Article comprising fluorescence marker particles and a method of identifying the same

An article comprising fluorescence marker particles, wherein

• the fluorescence marker particles are distributed throughout the volume of the article or in a portion of the volume of the article and the fluorescence marker particles are present in a random distribution;
• the volume in which the fluorescence marker particles are distributed comprises a sub-volume;
• the sub-volume contains at least a portion of the fluorescence marker particles;
• the sub-volume is at least partially transmissive to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in the visible range and/or in the near infrared range and/or in the UVA range;
• and
• a portion of the surface of the sub-volume is identical to a portion of the surface of the article;
• wherein the sub-volume is transparent, translucent or dyed with a dye.

A method of identifying an article comprising the steps of:

• a) providing an article, the article comprising fluorescence marker particles, wherein
• the fluorescence marker particles are distributed throughout the volume of the article or in a portion of the volume of the article and the fluorescence marker particles are present in a random distribution;
• the volume in which the fluorescence marker particles are distributed comprises a sub-volume;
• the sub-volume contains at least a portion of the fluorescence marker particles;
• the sub-volume is at least partially transmissive to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in the visible range and/or in the near infrared range and/or in the UVA range;
• and
• a portion of the surface of the sub-volume is identical to a portion of the surface of the article;
• b) determining the random spatial distribution of the fluorescence marker particles in the sub-volume;
• and
• c) matching the determined random spatial distribution with stored information on the random spatial arrangement for identification of the article.