AT414227B - DATA CARRIER AND SAFETY ELEMENT WITH VISIBLY VISIBLE AND / OR MACHINE READABLE MANIPULATION NOTICE - Google Patents

Description

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AT 414 227 B

From WO 99/13157 security films for securities are known in which a metallic coating is applied to a translucent film, which is not the entire surface in the finished film, but has recesses that should be clearly visible in transmitted light. The production of these films takes place in that a carrier film is printed with a highly pigmented printing ink, wherein the inking is not carried out over the entire surface, the ink is dried to form a porous paint, then a metallic cover layer is applied and in a further step, the hochpigmentierte Printing ink is removed by washing with a solvent, optionally also under mechanical action. Thus, the io metallic cover layer is mitentfernt also in those areas in which the ink is removed, whereby the recognizable in transmitted light recesses are formed.

From DE 197 55 793 A1 and WO 99/28852 A1 multilayer security features are known which have various security functions for optical magnetic or electrical identification.

DE 197 46 998 A1 discloses a laser label predominantly for technical labels, such as nameplates, test labels and the like, having at least one plastic layer which is coated on one side with a self-adhesive composition, which is optionally covered with a release paper 20 or a release film. In the plastic layer an additive for optical, magnetic or electrical marking is incorporated. This marking is exposed by laser treatment or labeling and is then recognizable or measurable.

From DE 100 32 128 A1 a security paper with a multi-layer security element 25 is known, which has at least one visually testable optical effect and at least one electrical circuit, wherein the security element is at least partially present on the surface of the security paper and is thus connected to the paper that it can not be replaced without destruction. Although these features are relatively forgery-proof, mechanical manipulation can not necessarily be proven.

It is also known, in particular in multilayer constructions for such security features, to provide an intermediate layer which has a partially different adhesion to the substrate. This intermediate layer is provided with an adhesive layer and applied to the carrier. If one then tries to subtract the security feature from the ground, then this seemingly homogeneous intermediate layer is destroyed in a defined way due to the different areas of adhesion. Although the fractures are difficult to put together exactly, often a manipulation is not immediately obvious at first sight. 40

The different adhesion regions are produced, for example, by partial application of a release layer and / or an adhesion layer on the carrier substrate. The different adhesive areas often have defined shapes, for example in the form of patterns, characters, lines, letters, geometric figures and the like. 45

On closer inspection, although it is generally recognizable that the intermediate layer was destroyed, so that a manipulation has taken place, with very cautious and cautious approach, but the destruction is often not recognizable at first glance. It was therefore an object of the invention to provide a security feature in which mechanical manipulations can be detected not only visually but also, if appropriate, by machine.

The subject of the invention is therefore a security feature with one or more functional features, such as visually recognizable and / or machine-readable electrical, optical 3

AT 414 227 B and / or magnetic features characterized in that the security feature comprises an applied on a substrate interlayer with different adhesion areas, which has a visually recognizable and / or machine-readable electrical, optical and / or magnetic characteristic. 5

If the intermediate layer is destroyed by detachment, the intermediate layer and thus the machine-readable feature are damaged, as a result of which the electrical, optical or magnetic properties of the intermediate layer are irreversibly changed. This change is machine-readable and may also be detectable without contact. 10

For example, carrier foils are preferably flexible plastic foils, for example, PI, PP, MOPP, PE, PPS, PEEK, PEK, PEI, PSU, 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 8 to 200 μm, more preferably 12 to 50 μm. 15

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. 20

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. In addition, woven or nonwovens, such as continuous fiber webs, staple fiber webs and the like, which may optionally be needled 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 of natural, optionally treated fibers, such as viscose fiber webs are used. The woven fabrics or nonwovens used have a basis weight of about 20 g / m2 to 500 g / m2. Optionally, these fabrics or nonwovens may be surface treated.

Hologram films OVI films, if appropriate in combination with other security elements, can also be used as carrier substrates. 35

The different adhesive areas are produced by applying a release layer or an adhesive layer to the carrier substrate.

Suitable release layers are, in particular, known poorly adhering lacquer compositions, for example based on methacrylate. Furthermore, even very thinly applied oil layers, polyamide, polyethylene or fluoropolymer wax layers can be used as a release layer.

The release layer is partially applied to the carrier substrate. For the application of the release layer, it is possible to use any conventional printing method, preferably methods with which thinnest layers of from 0.01 to 50 μm can be applied precisely, for example spraying, vapor deposition, brushing, roller application methods, gravure, screen, offset and digital printing and the like. So on this release layer, the intermediate layer is now applied.

This intermediate layer has machine-readable features.

For example, an electrically conductive layer with characteristic electrical parameters, for example resistance, conductance, capacitance, inductance, total impedance, 4

AT 414 227 B are applied. These electrical parameters can now also be read without contact.

