AU2010294594B2

AU2010294594B2 - Adhesive biluminescent colored fibers

Info

Publication number: AU2010294594B2
Application number: AU2010294594A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Per Kruger; Alexander Mombree
Original assignee: Bundesdruckerei GmbH
Current assignee: Bundesdruckerei GmbH
Priority date: 2009-09-08
Filing date: 2010-08-27
Publication date: 2014-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 2030-08-27
Also published as: CA2768601A1; EP2475811A2; DE102009040747B3; CN102482802A; EP2475811B1; WO2011029543A3; CN102482802B; CA2768601C; WO2011029543A2; AU2010294594A1

Abstract

The invention relates to fluorescent colored fibers which are labeled with a first luminescent substance and which consist at least to some extent of an adhesive, to a film comprising colored fibers and to a document having said colored fibers. The invention further relates to methods for producing fluorescent colored fibers, to a method for producing a film having fluorescent colored fibers and to a method for producing a document having fluorescent colored fibers. The invention provides a particularly forgery-proof and easy-to-produce security feature for documents of value and security documents.

Description

Bundesdruckerei GmbH BD-0055/09/P12.170WO Biluminescent colored fibers Field of the invention 5 The invention relates to fluorescent colored fibers, which are marked with a first luminescent substance and which consist, at least to some extent, of an adhesive, as well as to a foil comprising colored fibers and to a document having the said colored fibers. The invention further concerns a process for manufacturing the fluorescent colored fibers, a process for manufacturing the foil with the fluorescent colored fibers 10 as well as a process for manufacturing the document with the fluorescent colored fibers. Prior art 15 Processes for manufacturing luminescent colored fibers are known from the prior art as well as processes for their introduction, in particular into papers, during the manufacture thereof. A process is known from DE 41 33 977 Al for dyeing organic fibers, which 20 distinguishes itself from the prior art, spin dyeing, by dyeing small quantities of fibers using an aqueous solution of a cationic polymer and then with an aqueous suspension of a pigment. The particles used for dyeing should, wherever possible, have a particle size of < 10 pm. 25 A process is known from DE 37 19 48 A for manufacturing halo producing colored fibers. These colored fibers stain upon drying the paper in which the colored fibers are embedded so that a halo is created around the colored fibers so that removal of the fibers can be noticed easily. 30 A safety paper with colored fibers is known from EP 1 268 935 B1 for which various luminescent colored fibers are embedded for the purpose of coding in various subregions of the paper. The luminescent substances can be introduced into the colored fibers or just applied over their surface. Luminescent properties are, for example, the luminescent wave length or the decay time of the luminescent radiation. 1 H:\kxg\Interwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\KXG\6579085_I.doc - 14-08-13 One disadvantage of this prior art is that the type of pattern, which is introduced is very limited. Just striped patterns are disclosed in EP 1 268 935 B1. Furthermore, the process for manufacture of such a safety paper cannot be used for manufacture of plastic based documents since the colored fibers lie loosely on a firm plastic surface and would therefore be arbitrarily distributed and would no longer reproduce the applied pattern. A safety paper is known from DE 103 24 630 Al with at least one type of colored fibers for manufacture of valuable documents made of safety paper, such as bank notes. The colored fibers contain luminescent substances with characteristic luminescence properties. These colored fibers can be designed as bi-component fibers, wherein a core-sheath structure is formed. It is particularly advantageous if the sheath is a low-melting material and preferably melts in a temperature range of from 95 to 1500C. These fibers demonstrate better adhesion in the substrate, wherein the colored fibers are added during manufacture of the paper. Manufacture of the colored fibers can, for example, take place using a melt spinning, wet spinning, or a dry spinning process. The colored fibers have a special geometric form and information can be coded in this geometric form. It is, however, disadvantageous that verification of such fibers requires technical aids and is time-consuming. For example, the form of the colored fibers can be viewed under an optical microscope. However, this process is not suitable for rapid verification, for example at a point of sale. Problem according to the prior art and aim of the invention For colored fibers according to the prior art there is the problem that these can be easily replicated with the impression of a fluorescent color. To do this a forger prints the image of randomly distributed fibers on a counterfeit document using a dye. Such forgeries can be detected but only with some effort, for example with the aid of a microscope. One further problem for colored fibers according to the prior art is introduction into plastic based documents, in particular into documents, which have been manufactured through lamination of plastic foils. Using known processes the laminating fibers are strewn over one of the foils and thus produce a random pattern. The problem with this, 2 H:\kxg\Interwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\KXG\6579085_LIdoc - 14-08-13 however, is that, in contrast to paper manufacture, the fibers do not have any adhesion to the foils for as long as these are not laminated. In this way one can establish that a large number of fibers are distributed by the production plants and can therefore find their way into other products, which should not contain any colored fibers or should contain different ones. Based on this the aim of the invention is to provide colored fibers, which are easy to verify, simple to apply, also structured, and which are also simple to integrate, in particular into plastic documents. Description