activated only after the application.

Security documents, such as banknotes, identification papers and the like, are provided with security features that have different functional features in order to protect against counterfeiting and counterfeiting. Thus, for example, hologram strips or patches, security elements with conductive and / or magnetic properties, with optical properties (color shift effect, luminescence properties) and the like are applied to the value document.

These security elements are already active before application to the value document and can thus be applied by imitators as a valid security element on fake documents.

Furthermore, it is known to apply printing technology, for example, line grids on documents of value, which are provided with hidden information that can be read by means of lenses, filters or the like, but can not be copied. DE 195 41 064 A1 discloses a data carrier with an optically variable element, which has an embossed structure and a coating contrasting with the surface of the data carrier.

Similarly, DE 101 58 403 A1 discloses a data carrier with an optically variable security element, wherein the security element has a linear embossing, which are visible on the back of the data carrier. EP 0 906 834 A2 describes a numbered data carrier with a serial number, wherein the serial number is applied either by two different numbering machines and / or in different colors. The serial number is printed directly on the data medium.

The object of the invention was to provide a security element which is suitable only by register and register accurate application with high accuracy to the base material of the document of value for authenticity verification and thus becomes a security feature.

The invention therefore relates to a security element for application to a value document, characterized in that the security element has printed or metallized layers and / or structures that are compatible with the printed or metallized layers and / or structures on the base material of the document of value and by application is activated on the base material of the value document or by embedding it completely or partially in the base material of the value document as a security feature by covering the layers.

This creates a clear, unmistakable relation between the security element and the value document. The security feature is activated only by the register- and register-accurate application, only in combination of the layers and / or structures on the base material of the value document and the security element is the authenticity of the value document recognizable. Furthermore, thereby the requirements for the security measures during transport of the security features lower because the security feature alone is virtually worthless for imitators and counterfeiters.

The security element has layers and / or structures, for example line grids or fine structures.

These rasters and / or structures can be in the form of characters, lines, guilloches, curves, 3 AT 501 320 B1

Waves, patterns, geometric figures and the like, optionally in the form of a code present.

The rasters and / or structures have optical properties (for example luminescences, reflective properties, optically active properties, diffraction structures, optically active filters and the like), and / or electrically conductive and / or magnetic properties.

Such structures can be made for example by printing, metallizing and demetallizing, by partial vapor deposition of the corresponding layer or structure onto a carrier substrate.

The security feature with the layers and / or structures and information present thereon is applied to the base material of the value document in register and registration.

The partial layers, partial structures or partial information present on the security feature can only form the desired complete information by covering with the partial layers, partial structures or partial information present on the base material of the valuable document.

However, new effects can also be created by combination or superposition of the layers and / or structures or information present on the security feature and the base material of the value document.

Thus, for example, a corresponding security feature can also be applied to the base material of the value document, and thus activated, whereupon an additional identification feature is generated by subsequent overprinting of security feature and base material of the value document with further information. In this case, the overprinting of the security feature can take place over the entire area or partially, leaving certain areas which contain an identification feature or parts of an identification feature from the structures present on the security feature and the base material of the value document.

In addition to the layers and / or structures that become the active security feature during register and register-accurate application to the base material of the value document, both the security element and the base material of the value document can have additional functional features or represent reference features for the activatable feature.

The security element, which is applied to the base material of the value document and / or embedded in the base material of the value document, is produced by applying the desired rasters, layers, structures or functional features to a carrier substrate.

Carrier substrates are, for example, carrier films, preferably flexible transparent plastic films, for example of PI, PP, MOPP, PE, PPS, PEEK, PEK, PEI, PAEK, LCP, PEN, PBT, 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, more preferably 5 to 50 μm.

Furthermore, metal foils, for example Al, Cu, Sn, Ni, Fe or stainless steel foils having a thickness of 5 to 200 μm, preferably 10 to 80 μm, particularly preferably 20 to 50 μm, may also serve as the carrier substrate. The films can also be surface-treated, coated or laminated, for example, with plastics or painted. 4 AT 501 320 B1

Furthermore, paper or composites with paper, for example composites with plastics having a weight per unit area of 20 to 500 g / m 2, preferably 40 to 200 g / m 2, may be used as the carrier substrates.

Furthermore, woven or nonwovens, such as continuous fiber webs, staple fiber webs and the like, which may optionally be needled and / or calendered, can be used as the carrier substrates. Preferably such fabrics or webs of plastics, such as PP, PET, PA, PPS and the like, but it can also be woven or nonwovens made of natural, optionally treated fibers, such as viscose fibers are used. The webs or fabrics used have a basis weight of about 20 g / m2 to 500 g / m2. If necessary, the nonwovens or fabrics must be surface-treated.

The corresponding structures and information are then applied to this carrier substrate.

