Protective Varnish, in Particular for Security Documents

1 - 27 . (canceled)

28 . A protective varnish comprising:

a radiation hardenable compound;

a fungicide comprising iodopropynyl butylcarbamate (IPBC), and

particulates loaded or doped with a metal having a zero oxidation state, the metal selected from silver, copper, zinc, or a combination thereof.

29 . The protective varnish of claim 28 , wherein the protective varnish has biocidal activity.

30 . The protective varnish of claim 28 , wherein the particulates comprise an inorganic particulate material.

31 . The protective varnish of claim 30 , wherein the particulates are loaded with from 0.5% to 3% by weight of the metal, relative to a total weight of the particulates and the metal.

32 . The protective varnish of claim 30 , wherein the particulates have a particle size of less than 10 μm.

33 . The protective varnish of claim 30 , wherein the inorganic material is selected from zeolites or glasses.

34 . The protective varnish of claim 28 , wherein the metal comprises silver.

35 . The protective varnish of claim 28 , wherein the protective varnish comprises from 0.001% to 0.2% by weight of the metal, relative to a total weight of the protective varnish.

36 . The protective varnish of claim 28 , wherein the radiation hardenable compound is hardenable by UV radiation.

37 . The protective varnish of claim 28 , wherein the radiation hardenable compound comprises polyalkyl acrylate monomers, an unsaturated acrylic resin, or cycloaliphatic epoxide monomers.

38 . The protective varnish of claim 37 , further comprising a free-radical photoinitiator.

39 . The protective varnish of claim 28 , wherein the protective varnish comprises from 0.1% to 5.0% by weight of the IPBC, relative to a total weight of the protective varnish.

40 . The protective varnish of claim 28 , wherein the weight ratio of the metal to the iodopropynyl butylcarbamate ranges from 0.0007 to 0.01.

41 . The protective varnish of claim 28 , further comprising a fungicide selected from an isothiazoline derivative, an isothiazoline derivative, a zeolite, zinc, or a triclosan compound.

42 . The protective varnish of claim 28 , wherein the protective varnish is an overprint varnish.

43 . An object comprising a protective coating formed from a protective varnish of claim 28 .

44 . A method of protecting an object, comprising:

coating a surface of the object with a protective varnish of claim 28 ; and

exposing the coated protective varnish to radiation to form a hardened varnish deposit.

45 . A security document comprising a coating formed from a protective varnish of claim 28 .

46 . The security document of claim 46 , wherein the security document comprises cellulosic fibres.

47 . The security document of claim 46 , wherein the security document comprises a plastic material.

48 . Security document of claim 46 , wherein the security document is a passport, a banknote, an identity card, a driving license, an access card, a loyalty card, a photocopying card, a canteen card, a playing card, a collection card, or a payment card.

49 . The security document of claim 46 , wherein the security document comprises a security element configured for authentication of the security document.

50 . A method of protecting a security document, comprising:

coating a security document with a protective varnish according to claim 28 ; and

exposing the protective varnish to radiation to form a protective coating on the security document.

51 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the protective coating is formed on opposing sides of the security document.

52 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the protective coating is configured to reduce or prevent soiling of the security document.

53 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the protective coating is configured to impart antimicrobial properties to the security document.