of the invention and preferred embodiments The present invention provides a foil comprising colored fibers according to claim 1, a document with fluorescent colored fibers according to claim 13, a process for manufacture of a foil with fluorescent colored fibers according to claim 16, as well as a process for manufacture of a document with fluorescent colored fibers according to claim 22. Preferred embodiments of the invention are indicated in the subclaims. Accordingly, the present invention provides a foil with fluorescent colored fibers, wherein the colored fibers are marked with a first luminescent substance, wherein the first luminescent substance emits a first luminescent light under first excitation conditions and wherein the colored fibers at least partially consist of an adhesive, wherein the colored fibers are marked with a second luminescent substance, wherein the second luminescent substance emits a second luminescent light under second excitation conditions, wherein the first and second excitation conditions are not identical, wherein the first and second luminescent lights differ spectrally, wherein the colored fibers are fastened to the surface of the foil by means of the adhesive of the colored fibers, wherein the foil is a plastic foil, wherein the colored fibers are randomly distributed on the foil, wherein the colored fibers have at least one first subregion and at least one second subregion, wherein the subregions are arranged next to each other transverse to the direction of the fibers, wherein the at least one first subregion consists of an adhesive, wherein the at least one first subregion is marked with the first luminescent substance, wherein the at least one 3 second subregion is marked with the second luminescent substance, and wherein at least one first subregion encases the at least one second subregion. Also, the present invention provides a document with at least one foil having fluorescent colored fibers according to the invention. Further, the present invention provides a process for manufacturing a foil with fluorescent colored fibers comprising the following steps: a) providing the foil wherein the foil is a plastic foil, b) applying the fluorescent colored fibers in a randomly distributed pattern to the foil, wherein the colored fibers are marked with a first luminescent substance and with a second luminescent substance, wherein the first luminescent substance emits a first luminescent light under first excitation conditions, wherein the second luminescent substance emits a second luminescent light under second excitation conditions, wherein the first and second excitation conditions are not identical, wherein the first and second luminescent lights differ spectrally, wherein the colored fibers at least partially consist of an adhesive, wherein the colored fibers have at least one first subregion and at least one second subregion, wherein the subregions are arranged next to each other transverse to the direction of the fibers, wherein the at least one first subregion consists of the adhesive, wherein the at least one first subregion is marked with the first luminescent substance, wherein the at least one second subregion is marked with the second luminescent substance, wherein the at least one first subregion encases the at least one second subregion, and c) fixing the fluorescent colored fibers to the surface of the foil by means of the adhesive of the colored fibers. Further yet, the present invention provides a process for manufacturing a document with fluorescent colored fibers including the following steps: a) bringing together of at least one foil according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and optionally at least one further foil; and b) laminating the combined foils. 4 H:\kxg\Interwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\KXG\6579085_I.doc - 14-08-13 The above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art are sought to be addressed according to the invention in that the colored fibers contain at least two luminescent substances and an adhesive. The fluorescent colored fibers according to the invention have a first and a second luminescent substance. The first luminescent substance emits a first luminescent light under first excitation conditions and the second luminescent substance emits a second luminescent light under second excitation conditions. The first and second excitation conditions in this arrangement are not identical and the first and second luminescent lights differ spectrally. Furthermore, the colored fibers at least partially consist of an adhesive. One advantage of the fluorescent colored fibers according to the invention is simpler integration into plastic-based documents due to the adhesive and increased security against counterfeiting due to the distinguishable colors of the luminescent light emitted under the first and the second excitation conditions. Furthermore, the adhesive leads to an unbreakable connection between the colored fibers and the document so that fluorescent colored fibers according to the invention cannot be removed out of a document and therefore a counterfeited document cannot be faked. The colored fibers have at least one first subregion and at least one second subregion. The subregions are arranged next to each other transverse to the direction of the fibers and preferably parallel to each other. For example, one subregion forms the left half and the other one the right half of the fiber, or one of the subregions encases the other subregion as, for example, a core in a cable is surrounded by insulation. The at least one first subregion consists of an adhesive. The at least one first subregion and/or the at least one second subregion is marked with the first luminescent substance and the at least one first subregion and/or the at least one second subregion is marked with the second luminescent substance. Two subregions have the advantage that it is possible to achieve spatial separation of the different luminescent regions, which are easy to verify optically. Both luminescent substances can therefore be present in the same and/or different subregions. 