For adjusting electrical properties, graphite, carbon black, conductive organic or inorganic polymers, metal pigments (for example copper, aluminum, silver, gold, iron, chromium and the like), metal alloys such as copper-zinc or copper-aluminum or even amorphous or crystalline ceramic pigments such as ITO, ATO, FTO and the like may be added. Furthermore, it is also possible to use doped or non-doped semiconductors, such as, for example, silicon, germanium or doped or undoped polymeric semiconductors or ion conductors, as well as amorphous or crystalline metal oxides or metal sulfides as an additive. 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 the lacquer to adjust the electrical properties of the layer. 15

With the help of these systems, by combining them, electronic components such as diodes, resistors, transistors, or even complete circuits can be constructed.

As a layer having electrical properties, a partial metal layer may also be applied, wherein the partial application may be effected by means of an etching process (application of a full-area metal layer and subsequent partial removal by etching) or by means of a demetallization process.

When a demetallization process is used, a color soluble in a solvent (optionally in inverse coding form) is applied in a first step.

The application of the paint can be done by any method, for example by gravure printing, flexographic printing, screen printing, digital printing and the like. The ink or lacquer used is soluble in a solvent, preferably water, but it can also be a dye soluble in any solvent, for example in alcohol, esters and the like. The color or the colored lacquer can be customary compositions based on natural or artificial macromolecules. The soluble color may be pigmented or unpigmented. As pigments, all known pigments can be used. Particularly suitable are TiO 2, ZnS, kaolin and the like. 35

Subsequently, the printed carrier substrate is treated by means of an in-line plasma (low pressure or atmospheric plasma), corona or flame process. High-energy plasma, for example Ar or Ar / O 2 plasma, cleans the surface of toning residues of the printing inks. In this case, the necessary sharp delimitation of the contours of Aussparun-40 conditions, which is necessary for the necessary precision of coding is achieved. At the same time, the surface is activated. In this case, terminal polar groups are generated on the surface. This improves the adhesion of metals and the like to the surface.

To avoid Tonungsresten example, between the doctor blade and pressure roller 45 a blow bar can be located, with a plurality of nozzles arranged over the entire width. Through these nozzles filtered air with defined humidity, optionally heated or cooled, directed at the same speed on the printing cylinder, whereby the thin layers dry on the cylinder and can not be applied to the carrier substrate. 50

Instead of such a blow bar, an IR drying device situated over the entire width can also be used.

Optionally, at the same time as the application of the plasma or corona or flame treatment 55, a thin metal or metal oxide layer as adhesion promoter, for example by 5

AT 414 227 B

Sputtering or vapor deposition are applied. Particularly suitable are Cr, Al, Ag, Ti, Cu, TiO 2, Si oxides or chromium oxides. This adhesion promoter layer generally has a thickness of 0.1 nm-5 nm, preferably 0.2 nm-2 nm, particularly preferably 0.2 to 1 nm. 5 This further improves the adhesion of the partially or fully applied structured functional layer.

Subsequently, the actual functional layer is applied. 10 This layer may consist of a metal, a metal compound, or an alloy. As the metal layer, layers of Al, Cu, Fe, Ag, Au, Cr, Ni, Zn and the like are suitable. 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. 15

Furthermore, an electrically conductive polymer layer can also be applied as the electrically conductive layer. The electrically conductive polymers may be, for example, polyaniline or polyethylenedioxythiophene. Such a structure may also function as an antenna, wherein contact surfaces for connecting one or more microcircuits may be provided on the antenna structure. If further information is to be stored, the antenna structure may serve as a direct contact pad for conventional smart card chip systems, conventional electronic circuits, and the like. 25

Furthermore, printed electronic circuits made of electrically conductive polymers and / or vapor-deposited metallic layers and / or semiconductors can also be applied in conjunction with conductive polymers. Such a feature is then readable either by direct electrical contact or non-contact via radio frequencies, for example in the range of 15.3 kHz, for example in defined ranges from 120 kHz to about 5 GHz.

The conductive polymers may be applied to the support in the form of a dispersion in a dispersant. Suitable dispersants are, for example, inert solvents, preferably aqueous solvents or alcohols, such as i-propanol. If desired, it is also possible to add matrix polymers, for example soluble or dispersed or emulsified polyesters, polyurethanes, polystyrene sulfonates, polyacrylates or ethylene acrylate copolymers, as matrix polymers to the polymer dispersions. 40

For example, polyethylene dioxythiophene can be used particularly advantageously with polystyrene sulfonate as the matrix polymer.

The particle size of the polymers in the dispersion is preferably 20-500 nm. 45

However, it is also preferable to apply the soluble monomers or prepolymers to form the electrically conductive polymers and to polymerize them out in situ. Both free-radical and redox or photoinitiators, for example UV initiators, can be used as catalysts. 50

In this case, the corresponding monomer or prepolymer is mixed with the catalyst and applied immediately to the carrier substrate.

