EP1386754A1 - Data carrier and security element with visually detectable or machinally readable detection of manipulation - Google Patents

Abstract

An intermediate layer (2) is applied to a substrate (1). This layer has various adhesive regions, with markings which are visible, machine-readable, electrically readable (e.g. based on resistance, conductance, capacitance, inductance or impedance), or readable optically and/or magnetically.

Description

The invention relates to a data carrier and a security element with a visually visible and / or machine-readable evidence of tampering.

Security elements are used in many areas around the To ensure counterfeit security of sensitive goods. So be for example in data carriers, in particular value documents, such as ID cards, cards, banknotes, for packaging materials for sensitive goods, such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, electronic components, labels, seals and the like such security features in the textile industry used.

Manipulations, i.e. unauthorized Open the packaging, remove or replace parts and the like be detectable. In order to be able to provide such evidence at the same time and also to be able to rule out that the security feature is exchanged these features should also be tamper-proof.

Security elements with visually visible features are for example EP-A 0 330 733 known. There are security elements, in particular Security threads consisting of a translucent plastic film, one extending over the entire security element opaque Coating, the recesses in the form of the coding to be introduced, has in particular in the form of characters and patterns. At least in the areas defined by the recesses Congruent coloring and / or luminescent substances available be, through which the coding -from the opaque coating corresponding light influence in a color contrasting form.

Security films for securities are known from WO 99/13157 to which a metallic coating is applied on a translucent film that is not full-area in the finished film, but recesses that should be clearly recognizable in transmitted light. The making of this Foils are made in that a carrier film with a highly pigmented Printing ink is printed, the ink application is not carried out over the entire area Printing ink is dried to form a porous ink application, then a metallic cover layer is applied and in one a further step the highly pigmented printing ink by washing it out with a Solvent, if necessary also removed under mechanical influence becomes. This means that even in those areas where the printing ink is removed, removes the metallic cover layer, which means that the transmitted light recognizable recesses are formed.

Although these features are relatively tamper-proof, they are mechanical Manipulation cannot necessarily be proven.

It is also known, particularly in multilayer structures for such Security features to provide an intermediate layer that is a partial has different liability to the surface. This intermediate layer will provided with an adhesive layer and applied to the carrier. Tries if you now subtract the security feature from the surface, it will apparently homogeneous intermediate layer due to the different Liability areas defined destroyed. The breaking points are difficult be put together exactly, but at first glance it is often one Tampering not immediately recognizable.

The different areas of detention are, for example, partially Applying a release layer and / or an adhesive layer on the Carrier substrate generated. The different areas of detention often have defined ones Shapes, e.g. in the form of patterns, characters, lines, letters geometric figures and the like.

On closer inspection, it can generally be seen that the Intermediate layer was destroyed, i.e. manipulation has taken place, with very careful and careful action, however, the destruction is on often not recognizable at first glance.

The object of the invention was therefore to provide a security feature in mechanical manipulations not only visually, but if necessary can also be determined mechanically.

The invention therefore relates to a security feature with one or several functional features, characterized in that the Security feature applied to a carrier material Intermediate layer with different adhesive areas has a visual recognizable and / or machine-readable electrical, optical and / or has a magnetic feature.

If the intermediate layer is destroyed by detachment, the intermediate layer becomes and thus damaged the machine-readable feature, causing the electrical, optical or magnetic properties of the intermediate layer be irreversibly changed. This change is machine readable and if necessary also detectable without contact.

As the carrier substrate, for example, carrier foils are preferably flexible Plastic films, for example made of Pl, 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 microns, particularly preferably 12 - 50 microns.

Furthermore, metal foils, for example Al, Cu, Sn, Ni, Fe or stainless steel foils with a thickness of 5 - 200 µm, serve preferably 10 to 80 microns, particularly preferably 20 - 50 microns. The Films can also be surface-treated, coated or laminated for example with plastics or painted.

Further, as carrier substrates also paper or composites with paper, for example, composites with plastics with a grammage 20-500 g / m ^2, preferably 40-200 g / m ^2. be used.

Furthermore, woven or non-woven fabrics, such as continuous fiber non-woven fabrics, staple fiber non-woven fabrics and the like, which can optionally be needled or calendered, can be used as carrier substrates. Such fabrics or nonwovens preferably consist of plastics, such as PP, PET, PA, PPS and the like, but woven or nonwovens made of natural, optionally treated fibers, such as viscose nonwovens, can also be used. The fabrics or nonwovens used have a weight per unit area of approximately 20 g / m ² to 500 g / m ² . If necessary, these fabrics or nonwovens can be surface-treated.

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

The different adhesive areas are created by applying a release layer or an adhesive layer to the carrier substrate.
Known poorly adhering paint compositions, for example based on methacrylate, are particularly suitable as release layers. Furthermore, very thinly applied oil layers, polyamide, polyethylene or fluoropolymer wax layers can be used as the release layer.