5 H:\kxg\Interwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\KXG\6579085_1.doc - 14-08-13 Here, and in the following text, the first subregions are understood as regions, which are preferably made of the same material but are spatially separated from each other. The same applies also for the second and possibly also the third and other subregions. Thus all of the first subregions preferably have same material properties, which differentiate these clearly from all second and other subregions. For example, a colored fiber made by spinning can consist of at least two fibers, which are separate from each other but are woven into each other. Yarns, which are made from the same material are seen as the same subregions, for example as the first subregions. In a preferred embodiment of the colored fibers the first excitation conditions for excitation of the first luminescent substance comprise light with wave lengths in a range from 380 to 300 nm. The first luminescent substance can, in particular, be excited by UV-A and UV-B radiation, in particular with wave lengths of 365 nm and 316 nm. For a suitable selection of the materials or introduction of the colored fibers near to the surface it is also possible to have excitation by means of UV-C radiation with wave lengths up to 200 nm, in particular 254 nm. In a further preferred embodiment of the colored fibers the second excitation conditions for excitation of the second luminescent substance comprise light with wave lengths in a range from 320 to 300 nm. The first luminescent substance can, in particular, not be excited by UV-A radiation but only with UV-B radiation, in particular not with a wave length of 365 nm but only that with 316 nm. In the colored fibers the at least one first subregion encases the at least one second subregion as well as possibly also further subregions. For example, the at least one second subregion forms a core while the at least one first subregion surrounds this like a sheath as, for example, a line in a cable is surrounded by insulation. In a further preferred embodiment of the colored fibers the at least one first subregion contains the first luminescent substance and the at least one second subregion contains the second luminescent substance. 5A In a further preferred embodiment of the colored fibers the at least one first subregion contains the first luminescent substance and the at least one second subregion contains the first and second luminescent substances. In a further preferred embodiment of the colored fibers they furthermore have at least one third subregion, wherein the at least one second subregion and the at least one third subregion are encased by the at least one first subregion. In this configuration the at least one second and the at least one third subregion can be located next to each other or are adjacent to each other or are spaced apart from each other and can be separated from each other by the at least one first subregion. For example, the at least one second subregion and the at least one third subregion can be encased like two cores in a sheath made out of the at least one first subregion, comparable with a line with two cables. It therefore automatically arises that also a number of second and/or third as well as possibly also further subregions is conceivable. If one designates the second subregions as A and the third subregions as B then, for example, the pattern ABA or the pattern ABAB can arise for the single 5B Bundesdruckerei GmbH BD-0055/09/P12.170WO strands in the colored fibers, wherein these three or four subregions are overall encased by one first subregion made out of an adhesive. In a further preferred embodiment of the colored fibers the colored fibers or the at least 5 one first subregion of the colored fibers consists of an adhesive. The adhesive can be a hot melt adhesive or a reactive adhesive. For example the hot melt adhesive has a softening point temperature of from 50 to 200 0 C, preferably from 80 to 120 0 C. The reactive adhesive is an acrylate adhesive for example. The adhesive preferably is not tacky at room temperature. In this way the colored fibers can be well separated out 10 from each other during processing at room temperature. In a further preferred embodiment of the colored fibers the luminescent substances are inorganic pigments. These luminescent substances can, in particular, be rare-earth doped oxides, oxinates, sulfides, oxysulfides, phosphates, or vanadates. The elements 15 europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, and thulium are in particular used for rare-earth doping. One can mention, for example, the possible pigments of LUMILUX@ CD740 (red) and CD702 (green) from Honeywell. The most advantageous pigments are those with a particle size of less than or equal to 10 pm, preferably smaller than or equal to 8 pm and particularly preferred are those smaller 20 than or equal to 6 pm. The inorganic pigments have a temperature stability, which lies above the softening point temperature of the polymer used. In a further preferred embodiment of the colored fibers the at least one second subregion is made out of polyamide (PA) or a polyamide copolymer. One can, in 25 particular, use the polyamides PA12, PA6, and PA6.6. PA6 forms from ring opening polymerisation of E-caprolactam. PA6.6 (Nylon@) is manufactured from hexamethylene diamine and adipic acid through polycondensation with dehydration. It also possible to use polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), cellulose as well as their derivatives such as viscose or cellophane. Polyamide is 30 preferred, however, since this material has the least interaction with the usual laser systems used in personalization of documents. The document material is, in particular, blackened as desired using a laser beam when using PA, also in the areas in which colored fibers are located. 