USE OF COLORED EFFECT PIGMENTS FOR ENHANCING THE INFRARED ABSORPTION CAPACITY OF COLORED POLYMERS

1 . Use of colored effect pigments for enhancing the infrared absorption capacity of colored polymers, characterized in that the colored effect pigments comprise at least one layer which is composed of carbon.

2 . Use according to claim 1 , characterized in that the colored polymers absorb infrared light in the wavelength range of from 750 to 3000 nm of the solar spectrum.

3 . Use according to claim 1 , characterized in that the colored effect pigments are based on flaky substrate particles which are coated with at least one interference layer and with at least one layer being composed of carbon.

4 . Use according to claim 1 , characterized in that the layer composed of carbon is the outermost layer of the colored effect pigment and consists of a mixture of nanocrystalline carbon and amorphous carbon in a ratio of from 5:95 to 95:5.

5 . Use according to claim 1 , characterized in that the layer composed of carbon has a geometrical thickness in the range of from 1 to 10 nm.

6 . Use according to claim 1 , characterized in that the colored effect pigments have a particle size in the range of from 1 to 400 μm.

7 . Use according to claim 1 , characterized in that the colored polymers are colored by the colored effect pigments.

8 . Use according to claim 1 , characterized in that the colored polymers are colored thermoplastics or colored thermoset materials.

9 . Use according to claim 1 , characterized in that the colored polymers are supposed to be heated or re-heated by the action of infrared radiation.

10 . Use according to claim 9 , characterized in that the heating or re-heating by the action of infrared light is a thermoforming process, an injection molding process, an injection blow molding process, an injection stretch blow molding process, a polymer welding process, a polymer drying process or a process for polymerizing and/or curing polymer materials.

11 . Use according to claim 1 , characterized in that the colored polymers are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE, HDPE, LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyamides, polyesters, polyester-esters, polyether-esters, polyphenylene ether, polyacetals, polyalkylene terephthalates, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinylacetals, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polyoxymethylene (POM), polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile styrene (AS), acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), styrene butadiene copolymer (SBC), polycarbonates (PC), polyether sulfones (polyurethanes (TPU), polyether ether ketones (PEEK), or copolymers or mixtures thereof.

12 . Use according to claim 1 , characterized in that the colored effect pigments are present in the colored polymer in an amount in the range of from 0.1 to 10% by weight, based on the weight of the colored polymer.

13 . Method for enhancing the infrared absorption capacity of colored polymers, characterized in that a polymer composition is mixed with a colored effect pigment which comprises at least one layer which is composed of carbon, in an amount of from 0.1 to 10% by weight, based on the weight of the total of effect pigment and polymer composition, whereby the polymer composition is provided with color and enhanced infrared absorption capability.

14 . Method according to claim 13 , characterized in that the polymer composition absorbs infrared light in the wavelength range of from 750 to 3000 nm of the solar spectrum.

15 . Method for thermoforming, injection blow molding, injection stretch blow molding, welding, drying or curing of a colored plastic part, comprising irradiating said plastic part with infrared radiation in the wavelength range of from 750 to 3000 nm of the solar spectrum, wherein the plastic part is composed of a colored thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer composition comprising colored effect pigments which comprise at least one layer which is composed of carbon, in an amount of from 0.1 to 10% by weight, based on the weight of the total of effect pigment and polymer composition, whereby the thermal conductivity of the colored plastic part is increased compared to an otherwise identical colored plastic part that does not contain said colored effect pigment having said at least one layer of carbon.