Effect pigments with an outer protective coating comprising zinc oxide

1. Effect pigments based on substrates having an outer coating comprising A) zinc oxide, hydroxide and/or oxide hydrate, B) at least one metal oxide, hydroxide and/or oxide hydrate, and C), at least three organic coupling agents selected from alkyl silanes, epoxy silanes, (meth)acryl silanes, amino silanes, vinyl silanes and mixtures thereof and wherein the outer coating has a carbon content of ≧0.5% by weight based on the total weight of effect pigment.

2. Effect pigments according to claim 1 , characterised in that at least two metal oxide, hydroxide and/or oxide hydrate of the elements selected from zirconium, cerium, silicon, aluminium, and calcium, are used in B).

3. Effect pigments according to claim 1 , characterised in that the carbon content is in the range of 0.5-1.5% by weight based on the total weight of effect pigment.

4. Effect pigments according to claim 1 , characterised in that the proportion of zinc oxide, hydroxide and/or oxide hydrate is ≧0.1% by weight, calculated as ZnO based on the total weight of effect pigment.

5. Effect pigments according to claim 1 , characterised in that the proportion of at least one metal oxide, hydroxide and/or oxide hydrate of the elements selected from zirconium, cerium, silicon, aluminium, and calcium is ≧0.1% by weight in B), calculated as metal oxide(s) based on the total weight of effect pigment.

6. Effect pigments according to claim 1 , characterised in that the proportion of metal oxides, hydroxide and/or oxide hydrate of the elements selected from zirconium, cerium, silicon, aluminium, and calcium is 0.1 to 5% by weight in B) based on the total weight of effect pigment.

7. Effect pigments according to claim 1 , characterised in that flake-form substrates selected from synthetic or natural mica, glass flakes, SiO 2 flakes, Al 2 O 3 flakes or iron oxide flakes.

8. Effect pigments according to claim 1 , characterised in that flake-form substrates coated with one or more, optionally alternating, layers of metal compounds selected from metal oxides, metal oxide hydrates, metal suboxides, metals, metal fluorides, metal nitrides, metal oxynitrides, and mixtures thereof, are used.

9. Process for the preparation of effect pigments according to claim 1 comprising applying by wet-chemical methods and/or by the sol-gel process an outer coating comprising A) zinc oxide, hydroxide and/or oxide hydrate, B) at least one metal oxide, hydroxide and/or oxide hydrate, and C) at least three organic coupling agents selected from alkyl silanes, epoxy silanes, (meth)acryl silanes, amino silanes, vinyl silanes and mixtures thereof to a substrate and subsequently drying the coated substrate.

10. Process according to claim 9 , characterised in that flake-form substrates selected from synthetic or natural mica, glass flakes, SiO 2 flakes, Al 2 O 3 flakes or iron oxide flakes, and wherein flake-form substrates are coated with one or more, optionally alternating, layers of metal compounds selected from metal oxides, metal oxide hydrates, metal suboxides, metals, metal fluorides, metal nitrides, metal oxynitrides, and mixtures thereof.

11. Process according to claim 9 comprising the steps of a) suspending the substrates in a solvent, b) adding one or more zinc salts, at least one or more salts of zirconium, cerium, silicon, aluminium, and/or calcium, and at least one organic coupling agent, and c) drying the coated substrates, wherein the metal compounds and the organic coupling agents are deposited onto the substrates and the metal salts are deposited in full or part as metal oxides, hydroxides or oxide hydrates.

12. A composition comprising effect pigments according to claim 1 , said composition further comprising a paint, coating, printing ink, plastic or film for security applications, laser marking, thermal protection or coloring seed.

13. A composition according to claim 12 , which is selected from automotive paints, plastics, and films.