The release layer is partially applied to the carrier substrate. to Applying the release layer can use any common printing process are, preferably methods with the thinnest layers of 0.01 to 50 microns can be applied precisely, for example spraying, vapor deposition, brushing on, Roller application process, gravure, flexo, screen, offset and digital printing and like.

The intermediate layer is now applied to this release layer.

This intermediate layer has machine-readable features.

For example, an electrically conductive layer with characteristic electrical parameters, for example resistance, conductance values, capacitance, Inductance, total impedance, are applied. These electrical Parameters can now also be read out without contact.

For setting electrical properties, for example graphite, carbon black, conductive organic or inorganic polymers, metal pigments (e.g. copper, aluminum, silver, gold, iron, chrome and the like), metal alloys such as copper-zinc or copper-aluminum or also amorphous or crystalline ceramic pigments such as ITO, ATO, FTO and the like are added. Furthermore, endowed or not doped semiconductors such as silicon, germanium or doped or undoped polymeric semiconductors or ion conductors, as well as amorphous or crystalline metal oxides or metal sulfides can be used as an additive. Further can adjust the electrical properties of the layer polar or partially polar compounds such as surfactants or non-polar compounds such as Silicone additives or hygroscopic or non-hygroscopic salts used or added to the paint.

With the help of these systems, they can also be combined electronically Components such as diodes, resistors, transistors, or even complete Circuits are built.

A partial metal layer can also be applied as a layer with electrical properties, it being possible for the partial application to be carried out 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 using a demetallization process, a solvent-soluble paint (optionally in the form of an inverse coding) is applied in a first step.

The color application can be carried out by any method, for example gravure printing, flexographic printing, screen printing, digital printing and the like. The color or the color lacquer used is soluble in a solvent, preferably in water, but a color soluble in any solvent, for example in alcohol, esters and the like, can also be used. The color or the colored lacquer can be conventional compositions based on natural or artificial macromolecules. The soluble color can be pigmented or unpigmented. All known pigments can be used as pigments. TiO ₂ , ZnS, kaolin and the like are particularly suitable.

The printed carrier substrate is then treated by means of an inline 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 in the printing inks. The necessary sharp delimitation of the contours of the cutouts, which is necessary for the necessary precision of the coding, is achieved. At the same time, the surface is activated. Terminal polar groups are created on the surface. This improves the adhesion of metals and the like to the surface.

To avoid toning residues, for example, can also be between squeegees and pressure roller a blow bar can be placed, with several over the entire width arranged nozzles. Filtered air is carried through these nozzles defined humidity, if necessary heated or cooled, with the same Speed is directed to the impression cylinder, creating the thin layers dry on the cylinder and no longer applied to the carrier substrate can be.

Instead of such a blow molding can also be used over the entire width located IR drying device can be used.

If necessary, a thin metal or metal oxide layer can be applied as an adhesion promoter, for example by sputtering or vapor deposition, simultaneously with the application of the plasma or corona or flame treatment. Cr, Al, Ag, Ti, Cu, TiO ₂ , Si oxides or chromium oxides are particularly suitable. 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.

As a result, the liability of partially or fully applied structured functional layer further improved.

The actual functional layer is then applied.

This layer can consist of a metal, a metal compound, or an alloy. Layers of Al, Cu, Fe, Ag, Au, Cr, Ni, Zn and the like are suitable as the metal layer. 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.

Furthermore, an electrically conductive layer can also be used as the electrically conductive layer Polymer layer can be applied. The electrically conductive polymers can be, for example, polyaniline or polyethylene dioxythiophene.

Such a structure can also act as an antenna, with the Antenna structure Contact areas for connecting one or more Microcircuits can be provided. If more information The antenna structure can be saved as a direct contact surface for common chip systems for smart cards, common electronic circuits and the like serve.

Furthermore, printed electronic circuits can also be made of electrical conductive polymers and / or vapor-deposited metallic layers and / or semiconductors applied in conjunction with conductive polymers become.

Such a feature is then either through 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 read.

The conductive polymers can be applied to the carrier material in the form of a dispersion in a dispersant. Suitable dispersing agents are, for example, inert solvents, preferably aqueous solvents or alcohols, such as i-propanol. Optionally, matrix polymers, for example soluble or dispersed or emulsified polyesters, polyurethanes, polystyrene sulfonates, polyacrylates or ethylene acrylate copolymers can also be added to the polymer dispersions as matrix polymers.
For example, polyethylene dioxythiophene with polystyrene sulfonate can be used particularly advantageously as a matrix polymer.
The particle size of the polymers in the dispersion is preferably 20-500 nm.

