# US 10,119,071 B2 · Enhanced invisible-fluorescent identification tags for materials > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,071 B2 - Document ID: US10119071B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/003,871 - Filed: 2016-01-22 - Published: 2016-12-15 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-10 - Assignees: UT-Battelle, LLC - Applicants: UT-Battelle, LLC - Inventors: Linda A Lewis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119071B2 ## CPC - C09K 11/06: containing organic luminescent materials - C09K 11/02: Use of particular materials as binders, particle coatings or suspension media therefor - C09K 2211/1022: bridged by heteroatoms, e.g. N, P, Si or B - C09K 2211/1074: containing more than three nitrogen atoms as heteroatoms - C09K 2211/187: of the iron group metals, i.e. Fe, Co or Ni - C09K 2211/188: of other metals not provided for in one of the previous groups - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract A tag composition includes a naphthalocyanine tag component that is invisible in light of the visible spectrum and which emits fluorescent light in a non-visible spectrum under a non-visible excitation energy, a binder for binding the tag to a surface of a material; and a solvent, wherein the tag component and the binder are dissolved in the solvent. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tag composition comprising: a. a tag component that is invisible in light of the visible spectrum and which emits fluorescent light in a non-visible spectrum under a non-visible excitation energy, said tag component comprising a naphthalocyanine compound; b. a binder for binding said tag component to a surface of a material; and c. a solvent comprising a terpinene, wherein said tag component and said binder are dissolved in said solvent. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A tag composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said naphthalocyanine compound is 2,3-naphthalocyanine bis(trihexylsilyloxide). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A tag composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said binder is polystyrene. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A tag composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said terpinene comprises α-terpinene. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A tag composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said solvent further comprises dimethyl sulfoxide. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A tag composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said solvent further comprises acetone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A tag composition in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a light-stabilizing additive. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A tag composition in accordance with claim 7 wherein said light-stabilizing additive comprises an ultraviolet light absorber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A tag composition in accordance with claim 8 wherein said ultraviolet light absorber is at least one composition selected from the group consisting of hydroxybenzophenone and hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A tag composition in accordance with claim 7 wherein said light-stabilizing additive comprises a hindered amine light stabilizer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A tag composition in accordance with claim 10 wherein said hindered amine light stabilizer is a composition comprising benzenepropanoic acid, 3-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-, C7-9-branched and linear alkyl esters, and 1-methoxy-2-propylacetate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) A tag composition in accordance with claim 7 wherein said light-stabilizing additive comprises a singlet oxygen inhibitor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A tag composition in accordance with claim 12 wherein said singlet oxygen inhibitor is at least one composition selected from the group consisting of a tocopherol, a carotenoid, ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxytolune, butylated hydroxyanisole, and tertiary butylhydroquinone. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) A tag composition in accordance with claim 7 wherein said light-stabilizing additive comprises a singlet oxygen selective trap. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A tag composition in accordance with claim 14 wherein said singlet oxygen selective trap is at least one composition selected from the group consisting of α-terpinene and γ-terpinene. ### Claim 16 A tag composition comprising: a. a tag component that is invisible in light of the visible spectrum and which emits fluorescent light in a non-visible spectrum under a non-visible excitation energy, said tag component comprising 2,3-naphthalocyanine bis(trihexylsilyloxide); b. a polystyrene binder for binding said tag component to a surface of a material; c. a solvent comprising α-terpinene, dimethyl sulfoxide, and acetone, wherein said tag component and said polystyrene binder are dissolved in said solvent; and d. a light-stabilizing additive comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of an ultraviolet light absorber, a hindered amine light stabilizer, a singlet oxygen inhibitor, and a singlet oxygen selective trap. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A tag composition in accordance with claim 16 wherein said ultraviolet light absorber is at least one composition selected from the group consisting of hydroxybenzophenone and hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) A tag composition in accordance with claim 16 wherein said hindered amine light stabilizer is a composition comprising benzenepropanoic acid, 3-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-, C7-9-branched and linear alkyl esters, and 1-methoxy-2-propylacetate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A tag composition in accordance with claim 16 wherein said singlet oxygen inhibitor is at least one composition selected from the group consisting of a tocopherol, a carotenoid, ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxytolune, butylated hydroxyanisole, and tertiary butylhydroquinone. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) A tag composition in accordance with claim 16 wherein said singlet oxygen selective trap is at least one composition selected from the group consisting of α-terpinene and γ-terpinene. ### Claim 21 A tagged article comprising a material having an invisible-fluorescent identification tag disposed on a surface thereof, said tag comprising a tag component that is invisible in light of the visible spectrum and which emits fluorescent light in a non-visible spectrum under a non-visible excitation energy, and a light-stabilizing additive selected from the group consisting of a hindered amine light stabilizer, a singlet oxygen inhibitor, and a singlet oxygen selective trap, said tag component comprising a naphthalocyanine compound, and a binder for binding said tag component to said surface of said material. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A tagged article in accordance with claim 21 wherein said naphthalocyanine compound is 2,3-naphthalocyanine bis(trihexylsilyloxide). ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) A tagged article in accordance with claim 21 wherein said binder is polystyrene. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) A tagged article in accordance with claim 21, further comprising an ultraviolet light absorber. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A tagged article in accordance with claim 24 wherein said ultraviolet light absorber is at least one composition selected from the group consisting of hydroxybenzophenone and hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) A tagged article in accordance with claim 21 wherein said hindered amine light stabilizer is a composition comprising benzenepropanoic acid, 3-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-, C7-9-branched and linear alkyl esters, and 1-methoxy-2-propylacetate. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) A tagged article in accordance with claim 21 wherein said singlet oxygen inhibitor is at least one composition selected from the group consisting of a tocopherol, a carotenoid, ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxytolune, butylated hydroxyanisole, and tertiary butylhydroquinone. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) A tagged article in accordance with claim 21 wherein said singlet oxygen selective trap is at least one composition selected from the group consisting of α-terpinene and γ-terpinene. ### Claim 29 A tag composition comprising: a. a tag component that is invisible in light of the visible spectrum and which emits fluorescent light in a non-visible spectrum under a non-visible excitation energy, said tag component comprising a naphthalocyanine compound; b. a binder for binding said tag component to a surface of a material; and c. a solvent, wherein said tag component and said binder are dissolved in said solvent; and d. a hindered amine light stabilizer. ### Claim 30 A tag composition comprising: a. a tag component that is invisible in light of the visible spectrum and which emits fluorescent light in a non-visible spectrum under a non-visible excitation energy, said tag component comprising a naphthalocyanine compound; b. a binder for binding said tag component to a surface of a material; and c. a solvent, wherein said tag component and said binder are dissolved in said solvent; and d. a composition comprising benzenepropanoic acid, 3-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-, C7-9-branched and linear alkyl esters, and 1-methoxy-2-propylacetate. ### Claim 31 A tag composition comprising: a. a tag component that is invisible in light of the visible spectrum and which emits fluorescent light in a non-visible spectrum under a non-visible excitation energy, said tag component comprising a naphthalocyanine compound; b. a binder for binding said tag component to a surface of a material; and c. a solvent, wherein said tag component and said binder are dissolved in said solvent; and d. a singlet oxygen inhibitor. ### Claim 32 A tag composition comprising: a. a tag component that is invisible in light of the visible spectrum and which emits fluorescent light in a non-visible spectrum under a non-visible excitation energy, said tag component comprising a naphthalocyanine compound; b. a binder for binding said tag component to a surface of a material; and c. a solvent, wherein said tag component and said binder are dissolved in said solvent; and d. a singlet oxygen selective trap.