Catalyst residues and other contaminating reaction products can also be removed in situ 55 or, if appropriate, subsequently by treatment with a solvent

AT 414 227 B in general water, are removed from the layer. Optionally, volatile components may also be removed by drying with an IR dryer, a convection dryer, and the like. To apply a layer of magnetic properties, paramagnetic, diamagnetic and also ferromagnetic materials such as iron, nickel and cobalt or their compounds or salts (eg oxides or sulfides) or alloys of rare earth metals such as cobalt / samarium alloys may be used. Particularly suitable are magnetic pigment paints with pigments based on Fe oxides, 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. 15

Preferably, the pigments are incorporated in acrylate polymer dispersions having a molecular weight of 150,000 to 300,000, in nitrocellulose, acrylate-urethane acrylate styrene, or PVC as dispersions or in dissolved systems. The magnetic layer can for example be applied partially in the form of a code, for example in the form of a so-called barcode. When partial detachment of the partial magnetic layer then individual parts of the barcode are replaced, the manipulation can then be detected by reading the barcode with a suitable scanner. To apply a layer with defined optical properties, paints or lacquers with luminescent, for example phosphorescent or fluorescent properties, or lacquers with a defined refractive index are applied.

When applying fluorescent lacquer layers, for example, the structured release layer is incorporated between the 30 different fluorescent layers. In the case of destruction or manipulation by at least partial detachment, the original fluorescence is retained in the adhering areas of an opaque layer, a mixed color is produced in the other areas, and in the case of a transparent layer a defined mixed color is visible before detachment, which is changed after detachment. 35

When applying varnishes with a defined refractive index, the varnish / foil or foil / foil system has a specific refractive index. When destroying a layer, for example by detachment, the refractive index changes in particular due to air inclusions between the layers. 40

The individual features described may be applied individually or in any combination.

A metallized layer may, for example, also be provided with a seal coating for contacting the metallized regions with a chip, the security feature then acting as an antenna. The chip may be, for example, a Si-based printed structure or a polymeric microcircuit.

The destruction then changes the natural frequency, the manipulation is clearly detectable. A conductive polymer layer can also be applied via a metallic, isotropically or anisotropically conductive layer. This conductive polymer layer is stretchable and can form a conductive bridging layer in the event of stretching which results in the destruction of the metallic layer. However, this also changes the conductivity of the structure, the changes

Claims (11)

7 AT 414 227 B can be read out, as described above, the manipulation can be detected. The partial functional layer can have various shapes, for example in the form of patterns, lines, geometric figures, letters and the like, whereby additional visual features may also be present in each case depending on the composition and appearance of the layer, which reveal possible manipulation. Furthermore, it is also possible to apply a full-surface functional layer to the partially applied release layer or adhesive layer. By a peel-off, this vollflächi-io ge layer is then destroyed, it then creates defined functional machine-readable properties, which may also be measured without contact and can clearly detect any manipulation. The security features may also contain other functional layers, wherein these 15 layers can be constructed similarly, identically or differently to the described layers. Optionally, the coated film produced in this way can also be protected by a protective lacquer layer or further refined, for example, by laminating or the like. The protective lacquer layer can be colorless or one or more colors or even luminescent. In FIGS. 1 and 1a, a security element according to the invention with fluorescence features is shown, in FIG. 2 a security element according to the invention with antenna function is shown. Therein 1 means the carrier substrate, 2 the release layer or the adhesive layer, 7 a protective lacquer layer. In Figs. 1 and 1a, 3 and 4 respectively denote layers having different fluorescent colors. In FIG. 2, 5 denotes a metallic layer, 6 a layer of electrically conductive polymers. The security features according to the invention are used in data carriers, in particular value documents, such as identity cards, cards, banknotes, in packaging materials for sensitive goods, 40 such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, electronic components, labels, seals and the like, for example in the textile industry. 1. Security feature with one or more functional features, such as visually recognizable and / or machine-readable electrical, optical and / or magnetic features, characterized in that the security feature on a carrier material (1) applied intermediate layer (2) having different adhesion regions 50, comprising a visually recognizable and / or machine-readable electrical, optical and / or magnetic feature. 2. Security feature with one or more functional features, characterized in that on the intermediate layer (2) has a full-surface functional layer (3, 4, 5, 6) is applied, which when detached by the different adhesive areas of the intermediate 55 8 AT 414 227 B layer is destroyed in such a way that one or more defined functional features arise. 3. Security feature according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional features 5 are partially applied. 4. Security feature according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a metallized layer (5) is equipped with a sealing coating for contacting the metallized areas with a chip and acts as an antenna. 10 5. Security feature according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the security feature has an electrically conductive layer of conductive polymers (6). 6. Security feature according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the electrically conductive (n) metallic layer (s) (5) with a conductive polymer layer (6) is provided as a bridging layer. 7. Security feature according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it 20 has an optionally machine-readable magnetic feature. 8. Security feature according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises an optical, optionally fluorescent feature. 9. Security feature according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the security feature has one or more further functional and or decorative layers. 10. Security feature according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is 30 provided with a protective lacquer layer (7). 11. Use of the security features according to one of claims 1 to 10 in data carriers, in particular value documents, such as identity cards, cards, banknotes, in packaging materials for sensitive goods, such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, electronic components, labels, seals and the like. For this purpose 1 sheet of drawings 40 45 50 55