However, it is also preferred to apply the soluble monomers or prepolymers to form the electrically conductive polymers and to polymerize them in situ. Both radical and redox or photoinitiators, for example UV initiators, can be used as catalysts.
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 or, if appropriate, subsequently removed from the layer by treatment with a solvent, generally water. Volatile constituents can optionally also be removed by drying with an IR dryer, a convection dryer and the like.

Can apply a layer with magnetic properties paramagnetic, diamagnetic and also ferromagnetic substances, such as Iron, nickel and cobalt or their compounds or salts (for example Oxides or sulfides) or alloys of rare earth metals, such as for example cobalt / samarium alloys can be used.

Magnetic pigment paints with pigments based on Fe oxides, iron, nickel cobalt and their alloys, barium or cobalt ferrites, hard and soft magnetic iron and steel types in aqueous or solvent-containing dispersions are particularly suitable. 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 with 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 partially in the form of a code be applied, for example in the form of a so-called barcode. At the partial detachment of the partial magnetic layer then becomes individual Parts of the barcode detached, the manipulation then by reading the barcode with a suitable scanner.

To apply a layer with defined optical properties Paints or varnishes with luminescent, for example phosphorescent or fluorescent properties, or varnishes with defined Refractive index applied.

When fluorescent lacquer layers are applied, for example, the structured release layer is installed between the different fluorescent layers. In the event of destruction or manipulation by at least partial detachment, the original fluorescence is retained in the adhesive areas of an opaque layer, a mixed color is formed in the other areas, and a defined mixed color is visible before detachment, which is changed after detachment.
When applying lacquers with a defined refractive index, the lacquer / foil or foil / foil system has a specific refractive index. When a layer is destroyed, for example by detachment, the refractive index changes in particular due to air pockets between the layers.

The individual features described can be individually or in any Combinations can be applied.

A metallized layer can, for example, also with a Seal coating for contacting the metallized areas with a Be provided chip, the security feature then acts as an antenna. The For example, a chip can be a structure based on Si or printed polymeric microcircuit.

The destruction then changes the natural frequency, which is manipulation clearly demonstrable.

Over a metallic isotropic or anisotropically conductive layer can also a conductive polymer layer can be applied. This conductive Polymer layer is stretchable and can be used in the event of stretching Destruction of the metallic layer leads to a conductive bridging layer form. However, this also changes the conductivity of the structure As described above, the change can be read out, the manipulation be detected.

The partial functional layer can have different shapes, for example in the form of patterns, lines, geometric figures, Letters and the like, here also depending on the composition and Appearance of the layer additional visual characteristics may be present that can detect a possible manipulation.

Furthermore, it is also possible to apply the partially applied release layer or Adhesive layer to apply a full-surface functional layer. Through a Attempting to detach this entire surface layer is then destroyed, and it is formed defined functional machine-readable properties that also if necessary, are measurable without contact and any manipulation have it clearly demonstrated.

The security features can also contain further functional layers, wherein these layers can be constructed similarly, identically or differently to the layers described.
If necessary, the coated film produced in this way can also be protected by a protective lacquer layer or further refined, for example, by lamination or the like.

The protective lacquer layer can be colorless or single or multi-colored or also be equipped luminescent.

1 and 1a show a security element according to the invention with fluorescent features, and FIG. 2 shows a security element according to the invention with antenna function.
Therein 1 means the carrier substrate, 2 the release layer or the adhesive layer, 7 a protective lacquer layer.
1 and 1 a, 3 and 4 each mean layers with different fluorescent colors.

In Fig. 2, 5 is a metallic layer, 6 is an electrical layer conductive polymers.

The security features according to the invention are stored in data carriers, in particular documents of value such as identity cards, cards, banknotes Packaging materials for sensitive goods, such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, Electronic components, for labels, seals and the like, for example in the Textile industry used.

Claims (11)

Security feature with one or more functional features, characterized in that the security feature has an intermediate layer applied to a carrier material with different adhesive areas, which has a visually recognizable and / or machine-readable electrical, optical and / or magnetic feature. Security feature with one or more functional features, characterized in that a full-surface functional layer is applied to the intermediate layer, which is destroyed when detached by the different adhesive areas of the intermediate layer in such a way that one or more defined functional features arise. Security feature according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional features are partially applied. Security feature according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a metallized layer with a seal coating for contacting the metallized areas is equipped with a chip and acts as an antenna. Security feature according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the security feature has an electrically conductive layer made of conductive polymers. Security feature according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the electrically conductive (s) metallic (n) layer (s) is provided with a - conductive polymer layer as a bridging layer. Security feature according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it has an optionally machine-readable magnetic feature. Security feature according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it has an optical, possibly fluorescent feature. 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. Security feature according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is provided with a protective lacquer layer. Use of the security features according to one of claims 1 to 10 in data carriers, in particular documents of value, such as identity cards, Cards, banknotes, packaging materials for sensitive goods, such as Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, electronic components, for labels, seals and like.

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