Reflective coating, pigment, colored composition, and process of producing a reflective pigment

A reflective pigment comprising:

• a base layer having a top reflective surface and a bottom reflective surface;
• a dielectric layer formed on said top and bottom surfaces of said base layer;
• and
• an absorber layer formed on said dielectric layer formed on said top and bottom surfaces of said base layer;
• wherein said dielectric layer has an index of refraction at 550 nm of about 1.3 to 2.5, and
• wherein an average reflectance of said pigment for wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in the range of 800 to 2500 nm irradiated upon said reflective pigment is greater than about 60% and an average reflectance of said reflective coating for wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in the range of 400 to 700 nm irradiated upon said reflecting coating is less than said average reflectance of said reflective coating from 800 to 2500 nm.

A process of producing a reflecting pigment comprising the steps of:

• providing a releasable substrate;
• providing a first absorber layer on said releasable substrate;
• providing a first dielectric layer on said first absorber layer;
• providing a base layer on said first dielectric layer;
• providing a second dielectric layer on said base layer;
• providing a second absorber layer on said second dielectric layer;
• and
• removing said releasable substrate from said first absorber layer to produce said reflecting pigment.

A colored composition, comprising:

• a polymer medium;
• and
• a plurality of reflective pigments dispersed in said polymer medium, each reflective pigment comprising:
• a base layer having a top reflective surface and a bottom reflective surface;
• a dielectric layer formed on said top and bottom surfaces of said base layer;
• and
• an absorber layer formed on said dielectric layer formed on said top and bottom surfaces of said base layer,
• wherein said dielectric layer has an index of refraction at 550 nm of about 1.3 to 2.5 and an average reflectance of said reflective pigment for wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in the range of 800 to 2500 nm irradiated upon said reflecting pigment is greater than about 60% and an average reflectance of said reflective pigment for wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in the range of 400 to 700 nm irradiated upon said reflecting pigment is less than said average reflectance of said reflective pigment from 800 to 2500 nm.