6 Bundesdruckerei GmbH BD-0055/09/P12.170WO The colored fibers can be selected to vary in their form and geometry. Characterization is usually based on the length, the diameter, and the cross-sectional form of the colored fiber. One typical length of a colored fiber lies in a range from 2 to 25 mm, preferably about 6 mm. The diameter lies, for example, in a range from 20 to 150 pm 5 and preferably in a range from 50 to 60 pm. The cross-sectional form is preferably round (circular) or oval. Furthermore the invention relates to a foil with fluorescent colored fibers according to the invention on the surface of which the colored fibers are fastened by means of the 10 adhesive. The foil is preferably a plastic foil, which is preferably made out of polycarbonate (PC), in particular bisphenol-A polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), their derivatives such as glycol modified PET (PETG), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyimide (PI), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polystyrene 15 (PS), polyvinyl phenol (PVP), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), in particular thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene (ABS), Teslin@ as well as their derivatives. Furthermore, the foils can be co-extruded foils and other hybrid materials can be used, which also include the above-mentioned materials. The foils can also be made out of paper. 20 In a further preferred embodiment of the foil with the colored fibers, the colored fibers are arranged on the surface of the foil spatially structured. For example, the colored fibers are applied in the form of stripes on the foil so that stripe-shaped areas form on the foil in which there are colored fibers and stripe-shaped areas in which there are no 25 colored fibers present. Furthermore, the areas in which there are colored fibers present can, for example, have the form of coats of arms, seals, or other patterns. In a further preferred embodiment of the foil with the colored fibers there are at least two different types of fluorescent colored fibers fastened to the surface of the foil. 30 In a further preferred embodiment of the foil with the colored fibers, the different types of colored fibers according to the invention are differently spatially structured. For example, the colored fibers are applied in the form of stripes on the foil so that there are first stripe-shaped areas on the foil in which a first type of colored fibers is present 7 H:\kxg\Interwoven\NRPortbI\DCC\KXG\6579085_I.doc - 14-08-13 and there are second stripe-shaped areas on the foil in which a second type of colored fibers is present and third stripe-shaped areas in which there are no colored fibers present. Furthermore, it is possible to have areas, which have certain type of colored fibers, which, for example, can take the form of coats of arms or seals, while the other type is, for example, covering the whole surface. Furthermore, the invention concerns a document with fluorescent colored fibers according to the invention. This document is preferably a valuable or safety document. Examples of valuable or safety documents are a passport, identity card, driving license, visa, check and credit card, company identity card, credentials, member identity card, gift and purchase voucher, as well as a casino playing chip, bank note, check, stamp, and tax stamp. The document does, in particular, have a laminated card body. Examples of documents with a laminated card body include a check and credit card as well as the German driving license. Also described is a process for manufacture of fluorescent colored fibers according to the invention, comprising extrusion of at least a first polymer through at least one first spinneret while creating at least one first subregion of the colored fibers and optionally simultaneous extrusion of at least a second polymer through at least one second spinneret while creating at least one second subregion of the colored fibers. The at least one first polymer contains a first luminescent substance, which emits a first luminescent light under the first excitation conditions. An adhesive is selected as a first and/or as a second polymer. The first polymer and/or the second polymer additionally contains a second luminescent substance, which emits a second luminescent light under the second excitation conditions, wherein the first and second excitation conditions are not identical and the first and second luminescent lights differ spectrally. If only one first polymer is extruded then the first polymer contains the first and the second luminescent substance. If a first polymer and a second polymer are extruded then, for example, the first polymer can contain the first luminescent substance and the second polymer can contain the second luminescent substance or the first polymer the first luminescent substance and the second polymer the first and the second luminescent substance. In a further preferred embodiment of the process for manufacturing fluorescent colored fibers the at least one second subregion is encased by the at least one first subregion. 8 This can, for example, be achieved by location of the spinnerets in a suitable way, which will be familiar to a specialist in the field. For example, six first spinnerets can be arranged around a second spinneret. In a further preferred embodiment of the described process, fluorescent colored fibers are manufactured in a first step through extrusion of at least one second polymer through at least one spinneret while creating at least one second subregion and then, in a subsequent second step, a least one second subregion is encased by at least one first subregion of a first polymer. The first polymer in this case is an adhesive. The at least one second polymer contains a second luminescent substance, which emits a second luminescent light under the second excitation conditions. Furthermore, the first polymer and/or the second polymer contains a first luminescent substance, which emits a first luminescent light under first excitation conditions, wherein the first and second excitation conditions are not identical and the first and second luminescent lights differ spectrally. For example, colored fibers can be manufactured using a known process in the first processing step. These are encased in a second step with an adhesive, which contains the first luminescent substance. The encasing can, for example, take place by means of dip coating. The colored fibers manufactured according to one of the above-mentioned processes can, in a further step, be cut to any desired