# US 10,308,812 B2 · Flakes with undulate borders and method of forming thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,812 B2 - Document ID: US10308812B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/257,396 - Filed: 2016-09-06 - Published: 2016-12-29 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2002-09-13 - Assignees: Viavi Solutions Inc. - Applicants: Viavi Solutions Inc. - Inventors: Alberto Argoitia; Cornelis Jan Delst; Laurence Holden - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308812B2 ## CPC - C09D 7/61: inorganic - B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites - C09C 1/0015: {Pigments exhibiting interference colours, e.g. transparent platelets of appropriate thinness or flaky substrates, e.g. mica, bearing appropriate thin transparent coatings} - C09C 1/0018: {uncoated and unlayered plate-like particles} - C09C 1/0078: {Pigments consisting of flaky, non-metallic substrates, characterised by a surface-region containing free metal} - C09D 7/70: {characterised by shape, e.g. fibres, flakes or microspheres} - G02B 5/18: Diffraction gratings {(holographic optical elements G02B5/32, G03H; integrally combined with optical fibres G02B6/02057; for coupling light guides G02B6/34; integrally combined with optical integrated light guides G02B6/12; grating systems G02B27/44)} - G02B 5/1847: {Manufacturing methods} - C01P 2004/20: extending in two dimensions, e.g. plate-like - C01P 2004/22: with a polygonal circumferential shape - C01P 2004/64: Nanometer sized, i.e. from 1-100 nanometer - C01P 2006/60: Optical properties, e.g. expressed in CIELAB-values - Y10T 428/24612: Composite web or sheet - Y10T 428/25: Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles - Y10T 428/2982: Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.] - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES - C09C: TREATMENT OF INORGANIC MATERIALS, OTHER THAN FIBROUS FILLERS, TO ENHANCE THEIR PIGMENTING OR FILLING PROPERTIES (treatment of materials specially adapted to enhance their filling properties in mortars, concrete or artificial stone C04B14/00, C04B18/00, C04B20/00); PREPARATION OF CARBON BLACK {; PREPARATION OF INORGANIC MATERIALS WHICH ARE NO SINGLE CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS AND WHICH ARE MAINLY USED AS PIGMENTS OR FILLERS} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - C01P: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO STRUCTURAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOLID INORGANIC COMPOUNDS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The invention provides a plurality of substantially same planar pigment flakes, each formed of one or more thin film layers. Each flake has a face surface and a flake border delimiting the face surface; the flake border undulates in the plane of the flake. The flakes have a pre-selected shape, may have a symbol or a grating thereon. A method of manufacturing of these flakes including the steps of: (a) providing a substrate having a plurality of one-flake regions and a plurality of depressions or protrusions disposed therebetween and not extending into the one-flake regions, (b) coating the substrate with a releasable coating, and (c) removing the releasable coating and breaking it into the flakes; wherein two adjacent of the one-flake regions are separated by at least three of the depressions or protrusions for facilitating the breaking of the releasable coating into the flakes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of manufacturing of flakes comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate having a plurality of regions and a plurality of depressions or protrusions disposed there between and not extending into the plurality of regions, (b) coating the substrate with a releasable coating, and (c) removing the releasable coating and breaking at least a portion of the releasable coating into the flakes; wherein two adjacent regions of the plurality of regions are separated by at least three of the depressions or protrusions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of regions include a diameter in a range of from about 2 to about 100 microns and the depressions or protrusions include a strip configured between two of the plurality of regions and include a width of about less than 20% of the diameter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the plurality of regions are polygon-shaped regions with a number of sides of from 3 to 6. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method as defined in claim 3, wherein at least some of the plurality of regions include a symbol thereon. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method as defined in claim 3, wherein the depressions or protrusions are configured in one or two rows separating adjacent plurality of regions for forming a perforation line. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the plurality of depressions or protrusions per each side of the polygon-shaped regions is from 7 to 20. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the one or two rows separating adjacent plurality of regions are configured in a zigzag pattern. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method as defined in claim 5, wherein at least some of the plurality of regions include grooves or ridges for providing a grating to the flakes, wherein the grooves or ridges of a first of the plurality of regions are separated from the grooves or ridges of a second of the plurality of regions by the one or two rows. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the releasable coating comprises a reflector layer, an absorber layer, and a spacer layer there between, and wherein the flakes are color-shifting pigment flakes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the releasable coating includes a thickness in a range of from about 100 nm to about 4000 nm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of depressions or protrusions are from about 100 nm to about 2000 nm deep or high, respectively. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the substrate is obtained by embossing a plastic film with a nickel shim. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of depressions or protrusions are round in a plane of the substrate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein coating the substrate includes passing the substrate through a deposition zone to coat one or more thin film layers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein coating the substrate includes a deposition technique of chemical vapor deposition or physical vapor deposition. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising grinding/sizing of the flakes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the releasable coating replicates the plurality of regions and the plurality of depressions or protrusions of the substrate.