The application of these features may be accomplished in any known conventional manner, for example by spin-coating, brushing, vapor deposition, by printing (gravure, flexo, screen, offset, digital and the like) by spray, sputtering or roller application techniques.

In this case, for example, a transfer lacquer layer may be present on the carrier substrate, as a result of which the applied features may be transferable.

Likewise, the corresponding features are applied to the base material of the value document at a certain defined location.

The base material of the value document can be made of cellulose-free, cellulose-containing paper, cotton paper, paper with thermochromic or chemically activatable coating, paper with watermarks, these papers also connected with plastics or metal foils, plastics, composites with plastics, metal foils or composites of metal foils with plastics and / or paper and the like. The thickness of the value document can be 6-1000 pm.

The described features can be applied to the base material of the value document in any known printing process, for example by gravure printing, indirect gravure, gravure, intaglio printing, embossing, blind embossing, offset printing, flexographic printing, letterpress printing, digital printing, vapor deposition, sputtering, metallizing and possibly partial demetallization and the like are applied.

In one embodiment, the corresponding layers and / or structures can be applied to the security element as well as to the base material of the value document in a defined area, the security element being in the form of a thread, strip, mottled fiber, planchettes, patches or other formats, for example can be present on a full-surface covering the value document laminate film (full-surface or partial).

Thus, electrically conductive and / or magnetic layers and / or structures can again be applied in defined areas on the security element and on the base material of the value document. By registering and registering the application of the layers and / or structures present on the security element to the layers and / or structures present on the base material of the document of value, either a corresponding machine recognizable or measurable property can be generated or by overlaying the two detectable measurable features Properties a defined size or intensity or coding are generated. Only then does the overlay of the two elements, the layer and / or structure present on the base material of the value document and the layer and / or structure present on the security feature then produce, for example, a closed magnetic or electrically conductive path, for example a resonant circuit by combination of antenna and capacitor, or electromagnetic interference or coding.

As electrically conductive layers, for example metallic or non-metallic or polymeric conductive layers can be used.

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

Furthermore, it is also possible to use doped or non-doped semiconductors, such as, for example, silicon, germanium or ionic conductors, such as amorphous or crystalline metal oxides or metal sulfides, as an additive. Furthermore, polar or partially polar compounds such as surfactants or nonpolar 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 application of, for example, by known, PVD or CVD methods, by sputtering, by known printing methods and the like, and by known D Demetallisierungsverfahren, for example, using an etchant or preferably a soluble wash color structured.

This electrically conductive metallic layer can be applied by known methods, for example by vapor deposition, sputtering, printing (gravure, flexo, screen, digital printing and the like), spraying, electroplating and the like, and by known demetalization methods, for example using an etchant or preferably be structured a soluble wash. The thickness of the functional layer is 0.001 to 50 μm, preferably 0.1 to 20 μm.

As a non-metallic conductive layer, for example, a carbon black, graphite, amorphous or crystalline ceramic pigments such as ITO, ATO, FTO and the like pigmented dispersion or solution in ethylene acrylate copolymer, nitrocellulose, PVB, PA, acrylate or PVC or copolymers thereof are used.

Optionally, known binders (for Intaglio or Offfsetfarben) can be added.

As electrically conductive polymeric layers, for example, polyacetylene, poly-p-phenylene, polypyrroles, polythiophenes, poly-p-phenylenevinylene, low molecular weight macrocyclic semiconductors, organopolysilanes, polysulfur nitride and / or polyanilines and / or their derivatives can be used. Polyaniline or polythiophenes are preferably used as electrically conductive polymers. It is particularly preferred to use polyethylene-dioxythiophene 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 mixture with an initiator and / or catalyst.

Baytron® P from H.C., for example, is commercially available as an electrically conductive polymer suspension. Strongly usable. Suitable dispersants are, for example, inert solvents, preferably aqueous solvents or alcohols, such as i-propanol. Optionally, matrix polymers, for example water-soluble polyesters, polyurethanes, polystyrenesulfonates, polyacrylates or ethylene-acrylate copolymers, may also be added to the polymer dispersions as matrix polymers.

For example, polyethylenedioxythiophene can be used with polystyrene sulfonate as the matrix polymer.

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

Thus, if ethylenedioxythiophene is used as monomer, for example Baytron® M or Baytron® M-V2 from H.C. Strong, and Fe (lll) toluenesulfonate, for example Baytron® C types, for example Baytron® CB-40 from Bayer, used as initiator and / or catalyst, is the polymer polyethylene dioxythiophene / toluenesulfonate (PEDT) present on the carrier substrate after the polymerization -TS). If higher layer thicknesses are justifiable, polyethylenedioxythiophene / polystyrenesulfonate can also be used.