length in as far as this did not already take place during manufacture but that the colored fibers are manufactured instead as endless yarn. The length of a colored fiber is usually about 6 mm. The process according to the invention for manufacturing a foil with fluorescent colored fibers comprises providing the foil, applying the fluorescent colored fibers according to the invention to the foil and fixing the fluorescent colored fibers to the foil. In a preferred embodiment of the process for manufacturing the foil the colored fibers are fixed in place using heat and/or UV radiation. For example the foil is passed under an IR emitter or through a roller laminator after applying the fluorescent colored fibers so that the adhesive of the colored fibers softens or becomes liquid and therefore the 9 Bundesdruckerei GmbH BD-0055/09/P12.170WO colored fibers are fixed to the foil. The foil can alternatively be put in an oven after applying the fluorescent colored fibers, which heats the foil up to a temperature, which is above the softening point temperature of the adhesive but below the softening point temperature of the foil. Alternatively or additionally the foil can be passed under a UV 5 emitter after applying the colored fibers in order to activate the reactive adhesive of the colored fibers and thus to achieve fixing of the colored fibers to the foil. In a further preferred embodiment of the process for manufacturing the foil the colored fibers are only applied to at least one first subarea of the foil. For example the colored 10 fibers are applied in a stripe formation to the foil. This can take place, for example, by spraying on, spreading on or pressing on. The colored fibers can also, for example, be applied in the form of coats of arms or seals. This can take place through stamping on or imprinting. 15 In a further preferred embodiment of the process for manufacturing the foil which is alternative to the previously described embodiment, the colored fibers are applied to the whole surface of the foil. The colored fibers are, however, only fixed to at least one first subarea of the foil. This occurs, for example, through locally varying radiation with IR or UV light so that only colored fibers in the at least one first subarea of the foil are 20 fixed in place. The colored fibers, which were not fixed in place are subsequently removed from the foil, for example by turning over the foil or by blowing off or suctioning off the colored fibers, which are not fixed in place. In a further preferred embodiment of the process for manufacturing the foil two types of 25 colored fibers are applied to the foil. The first type of colored fibers is applied to at least one first subarea of the foil and a second type of colored fibers is applied to at least one second subarea of the foil. The first and the second type of colored fibers are different. The two types in particular exhibit different types of fluorescence so that they can easily be recognized and differentiated between using visual checking involving UV 30 excitation. The first and the second type of colored fibers can furthermore be differentiated between on the basis of the geometry of the fibers. For example, these can have a different length, form, and/or a different diameter. Furthermore, the first and the second type of colored fibers can also exclusively be differentiated between on the basis of a forensic feature added to one of the types such as an up-conversion 10 Bundesdruckerei GmbH BD-0055/09/P12.170WO fluorescent substance so that this difference can only be observed in a specially equipped laboratory. In a further preferred embodiment of the process for manufacturing the foil the at least 5 one first subarea and at least one subarea create a pattern. Examples of such patterns are coats of arms on a substrate, wherein the coat of arms consists of first subareas with a first color and the substrate consists of second subareas with a second color. One further example of a pattern is the value number on a bank note. The at least one second subarea can comprise the at least one first subarea or surround it or the other 10 way round. The at least one first and at least one second subareas are not identical however. This is, for example, the case if the first subarea comprises the whole surface of the foil and the at least one second subarea only one part of the surface, for example in the form of a coat of arms. For example, the first subareas can be a subset of the second subareas so that the coat of arms is made up of a mixture of the first and 15 the second colors on a substrate of the second color. The process according to the invention for manufacturing a document with fluorescent colored fibers comprises bringing together of at least one foil with colored fibers according to the invention as well as, if necessary, at least one further foil and 20 lamination of the combined foils. In a preferred embodiment of the process for manufacturing the document at least one document will be cut out or stamped out of the laminate after lamination. This is particularly preferred if the laminate is a multiple use one. At least two documents 25 (uses) can be created individually out of a multiple use laminate, for example cut out or stamped out. Exemplified embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the appended figures. The individual figures show: 30 Fig. 1 a to g: colored fibers in a schematic illustration in a cross-sectional view; Fig. 2: a colored fiber in a schematic illustration in a view from above; Fig. 3: manufacture of a foil with colored fibers in a schematic illustration in a cross-sectional view; 11 Bundesdruckerei GmbH BD-0055/09/P12.170WO Fig. 4: manufacture of a document with colored fibers in a schematic illustration in a cross-sectional view; Fig. 5: a document with colored fibers in a schematic illustration in a view from above; 5 Fig. 6: a further document with colored fibers in a schematic illustration in a view from above; Fig. 7: a further method of manufacture of a foil with colored fibers attached thereon in a schematic illustration in a cross-sectional view. 10 The same reference numbers used below refer to the same elements. Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of colored fibers in a cross-sectional view. The sizes are not shown true to scale but are just to clearly indicate the spatial arrangement relative to each other. 15 Fig. 1a shows a cross-section of a colored fiber 10, which consists exclusively of one first subregion 11. The first subregion consists of an adhesive. The adhesive contains a first and optionally also a second luminescent substance so that the colored fiber 10 emits another luminescent light under the first excitation conditions than under the 20 second excitation conditions. The advantage of the colored fiber 10 shown is simple manufacture in one processing step. Since both luminescent substances are, however, not spatially separate from each other replication is relatively simple. Fig. 1b shows a further colored fiber 10.1, which consists of a first subregion 11.1 and 25 a second subregion 12.1. The first subregion 11.1 consists of an adhesive and encases the second subregion 12.1. For example the adhesive is a hot melt adhesive and the second subregion consists of polyamide. As an example, a first luminescent substance is contained in the first subregion 11.1 and optionally a second luminescent substance is contained in the second subregion 12.1. One advantage of this embodiment is 30 simplified optical recognition due to the very different intensity profile and the different spectral characteristic of the first and second luminescent lights. It is furthermore advantageous that, due to the different properties of the materials, removal of a colored fiber 10.1 from a document without destroying it is no longer possible since the adhesive of the subregion 11.1 can create a permanent bond to the document. 12 Bundesdruckerei GmbH BD-0055/09/P12.170WO Fig. 1c shows a further colored fiber 10.2, which consists of a first subregion 11.2, a second subregion 12.2 and a third subregion 13.2. For example, a first luminescent substance can be contained in the second subregion 12.2 and a second luminescent 5 substance in the third subregion 13.2. In this embodiment the thickness of the first subregion 11.2, which consists of the adhesive can be very thin since this simply needs to provide the adhesion between the colored fiber and the foil. Fig. 1d shows a further colored fiber 10.3, which consists of a first subregion 11.3, a 10 second subregion 12.3, and a third subregion 13.3. The structure of this colored fiber is the same as that of the colored fiber from Fig. 1c, wherein the second subregion 12.3 and the third subregion 13.3 are separated by the first subregion 11.3. One such colored fiber can, for example, be created by the connection between two colored fibers according to prior art by means of an adhesive, which creates the first subregion 15 11.3. Fig. 1e shows a further colored fiber 10.4, which consists of a first subregion 11.4, a second subregion 12.4, a third subregion 13.4, and a fourth subregion 14.4. As an example, the second subregion can contain a first luminescent substance, the third 20 subregion a second luminescent substance, and the fourth subregion a third luminescent substance. The first subregion consists of an adhesive, which can fix the colored fiber to a foil. One advantage of this colored fiber is presentation of three different colors lying next to each other, which leads to simple optical recognition. It is furthermore possible with three colors to already be in a position to represent the 25 majority of national colors so that, for example, country-specific coding may be performed. One special case here is a colored fiber with a first subregion 11.4, two second subregions 12.4 and 14.4, and a third subregion 13.4. For example, the two second 30 subregions contain a first luminescent substance and the third subregion a second luminescent substance. The first subregion 11.4 consists of an adhesive. Fig. 1f shows such a further colored fiber 10.5. This has a first subregion 11.5 consisting of an adhesive and two second subregions 12.5. For example the first 13 Bundesdruckerei GmbH BD-0055/09/P12.170WO subregion 11.5 contains a first luminescent substance and the second subregions a second luminescent substance. One advantage of this embodiment with a number of second subregions is that the breaks in the strands, which occur during manufacture of the colored fibers in the second subregions will, without difficulty, not be optically be 5 perceived as a fault. This reduces the number of rejects. Fig. 1 d shows a further colored fiber 10.6, which consists of a first subregion 11.6, consisting of an adhesive, as well as two second subregions 12.6 and two third subregions 13.6. This form represents a combination of the colored fibers shown in Fig. 10 1d and Fig. 1f, which combines the advantages of simple and secure verification and low reject rate manufacture. Fig. 2 shows a colored fiber 10.2 according to Fig. 1c shown in a view from above. This has a first subregion 11.2, which consists of adhesive. The colored fiber furthermore 15 has a second subregion 12.2, which contains a first luminescent substance as well as a third subregion 13.2, which contains a second luminescent substance. For optical verification of the colored fibers this produces the image of two luminescent stripes lying next to each other of different colors. The typical length of such a colored fiber is an average of about 6 mm. 20 Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of manufacture of a foil with the colored fibers according to the invention shown in a cross-sectional view. A foil 30 is made available in the first step (a). The foil 30 can, for example, be made out of PC. The colored fibers (step b) are then applied to the foil, which has, for example, a first subregion 31 and a 25 second subregion 32. The first subregion 31 consists of a hot melt adhesive, which is not tacky at room temperature. In this way the colored fibers can be separated out from each other and processed. The first subregion 31 preferably contains a first luminescent substance and the second subregion 32 a second luminescent substance. In a subsequent step (c) the colored fibers are fixed in place, for example through 30 warming using an IR lamp, which brings the first subregion 31 up to a temperature at which the hot melt adhesive softens. In this way a fixed bond is achieved between the colored fibers and the foil 30. It is schematically shown here that deformation of the first subregion 31 can occur because of this. This can be advantageous to improve the adhesion of the colored fibers onto the foil 30. 