Pigment including a metal core, organic layer, and an inorganic layer
A pigment, including a flake including a metal core having a first surface and a second surface, a first dielectric layer interfacing with a first surface of the metal core, and a second dielectric layer interfacing with a second surface of the metal core; a first inorganic layer encapsulating the flake; and an organic layer encapsulating the first organic layer is disclosed. A colorant composition including the pigment is also disclosed. A method of making the pigment, and a method of making a colorant composition are also disclosed.
1 . A pigment, comprising:
a flake including a metal core having a first surface and a second surface, a first dielectric layer interfacing with a first surface of the metal core, and a second dielectric layer interfacing with a second surface of the metal core;
a first organic layer encapsulating the flake; and
an inorganic layer encapsulating the first organic layer.
2 . The pigment of claim 1 , wherein the first organic layer interfaces with the flake.
3 . The pigment of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic layer is a layer of silica.
4 . The pigment of claim 1 , wherein the first organic layer is a multilayer including a first organic sublayer interfacing with a second organic sublayer.
5 . The pigment of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic layer interfaces with the first organic layer.
6 . The pigment of claim 1 , wherein the first organic layer is a multilayer including alternating layers of a first organic sublayer interfacing with a second organic sublayer.
7 . The pigment of claim 1 , wherein the first organic layer includes one or more polyelectrolytes.
8 . The pigment of claim 7 , wherein the polyelectrolyte is chosen from polyallylamine hydrochloride, polysodium 4-styrenesulfonate, and combinations thereof.
9 . The pigment of claim 1 , wherein the first organic layer includes a colorant.
10 . The pigment of claim 1 , wherein the first organic layer is multiple alternating layers of charged material.
11 . The pigment of claim 1 , further comprising a second organic layer encapsulating the flake.
12 . The pigment of claim 11 , wherein the second organic layer interfaces with the inorganic layer.
13 . The pigment of claim 11 , wherein the inorganic layer includes an inorganic material chosen from oxides, nitrides, carbides, sulfides, compounds thereof, and combinations thereof.
14 . A method of making a pigment, comprising:
providing a flake;
applying a first organic layer to encapsulate the flake; and
applying an inorganic layer to encapsulate the flake and the first organic layer.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising, after applying the inorganic layer, applying a second organic layer to encapsulate the flake, the first organic layer, and the inorganic layer.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the inorganic layer has a negative or positive charge and is attracted to a positive or negative charge of the first organic layer.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the pigment includes multiple interfaces to reduce propagation of cracks and increase the diffusion path of corrosives molecules.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the inorganic layer is applied using a sol-gel process.
19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the organic layer is applied using a layer-by-layer process.