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 applications, thinner layers of 0.001-50 μm, preferably 0.05-10 μm, are readily producible.

Furthermore, these polymeric layers are excellent in conductivity. The extensibility of the layer can be variably controlled depending on the polymerization process.

The electrically conductive polymeric layers are generally temperature-resistant, it may possibly temperature resistances of -40 ° to> 100 ° C can be achieved.

If desired, the transparency of > 80% can be achieved.

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

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

The magnetic properties of the respective layer on the security feature or the base material of the value document can be generated for example with known magnetic pigment colors. Magnetic inks which are capable of inducing or guiding a magnetic field with high flux density are particularly suitable for producing layers with optionally variable magnetic properties.

The measurable gradient of the magnetic flux is then generated, for example, by thickness modulation of the magnetic layers or by combination of different magnetic layers and substances.

Particularly suitable are magnetic pigment pigments 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 ferrite, hard and soft magnetic iron and steel grades in aqueous or solvent-containing 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 having a molecular weight of from 150,000 to 300,000, in acrylate-urethane dispersions, acrylate-styrene or PVC-containing dispersions or in solvent-containing dispersions of this type.

Particularly suitable are magnetic paints with pigments based on Cr / Ni steel. This 7 AT 501 320 B1

Magnetic inks, in contrast to the conventional magnetic inks that appear black, brown or gray, have a silvery appearance and at the same time have the required magnetic properties described above.

This makes it possible to produce the desired or required for many applications shiny metallic appearance in one operation already by printing these magnetic colors. Overprinting or coating with metallic or metal layers to produce the desired appearance is therefore not necessary, but can be done easily, for example, to introduce additional identification features.

Similarly, new optically active layers or structures can be produced by direct superimposition of the optically effective layer or structure present on the security element, or the respective sublayers or substructures can after the application or the embedding of the Add security elements in the value document to a new optically effective layer or structure.

Likewise, if appropriate, different features may for the time being be congruent on the security element or the base material of the security, so that one of the features is completely or partially covered. In tampering attempts, such as stretching, bleaching, etching, and the like, the previously-covered feature is either uncovered or a new feature is generated from the two features.

The optically active layers or structures can be prepared in any known manner. However, these diffraction-effective structures are preferably obtained by coating the carrier substrate, which optionally already has one or more of the described layers, with a radiation-curable lacquer which is pre-cured to the gel point by excitation with radiation of a defined wavelength, and simultaneous impression of the surface structure, whereupon the further Curing (main hardening) of the radiation-curable varnish is carried out by exciting radiation of a different wavelength to the pre-hardening step, whereupon optionally a postcuring takes place.

In an analogous manner, optical effects, for example color effects, color gradients or mixed colors, can be produced by appropriate superimposition or supplementation of the colored or luminescent layers respectively present on the security feature and on the base material of the value document.

The optical properties of the respective layer are visualized by visible dyes or pigments, luminescent dyes or pigments which fluoresce in the visible, in the UV region or in the IR region by TiO 2, ZnS, kaolin, ATO, FTO, aluminum , Chromium and silicon oxides or, for example, organic pigments such as phthalocyanine blue, i-indolidingelb, dioxazine violet and the like, by effect pigments, such as liquid crystals, pearlescent, bronzes and / or multilayer color change pigments and / or heat-sensitive inks or pigments. These can be used in all possible combinations. In addition, these pigments can also be used alone or in combination with other dyes and / or pigments.

Furthermore, for example, the described features can be present in coded form on both layers, whereby the desired readable code is formed only by the joining together of the two layers. For example, encapsulated dye constituents may be present on the value document and on the security element, respectively. When the two elements are combined, if appropriate under pressure and / or temperature, the corresponding optical effects, for example luminescences such as fluorescences or phosphorescence or color effects or defined color gradations or mixed colors, are produced by reaction of the two dye constituents. 8 AT 501 320 B1

Thus, for example, white fluorescence can be generated by applying a red fluorescence to the base material of the value document, to the registration and registration the security feature, which has a blue fluorescence in the corresponding areas, and then register and register accurate overprinting with a green fluorescent color or a Paint. However, there is also the possibility of partially not exactly accurate to overprinting, which then creates a fluorescent Moiree effect in the not exactly overprinted areas.

In a similar way luminescences can be generated with different persistence time.

Furthermore, layers with different proportions of long-wave and short-wave excitable colors may be present on the security feature and on the base material of the value document, with a characteristic effect occurring when excited in the entire wavelength range.

In order to produce further counterfeit-proof identification features, an electromagnetic wave-reflecting layer and a transparent, for example polymeric, oxidic or sulfidic spacer layer can be applied to the base material of the value document. On the security feature can then be applied a layer of metallic clusters. By register-accurate combination of security feature and base material of the value document then appears according to the key / lock principle, a characteristic color effect.