14 Bundesdruckerei GmbH BD-0055/09/P12.170WO Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of manufacture of a document according to the invention with colored fibers according to the invention shown in a cross-sectional view. In a first step (a) a foil 30 according to the invention with colored fibers, which have a 5 first subregion 31 and a second subregion 32, which are fixed to the foil 30 brought together in stack with further foils, here for example two foils 35 and 36. Normal structures of plastic-based documents will be known to the specialist in the field, wherein there are usually 3 to 15 foils used. For example foils 30, 35, 36 are PC foils, which have a glass transition temperature of about 1480C. These are laminated under 10 increased pressure and increased temperature, usually 170 to 210*C, for 5 to 60 minutes (step b). A monolithic card body 38 is created. The colored fibers are inside the monolithic card body 38, wherein the first subregion 31, which consists of a hot melt adhesive, is deformed and has been bound to the document since the adhesive has a glass transition temperature or a melting point below the glass transition 15 temperature of PC and in particular below the lamination temperature. The second subregions can preferably be designed in such a way that their geometrical form does not or does not appear to change under lamination conditions. The first subregion 31 advantageously contains a first luminescent substance and the second subregion 32 a second luminescent substance. The first subregion will no longer be detected as clearly 20 delimited area during verification since it is spread into the document during lamination. The colored fiber can no longer be totally removed anymore through deformation of the first subregion 31 but just the second subregion 32 so any attempt at manipulation is very obvious. 25 For the specialist in the field it is clearly apparent that foil 35 could, for example, be a hologram, for example a volume hologram or a kinegram. Furthermore, foil 36 can be a so-called inlay, which has a chip and an antenna for contactless communication. Such an inlay can consist of a thermoplastic elastomer, in particular thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or a TPU-PC composite. The specialist in the field will also know 30 that an adhesive can be introduced to reduce the lamination temperature between the foil 30 and the foil 35 and/or the foil 30 and the foil 36. Fig. 5 shows a document 40 with colored fibers 42 according to the invention in a top view. The colored fibers are on the subareas 41 of the document 40. The subareas are, 15 Bundesdruckerei GmbH BD-0055/09/P12.170WO for example, arranged in the form of stripes. The stripe-shaped subareas can, for example, represent a code, for example a bar code. This code does, for example, code the value of document 40, for example a bank note. Other forms are conceivable instead of a stripe-shaped arrangement, in particular a series of letters and/or numbers, 5 for example a value number or a country code. Fig. 6 shows a further document 50 with colored fibers according to the invention 53, 54 in a top view. The colored fibers 53 are located on a first subarea 51 of the document 50 and the colored fibers 54 are located on a second subarea 52 of the 10 document 50. In the case shown the second subarea 52 comprises the whole surface of the document. The colored fibers 53 differ in the case shown from colored fibers 54 in their length. For example, the colored fibers 53 are about 5 mm long while the colored fibers 54 are about 20 mm. The colored fibers can also be differentiated between by or instead of the length, for example, based on the luminescence color 15 effect. The first subarea 51 is shown here as circular. It is, however, easy to conceive that the first subarea 51 takes on the form of a coat of arms or a seal, a symbol, for example an eagle, or a value number. It is furthermore simple to recognize that a number of first subareas could together represent a coat of arms or a seal, a symbol, for example an eagle, or a value number, in particular a multi-digit value number. 20 Fig. 7 is a schematic representation of manufacture of a further foil with colored fibers fixed to it, shown in a cross-sectional view. A foil 30 is made available in the first step (a). The foil 30 can, for example, be made out of PC. Colored fibers (step b) are then applied, which have, for example, a first subregion 31 and a second subregion 32. The 25 first subregion 31 consists of a hot melt adhesive, which is not tacky at room temperature. In this way the colored fibers can be separated out from each other and processed. The first subregion 31 preferably contains a first luminescent substance and the second subregion 32 a second luminescent substance. Application does not take place structured, in particular across the whole surface. In a following step (c) the 30 colored fibers are fixed onto the foil in certain prescribed subareas, that is the fixing takes place structured, so that the colored fibers are only connected with the foil 30 in the subareas in which they should be applied to the foil 30. The colored fibers are, for example, fixed to the foil by heating with an IR lamp, which heats the first subregion 31 to a temperature at which the hot melt adhesive softens. In this way a fixed bond is 16 H \KXGlnteroven\NRPortbl\DCC\KXG\5123829 1 doc - 13-05-06 achieved between the colored fibers and the foil 30. In the figure it is schematically shown that deformation of the first subregion 31 can occur because of this. This can be advantageous to improve the adhesion of the colored fibers onto the foil 30. In a final step (d) the non-fixed colored fibers are removed, for example by blowing off or suctioning off. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. 17

