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Many of Siltech's products are unique in performance and secure in availability, for example thermal systems, UV, and IR systems. In addition we offer systems based on luminescence, surface effects, etc.
About Thermal Systems
Siltech offers both reversible and irreversible colour-change inks. Reversible, “thermochromic”, inks are readily available from other sources, but irreversible inks are not; we are able to make these “Thermoprint” inks in several colours and with “switch” temperatures from 60C up to 130C. Many will change colour in the steam from a kettle, or the heat from a hot air blower, or when contacted with a thermal device, or when scratched by the fingernail. These characteristics make Thermoprint a sophisticated, but low cost, security system. A low-cost validating tool, or just the fingernail (or a piece of wood) is all that is required to carry out the authentication. Versions of Thermoprint in several colours are offered which are suitable for imaging by thermal-head printers. It is envisaged that this type of low-cost system is applied to labels and might be associated with another security feature, e.g. fluorescence (see below); however, a more sophisticated system is also envisaged whereby, for example, a microcircuit could detect the opening of a bottle or container and thence cause a visual colour change in a patch of Thermoprint.
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About Radiation Systems
Of these sources of energy it is unlikely that Light or Gamma radiation could be used for the targeted purpose (Light is assiduous and Gamma is strictly controlled). However, the use of UV could be envisaged in a simple, hand-held device for producing a verification mark; the mark could be reversible, photochromic, whereby the colour fades when the UV exposure stops, or it could be permanent. The problem with UV authentication is that sunlight contains UV and so the system would not be totally daylight-handleable. IR, on the other hand, could be used without this drawback; and an IR laser could be a high-level verification system that could be made to be transportable, albeit after some development.
Siltech’s Silmark system uses the energy from a CO2 laser beam to produce a stable mark in a proprietary ink. The ink can be formulated to give a black, red, or blue image
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About Laser & LED Systems
The Silmark ink/lacquer responds to energy at 10000nm, i.e. CO2 laser, to turn coloured. This mark is permanent, stable and unique, and can therefore be used as a security indicator. The equipment, however, whilst it could be portable, will still be somewhat cumbersome (e.g. 400mm length and 6kg weight). Siltech has been developing an instant, dry, marking device and ink, Ledmark, which uses a small LED print engine. Inks could be made to give colours in addition to black, and this system would constitute a secure authentication method.
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About Pressure Activated Systems
The pressure from, for example, the finger nail can be used to produce a colour-change and hence a
message which hitherto had or had not been visible.
About Tension Activated Systems
An image is produced by printing with our “Relacsil“ release lacquer which is then masked by a dark ink and placed between the two elements of a film sandwich. On pulling the two elements apart, the dark ink in contact with the release lacquer pulls away to reveal the printed message. The covert image will remain stable even if frozen.
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About Luminescence Systems
Luminescence can be incorporated into other security inks offered by Siltech; this provides an added level of security.
For example, a Thermoprint ink will be white or tinted prior to activation, but seen under UV light, this may be made to fluoresce at one of a number of wavelengths (colours). When heated or scratched by the fingernail, the Thermoprint will still change colour permanently – a double security feature!
Apart from the familiar Stokes' Luminescence system, Siltech can also offer Antistokes' systems which luminesce with the energy from a low cost source of IR.
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About Surface Effect Systems
Siltech makes lacquers which impart various degrees of “tactility” or soft feel to a surface.
See Speciality Inks and Lacquers for more information
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