It is likewise possible in each case in or on the surface of the two elements (security element and base material of the value document) to provide corresponding parts of DNA codes which, after joining the two elements according to the key-lock principle, have a unique, unique coding, e.g. in the form of characteristic fluorescences.

Likewise, the security element can have a layer or structure which reacts when applied or embedded in the value document or when producing the base material of the value document with a layer or structure located on the base material and only then becomes recognizable.

The described features can be generated individually or combined.

Furthermore, the security elements can be provided with a protective lacquer layer on one or both sides. The protective lacquer may be pigmented or unpigmented, using as pigments 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, i-indolidine yellow, dioxazine violet and the like can be. Furthermore, luminescent dyes or pigments which fluoresce or phosphoresce in the visible, in the UV range or in the IR range, effect pigments, such as liquid crystals, pearlescent, bronzes and / or multilayer color change pigments and heat-sensitive inks or pigments, may 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.

The application or the complete or partial embedding of the security element on or in the base material of the value document can be carried out in register, depending on the desired effect.

The register-accurate application is preferably carried out by means of a register-controlled method, wherein the existing on the base material of the value document register marks on

Claims (19)

9 AT 501 320 B1 the surface can be measured, the roll length can be adjusted accordingly and the security feature can be applied accurately. The register marks are positioned very precisely, the application can be carried out by means of an application machine, or, for example, during the application of patches, by x / y-controlled application punches, or an embossing head. The document of value can then be provided with a known coating to increase the circulation capability or a protective lacquer or a protective film. Furthermore, the security element according to the invention in the edge region of value documents can optionally be applied in registration with the layer or structure present on the value document and at the same time be used as edge reinforcement, whereby both a forgery-proof security feature is generated and the circulation capability of the value document is increased. 1. Security element for application to a document of value, characterized in that the security element has printed or metallized layers and / or structures that are compatible with the printed or metallized layers and / or structures on the base material of the document of value and by application to the Base material of the value document or by full or partial embedding in the base material of the value document is activated as a security feature by covering the layers. 2. Security element according to claim 1, characterized in that the application or the embedding on or in the base material of the value document register and register exactly. 3. Security element according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the information by overlaying, overprinting or supplementing the layers, structures or information on security element and the base material of the document of value is visually or mechanically recognizable. 4. Security element according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that by overlaying or supplementing the two electrically conductive properties having layers and / or structures defined machine-recognizable electrically conductive properties arise. 5. Security element according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that by overlaying or supplementing the two magnetic properties having structures defined machine-recognizable magnetic properties arise. 6. Security element according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that defined by superimposing or supplementing the two structures defined visually or machine recognizable optical properties or structures. 7. Security element according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that by superimposing or supplementing the two structures, in or on the surfaces of the base material and the value document, parts of a DNA encoding are provided, which after joining the base material with the Value document a unique coding eg in the form of characteristic fluorescences. 8. Security element according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that by overprinting the security element and the base material of the value document 1 0 AT 501 320 B1 after application of the security feature on the base material of the value document, a first or an additional identification feature is generated. 9. Security element according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it has a latent, by congruent application of different features, for the time being completely or partially covered feature that becomes recognizable only by manipulation attempts such as stretching, bleaching, etching or the like. 10. Security element according to one of claims 1 - 9, characterized in that the security element is provided on one or both sides with a protective lacquer layer. 11. Safety elements according to claim 10, characterized in that the protective lacquer layer is pigmented. 12. value document, characterized in that a security element according to one of claims 1 to 11 is applied to the base material value document. 13. value document, characterized in that in the document of value at least one security feature according to any one of claims 1-11 is partially or completely embedded. 14. Value document according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the security feature is applied at least in an edge region of the value document or at least partially embedded. 15. Document of value according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the security element and the base material is completely or partially overprinted after application of the security element to the base material of the value document for generating a first or additional identification feature with another layer or structure. 16. A method for producing security elements for application to or embedding in the base material of a value document, characterized in that on a security element printed or metallized structures are applied, which are compatible with the printed or metallized structures on the base material of the value document and after application to the base material of the value document is activated as a security feature by covering the layers, the hidden information being visually or mechanically recognizable. 17. A process for the production of security elements for application or embedding in the base material of a value document according to claim 16, characterized in that the application or embedding is carried out register and registration. 18. A method for application or embedding of security elements on or in a base material of a value document according to claim 16, characterized in that a register-controlled method is used, in which the existing on the base material of the value document register marks are measured over the area, the roll length adjusted accordingly and the security feature is accurately applied or embedded by means of an application machine, an application stamp or an embossing stamp. 19. Use of the security elements according to claims 1 to 11 for application to or at least partial embedding in a document of value. AT 501 320 B1 1 1 No drawing