Claims

1. A foil with fluorescent colored fibers, wherein the colored fibers are marked with a first luminescent substance, wherein the first luminescent substance emits a first luminescent light under first excitation conditions and wherein the colored fibers at least partially consist of an adhesive, wherein the colored fibers are marked with a second luminescent substance, wherein the second luminescent substance emits a second luminescent light under second excitation conditions, wherein the first and second excitation conditions are not identical, wherein the first and second luminescent lights differ spectrally, wherein the colored fibers are fastened to the surface of the foil by means of the adhesive of the colored fibers, wherein the foil is a plastic foil, wherein the colored fibers are randomly distributed on the foil, wherein the colored fibers have at least one first subregion and at least one second subregion, wherein the subregions are arranged next to each other transverse to the direction of the fibers, wherein the at least one first subregion consists of an adhesive, wherein the at least one first subregion is marked with the first luminescent substance, wherein the at least one second subregion is marked with the second luminescent substance, and wherein at least one first subregion encases the at least one second subregion.

2. The foil with fluorescent colored fibers according to claim 1, wherein the first excitation conditions for excitation of the first luminescent substance comprise light with wave lengths in a range from 380 to 300 nm.

3. The foil with fluorescent colored fibers according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second excitation conditions for excitation of the second luminescent substance comprise light with wave lengths in a range from 320 to 300 nm.

4. The foil with fluorescent colored fibers according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one second subregion additionally contains the first luminescent substance. 18 H:\kxg\Interwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\KXG\6579085_I.doc - 14-08-13

5. The foil with fluorescent colored fibers according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the colored fibers furthermore have at least one third subregion and wherein the at least one second subregion and the at least one third subregion are encased by the at least one first subregion.

6. The foil with fluorescent colored fibers according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adhesive is a hot melt adhesive or a reactive adhesive.

7. The foil with fluorescent colored fibers according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the luminescent substances are inorganic pigments.

8. The foil with fluorescent colored fibers according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one second subregion is made out of polyamide or a polyamide copolymer.

9. The foil with fluorescent colored fibers according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the colored fibers are arranged on the surface of the foil spatially structured.

10. The foil with fluorescent colored fibers according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least two different types of fluorescent colored fibers are fastened to the surface of the foil.

11. The foil with fluorescent colored fibers according to claim 10, wherein the different types of colored fibers are differently spatially structured.

12. The foil with fluorescent colored fibers according to claim 11, wherein a first type of the colored fibers on at least a first subarea of the foil and a second type of the colored fibers on at least a second subarea of the foil create a pattern.

13. A document with at least one foil having fluorescent colored fibers according to any one of claims 1 to 12. 19

14. The document according to claim 13, wherein the document has a laminated card body.

15. The document according to any one of claims 13 and 14, wherein the document is a valuable or safety document.

16. A process for manufacturing a foil with fluorescent colored fibers comprising the following steps: a) providing the foil wherein the foil is a plastic foil, b) applying the fluorescent colored fibers in a randomly distributed pattern to the foil, wherein the colored fibers are marked with a first luminescent substance and with a second luminescent substance, wherein the first luminescent substance emits a first luminescent light under first excitation conditions, wherein the second luminescent substance emits a second luminescent light under second excitation conditions, wherein the first and second excitation conditions are not identical, wherein the first and second luminescent lights differ spectrally, wherein the colored fibers at least partially consist of an adhesive, wherein the colored fibers have at least one first subregion and at least one second subregion, wherein the subregions are arranged next to each other transverse to the direction of the fibers, wherein the at least one first subregion consists of the adhesive, wherein the at least one first subregion is marked with the first luminescent substance, wherein the at least one second subregion is marked with the second luminescent substance, wherein the at least one first subregion encases the at least one second subregion, and c) fixing the fluorescent colored fibers to the surface of the foil by means of the adhesive of the colored fibers.

17. The process according to claim 16, wherein the colored fibers are fixed in place using heat and/or UV radiation.

18. The process according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the colored fibers are only applied to at least one first subarea of the foil and subsequently fixed in place. 20 H:\kxg\Interwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\KXG\6579085_I.doc - 14-08-13

19. The process according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the colored fibers are only fixed to at least one first subarea of the foil.

20. The process according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the colored fibers fixed to the at least one first subarea of the foil are first colored fibers and that second colored fibers are fixed to at least one second subarea of the foil, wherein the second colored fibers are different to the first colored fibers.

21. The process according to claim 20, wherein the first colored fibers on the at least one first subarea of the foil and the second colored fibers on the at least one second subarea of the foil create a pattern.

22. A process for manufacturing a document with fluorescent colored fibers including the following steps: a) bringing together of at least one foil according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and optionally at least one further foil; and b) laminating the combined foils.

23. The process according to claim 22, wherein at least one document will be cut out or stamped out of the laminate after lamination.

24. The foil according to claim 1, the document according to claim 13, the process according to claim 16 or the process according to claim 22, substantially as hereinbefore described. 21